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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #217185

Title: Tomato ringspot

Author
item CONVERSE, RICHARD - Former ARS Employee
item Martin, Robert

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/5/2007
Publication Date: 12/26/2016
Citation: Converse, R.H., Martin, R.R. 2017. Tomato ringspot. In: Polashock, J.J., Caruso, F.L., Averill, A.L., Schilder, A.C., editors. Compendium of Blueberry, Cranberry, and Lingonberry Diseases and Pests. 2nd edition. St. Paul, MN: APS Press. p. 76-78.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Tomato ringspot virus (ToRSV) causes a nematode-vectored disease of highbush blueberry in New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington in the United States but has not been reported elsewhere in the world on this crop or on other Vaccinium spp. The occurrence and intensity of symptoms vary among blueberry cultivars. Infected leaves are often cupped and malformed, with circular spots 2–5 mm in diameter. Young leaves may be strap-shaped and mottled and confused with Blueberry shoestring virus. Necrotic brown spots 2–5 mm in diameter may occur on infected canes. Infection is rarely uniform within a plant: some shoots may be defoliated, others may have necrotic leaves, and still others may appear normal. Fruit production and quality are reduced (in some cases to zero) in infected plants. Diseased plants may be defoliated by midharvest, and infected plants may eventually die, often after a severe winter. Symptoms of ToRSV are similar to those of necrotic ringspot, which is caused by Tobacco ringspot virus. The two viruses are readily distinguished by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of sap from infected blueberry leaves and are also distinguishable by nucleic acid probes. Where ToRSV has been identified in an established blueberry planting, not only affected plants but also the adjacent symptomless plants (which may already be infected) should be rogued. If a field is removed due to ToRSV or for spot treatments of rogued areas, nematicide treatment, weed-free fallow for 24 months or rotation with a crop that is a non-host of ToRSV can be very effective in controlling ToRSV. In the latter case, the virus is eliminated from the system, while the nematode survives.