ISHS Acta Horticulturae 386: XVI International Symposium on Fruit Tree Virus diseases
PEACH ROSETTE: A DISEASE ASSOCIATED WITH MYCOPLASMA-LIKE ORGANISMS |
| Authors: | C. Marcone, F. Di Serio, A. Ragozzino |
| Abstract:
Peach rosette was first observed in the United States of America (Georgia) in 1881 (Smith, 1891a; 1891b). After McClintock (1923) succeeded in trasmitting the pathogen to healthy trees by grafting, it was thought to be a virus. In recent years it has been established by electron microscopy that the disease was caused by a mycoplasma-like organism (MLO) (Lowe et al, 1974; Kirkpatrick et al, 1975; Kim and Slack, 1978). The disease has been reported from USA (southern, south-western states) and South Africa (Nemeth, 1986). However, up to now, there have been no reports of the disease in the European countries (Desvignes, 1990). Peach rosette is readily transmitted by means of grafting or budding and an insect vector, probably a leafhopper, is presumed to affect its natural spread, but as yet none has been identified. The causal agent was transmitted through dodder (Cuscuta campestris Yuncher) to tomato, N. glutinosa and to the universal MLO host, that is periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus Don) (Kunkel, 1943).In addition to the species mentioned, peach rosette has been naturally and experimentally transmitted to several other stone fruit species (KenKnight, 1976). Recently (1988) a disease resembling peach rosette has been observed in a peach orchard located near Salerno (South Italy). The peach orchard was 5 years old and composed of the cultivar "Springcrest" grafted onto peach seedling rootstock. The percentage of diseased tees was about 12%. In order to ascertain the etiology of the disease, a study was carried out during four years, on the involvement of MLOs or/and other agents. | |
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