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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #177336
Title: CHARACTERIZATION AND DETECTION OF A VIRUS ASSOCIATED WITH DECLINE OF BLACK RASPBERRY

Author
item Martin, Robert
item HALGREN, A - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Oregon Horticultural Society
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/26/2005
Publication Date: 4/1/2006
Citation: Martin, R.R., Halgren, A.B. 2006. Characterization and detection of a virus associated with decline of black raspberry. Proceedings of the Oregon Horticultural Society. Available: http://www.oregonhorticulturalsociety.org/newsletter/newsletter.php?article=270&month=&section=15&n_id=10&rank=6

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The objectives of this study were to characterize an unknown virus associated with decline in black raspberry, Rubus occidentalis, in Oregon. Mechanical and aphid transmissions from symptomatic R. occidentalis to Nicotiana benthamiana and aphid transmission to virus-free R. occidentalis have been successful. Double-stranded RNA extraction from symptomatic R. occidentalis revealed two major bands of about 8 and 9kb, suggesting a bipartite genome structure. Sequence information was obtained by cloning, using random primers, and an RT-PCR detection method was developed that enabled viral detection in several symptomless hosts, including R. idaeus, R. laciniatus, R. armeniacus, and 'Marion' blackberry (a Rubus sp. complex). This virus may be Black raspberry necrosis virus (BRNV), originally described in 1955 but poorly understood. However, grafting and aphid transmission do not induce the characteristic tip necrosis seen with BRNV. Partial sequence analysis of the genome reveals homology to the Strawberry mottle virus (SMoV). A second virus has been identified in declining black raspberries based on cloning of dsRNA from affected plants. This virus is a Flexivirus, which can be aphid transmitted and also is present in declining plants. In addition, using tests developed to detect nine other viruses in raspberry and blackberry, we have found up to five different viruses in declining black raspberry plants. Studies are underway to determine the rate and timing of spread of this virus in the field.