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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #165582

Title: SHOCK AND SCORCH: EMERGING VIRUS DISEASES OF HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRY AND OTHER VACCINIUM SPECIES

Author
item Martin, Robert
item BRISTOW, P - WASHINGTON STATE UNIV
item WEGENER, L - SIMON FRASER UNIV

Submitted to: International Society for Horticultural Science Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2004
Publication Date: 5/1/2004
Citation: Martin, R.R., Bristow, P.R., Wegener, L.A. Shock and scorch: emerging virus diseases of highbush blueberry and other vaccinium species. 8th International Symposium on Vaccinium Culture, Oeiras, Portugal and Seville, Spain, May 3-8. 2004. p. OP33.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Blueberry scorch virus (BlScV) and Blueberry shock virus (BlShV) were characterized as viruses causing new diseases of highbush blueberry in Oregon and Washington in the USA in 1988 and 1991, respectively. Blueberry Sheep Pen Hill Disease was first described in the 1970's, but it was not until the early 1990's that the causal agent was identified as a strain of BlScV. Natural field infections and graft transmission studies of BlScV in Oregon and Washington demonstrated that all cultivars tested were susceptible to the virus. Some cultivars did not develop any symptoms and were fully productive, while others exhibited a range of symptoms from mild chlorosis to severe flower/leaf blight and,in some cases, produced little or no fruit (Northwest strain, BlScV-NW). In contrast to the range of symptoms observed in Oregon and Washington, in New Jersey, all cultivars, with the exception of 'Jersey', developed chlorotic or necrotic symptoms and suffered yield losses (East Coast strain, BlScV-EC). BlScV was first observed in British Columbia, Canada (B.C.) in the spring of 2000 and in Europe in 2001. Symptoms in different cultivars in B.C. suggested that BlScV-EC and BlScV-NW were present. With the occurrence of BlScV in B.C. in 2000, an extensive survey for BlScV was carried out in Oregon, Washington, and B.C. in 2001 and 2002. There was only one new blueberry field identified with BlScV in Washington and Oregon in this survey. In contrast, BlScV has been detected in over 100 blueberry fields in B.C. since it was first identified there. BlScV also became a serious problem in the northeastern US in the 1990's after nearly 20 years as a disease of minoir importance. In an attempt to understand the epidemic of BlScV in B.C., cranberry was investigated as a possible host in 2003. In a limited survey for BlScV in cranberry, BlScV was found in 7/42, 3/18, and 2/12 bogs in B.C, Washington and Oregon, respectively. BlScV is aphid-borne and the significance of cranberry as a source of inoculum for blueberry infections is being investigated. Transient as well as resident aphids are being investigated as vectors of BlScV. Over 100 species of transient aphids have been identified over blueberry fields in B.C. (Raworth, unpublished results, but only one predominant resident aphid, Ericaphis fimbriata.