First Incidence of Plum Pox Virus on Apricot Trees in China.

Plum pox disease, caused by Plum pox virus (PPV), is the most severe virus disease of plums, apricots, and peaches. The disease causes heavy losses for fruit growers and the international trade of propagation materials and fresh fruits. PPV was first reported in Bulgaria in 1917 (1).

Variability and molecular typing of the woody-tree infecting prunus necrotic ringspot ilarvirus.

The 3'-part of the movement protein gene, the intergenic region and the complete coat protein gene of sixteen isolates of Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) from five different host species from the Czech Republic were sequenced in order to search for the bases of extensive variability of viroses caused by this pathogen. According to phylogenetic analyses all the 46 isolates sequenced to date split into three main groups, which correlated to a certain extend with their geographic origin. Modelled serological properties showed that all the new isolates belong to one serotype.

Testing of plum germplasm for sensitivity to plum pox.

A long-term orchard experiment with a broad assortment of plum cultivars aimed to screen their sensitivity to plum pox virus (PPV) was established in 1991. For this purpose, 207 cultivars to be artificially infected with PPV at a permanent site were chosen. The serotype M of PPV from a tree of cv.

Monoclonal antibodies suitable for plum pox virus determination.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to plum pox virus (PPV) were obtained after immunization of BALB/c mice with purified PPV-W isolate. Spleen cells from a mouse showing a high serum titer were used for fusion with Sp2/0-Ag14 myeloma cells. Culture supernatants were screened for specific antibody production against PPV-W isolate using indirect ELISA.