ISHS Acta Horticulturae 193: XIII International Symposium on Fruit Tree Virus Diseases
PERSISTENCE OF TOMATO RINGSPOT VIRUS AND ITS VECTOR IN COLD STORED SOIL |
| Authors: | M.W. Bitterlin, D. Gonsalves |
| Abstract:
Tomato ringspot virus (TmRSV) causes severe diseases in fruit and berry crops. It is transmitted by the dagger nematodes Xiphinema americanum and X. rivesi, both endemic in the northeastern United States. To test for the persistence of TmRSV in their nematode vectors, field soil samples were collected over 3 yr, examined for Xiphinema spp. and assayed for TmRSV by bait plants. Only X. rivesi were present. The population density varied widely in the field, but most samples were viruliferous. After different periods of storage at 1–3°C, the samples were re-tested for TmRSV and re-examined for presence of nematodes. TmRSV remained infective for at least 2 yr in X. rivesi. The numbers of nematodes were greatly reduced after 2 yr, but some were still detectable after 3 yr. These results demonstrate that TmRSV can persist for a considerable time in X. rivesi in soil without any growing plants. This may be an important factor in the epidemiology of diseases caused by TmRSV. | |
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