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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #252109
Title: Blackberry and Raspberry Diseases: What is New and How Can We Control Them?

Author
item TZANETAKIS, I - University Of Arkansas
item Martin, Robert

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/25/2010
Publication Date: 4/4/2010
Citation: Tzanetakis, I.E., Martin, R.R. 2010. Blackberry and raspberry diseases: What is new and how can we control them?. North American Raspberry and Blackberry Conference Proceedings.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Blackberry yellow vein disease (BYVD) is prominent in the southeastern United States. There have not been any instances where BYVD was caused by a single virus. What is unique about BYVD is that symptoms are very similar in plants infected with different virus complexes. Thus far, more than a dozen viruses have been identified in plants with BYVD, and they interact synergistically to induce yellow vein disease symptoms. Therefore, it is difficult to recommend any strategies to control the disease in the field at this time. We are working towards the identification of the vectors for each of the viruses, as only a few are known at this time. Once the vectors of each of the BYVD associated viruses is known, control measures can be developed based on which viruses and vectors are present in a given area. The virus complex in Arkansas, Mississippi and the Carolinas are all quite different. Therefore, control measures for the BYVD viruses present in Arkansas likely will be ineffective in Mississippi or the Carolinas. Rubus crumbly fruit and decline is a disease associated with the presence of Raspberry bushy dwarf virus (RBDV). The losses due to yield decline or unmarketable fruit can exceed 50%. Two pieces of recent evidence suggests that crumbly fruit may be caused by more than infection by RBDV. Whereas RBDV can cause symptoms in singly infected plants of some cultivars, co-infection with these two new viruses indicate that the disease is more complex than previously thought. Given that we have identified the vectors of the two new viruses, it should be possible to manage them by targeted sprays that take advantage of knowing when the vector aphids are flying and when the virus is being spread in a field.