Virus Epidemiology and Control

Detection of European mountain ash ringspot‐associated virus (EMARAV) in Sorbus aucuparia L. by a specific antiserum and reverse transcription‐PCR

“…A prerequisite to control the spread of viruses in forest trees or woody crops is to have a sensitive and specific diagnostic procedure at hand. Viruses in these plants are often difficult to detect because of their low and uneven concentration within the tissues (G arrett et al, 1985; W erner et al, 1997). Furthermore, the presence of secondary metabolites such as tannins and polysaccharides complicate the analysis of virus‐infected plant material (C lark et al, 1976; N ewbury and P ossingham , 1977; S ingh et al, 2002).…”

“…Thus, although EMARAV could not be identified as the causative agent of the ringspot disease yet, and although the transmission of the virus is still unclear, a rapid spreading through commercial distribution of infected seedlings from nurseries of the virus should be avoided by establishing a reliable detection method for EMARAV. High sensitivity of this analysis is essential because of the low concentration and heterogeneous distribution of virus particles in woody plants (G arrett et al, 1985; W erner et al, 1997).…”

Infectious diseases of almond with special reference to the Mediterranean area 1

“…Thus, seeds and pollen can play a role in the epidemiology of some almond-infecting ilarviruses. For instance, the presence of PDV and PNRSV in pollen grains may lead, in principle, to both a direct transmission (to the seeds at least) through fertilization mediated by pollinating insects and an indirect transmission by thrips (Garret et al, 1985). The epidemiological role of seeds seems important only for PNRSV, which is the least economically relevant of the three ilarviruses.…”