Detection of Viruses Infecting Sweet Cherry Cultivars and Elites at the Institute of Agriculture-Kyustendil, Bulgaria

Abstract

То аssess the virus infections of new and commercial sweet cherry cultivars and elites, surveys were carried out in two collection orchards at the Institute of Agriculture – Kyustendil located in the Southwest Bulgaria. In the spring of 2012 and 2013 a total of 165 samples were individually collected and tested by DAS-ELISA for Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV), Prune dwarf virus (PDV), Plum pox virus (PPV), Apple chlorotic leafspot virus (ACLSV), Cherry leaf roll virus (CLRV) and Raspberry ringspot virus (RpRSV). A total of 24.2 % of ELISA-tested samples was infected at least by single virus. PDV (13.9 %) was the most prevalent followed by ACLSV (5.4 %) and PNRSV (4.8 %). The other viruses were no presented. The infection was found in both cultivars and elites. These results demonstrated that measures should be taken to avoid using infected parents for crossing