ISHS Acta Horticulturae 193: XIII International Symposium on Fruit Tree Virus Diseases
RESEARCH ON TRANSMISSION OF APPLE PROLIFERATION |
| Authors: | E. Refatti, R. Osler, N. Loi, P. Roggero |
| Abstract:
A conspicuous increase in the diffusion rate of apple proliferation has been observed in some apple-growing areas of Northern Italy in recent years. This would support the hypothesis of a natural spreading of the disease. Transmission trials have proved that root-grafting is the most efficient method of transmission, followed by approach-grafting. To try insect transmission from apple to apple we used various species of hoppers captured in orchards in the proximity of affected trees or reared in the greenhouse and force-fed on cut twigs showing apple proliferation symptoms. Test plants were very young, herbaceous-like, plants of Golden Delicious obtained by micropropagation or young apple seedlings. Other experiments included transmission trials by grafting and by insects from affected apple to Vinca rosea (L.) and from V. rosea infected with the clover phyllody mycoplasma to apple. Using the ELISA F(ab)2 method with an antiserum against the clover phyllody mycoplasma, different affected plant species were tested. Positive reactions were obtained with sap from leaves and young limbs or stems of V. rosea infected with clover phyllody, but not with sap from roots of the same plant. No reaction was obtained, after concentration by differential centrifugation, with sap from clover plants affected by phyllody (petals and leaves) and from leaves, stipules and petals of apple trees affected by proliferation. | |
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