ARS | Publication request: POTENTIAL PRUNUS HOST RANGE OF PPV-PENN ISOLATES BY APHID TRANSMISSION

Submitted to: Acta Horticulture Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: April 25, 2003
Publication Date: June 1, 2004
Citation: Damsteegt, V.D., Stone, A.L., Gildow, F.E., Schneider, W.L., Luster, D.G. 2004. Potential prunus host range of ppv-penn isolates by aphid transmission. Acta Horticulture Proceedings. p. 46.

Technical Abstract: Natural spread of plum pox potyvirus (PPV) occurs by aphid transmission, grafting, or movement of infected nursery stock. Of the several aphid species frequenting Prunus orchards in Pennsylvania (USA) that have been shown to transmit PPV, Myzus periscae and/or Brachycaudus persicae have been used in all transmission experiments. Inoculum sources were Lovell peach seedlings infected with the PPV-PENN-3 or PPV-PENN-4 isolates by previous aphid transmission. Aphids used in these experiments were starved for 30 min, placed onto either detached symptomatic peach leaves or intact peach seedlings, and then allowed a 3-day free-roaming inoculation feeding period from infected leaves or plants to test Prunus seedlings. Seedlings were sprayed with insecticide, placed onto greenhouse benches and observed for 6 to 8 weeks for development of symptoms. Test seedlings were analyzed by ELISA, and back-assayed to Lovell peach seedlings by healthy M. persicae. Following confirmation as a potential host, the respective test plants were vernalized at 4.1 C for 8-10 weeks. At four-weeks post-vernalization, symptomatic and non-symptomatic plants were tested by ELISA and/or RT-PCR to verify systemic infection. Positive transmission and back-assays have been completed for Prunus americana, P. armeniaca, P. domestica, P. persica, and P. serotina confirming them as potential hosts. Several additional Prunus species have been inoculated though not completely analyzed including are Prunus amygdalus, P. andersonii, P. angustifolia, P. avium, P. cerasifera Myrobalan, P. cerasus, P. cistena, P. glandulosa, P. insititia, P. mahaleb, P. maritima, P. mume, P. laurocerasus, P. okame (P. incisa x P. campanulata), P. padus, P. penslyvanica, P. serrulata and P. virginiana. Results of transmission experiments with other ornamental and wild Prunus species will be discussed.