Relationship of viruses and viroids with apricot “viruela” disease

Abstract

In this study, 34 apricot orchards in south-eastern Spain planted with the Spanish cultivar ‘Búlida’ and showing “viruela” symptoms were studied for 2 years. Leaf and fruit samples from four trees in each orchard, either with or without “viruela” symptoms, were collected and analysed by multiplex RT-PCR for the detection of American plum line pattern virus (APLPV), Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV), Apple mosaic virus (ApMV), Apricot latent virus (ApLV), Plum bark necrosis and stem pitting-associated virus (PBNSPaV), Plum pox virus (PPV), Prune dwarf virus (PDV), and Prunus necrotic ring spot virus (PNRSV). In addition, molecular hybridization assays were performed for the detection of Hop stunt viroid (HSVd) and Peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd). All fruits showing “viruela” symptoms were infected with ACLSV and HSVd, suggesting that these pathogens may be responsible for “viruela” disease. Other viruses including PNRSV, PBNSPaV, ApLV, PDV, ApMV and PPV, were detected to a lesser degree. Detection of ACLSV and HSVd in samples without symptoms could be explained by the influence of environmental conditions and/or the physiological stage of fruits on the expression of symptoms.