Viruses and viroids infecting peaches in Serbia

Abstract

Peach and nectarine trees were surveyed from 2005 to 2021 to investigate the presence of virus and viroid diseases in Serbia. Samples were collected from commercial orchards in the main peach-growing areas and from nurseries and mother blocks. A total of 482 samples were tested on the presence of 11 viruses (plum pox virus, prune dwarf virus, prunus necrotic ringspot virus, apple mosaic virus, cherry leaf roll virus, cherry necrotic rusty mottle virus, cherry rasp leaf virus, little cherry virus-1, little cherry virus-2, tomato black ring virus and tomato ringspot virus) and peach latent mosaic viroid. Molecular RT-PCR test was used for the detection of each pathogen with virus/viroid-specific primers. Analysis confirmed the presence of plum pox virus in 16.2% of tested samples from commercial orchards. Further molecular characterization revealed the presence of PPV-M and PPV-D strains in positive samples. The incidence of peach latent mosaic viroid infection was 5.9%. No other viruses were detected in collected samples.