IS SYMPTOMATOLOGY A RELIABLE TOOL FOR PLUM POX VIRUS MONITORING?

Sharka disease, caused by Plum pox virus (PPV), represents an important economically issue of stone fruits growers in Romania. Establishing plum orchards with PPV-free planting material, followed by their virus monitoring and removing infected trees, can contribute to PPV containment. Although PPV monitoring based on symptoms developed combined with serological or molecular assays is recommended for accurate virus detection, such approach is not costly effective in orchards. Therefore, there is under question whether a well recognizing of PPV symptoms developed by infected plum trees can be an acceptable tool for virus monitoring in orchards. To get this information, twenty-seven plum orchards comprising a large assortment of cultivars were surveyed. A total of 540 samples were tested by DAS-ELISA and compared with results of visual observation. Overall results revealed a high coincidental data of PPV infection established by serological detection and virus-based symptoms, suggesting that a good knowledge of PPV symptoms developed by infected trees on leaves could be a reliable tool for virus monitoring large areas of plum orchards.