Graft-transmissible agent causes bark necrosis and stem pitting in plum trees

Marini, D; Rowhani, A; Uyemoto, J

Graft-transmissible agent causes bark necrosis and stem pitting in plum trees

Authors

Diana B. Marini
Adib Rowhani
Jerry K. Uyemoto

Authors Affiliations

D.B. Marini is former Graduate Student (now working in Argentina); A. Rowhani is Specialist, Department of Plant Pathology, UC Davis;; J.K. Uyemoto is Research Plant Pathologist, U.S. Department of Agriculture stationed at UC Davis. Marini thanks Yun-Ping Zhang for assistance with molecular techniques and procedures, Dave Wilson Nursery for plum trees and Sierra Gold Nursery for other test plants.

Publication Information

Hilgardia 56(3):108-111. DOI:10.3733/ca.v056n03p108. May 2002.

PDF of full article, Cite this article

Abstract

In two Central Valley plum orchards, nearly all the trees started exhibiting copious amounts of dark gumballs on scaffold branches and main trunks. Exposed bark showed extensive tissue necrosis and necrotic stem-pitting on the surface of the woody cylinders. Eventually, both orchards had to be removed and replanted. The symptoms were highly suggestive of a viral or viruslike disease agent. We began studies to characterize the pathogen associated with the failure of these orchards and were successful in associating the disease with a new virus that proved to have an extensive host range in many cultivated Prunus. Characterization of this virus is under way.

References

Eastwell KC, Bernardy MG. Partial characterization of a Closterovirus associated with apple mealybug–transmitted little cherry disease in North America. Phytopathol. 2001. 91:268-73. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO.2001.91.3.268

Marini DB. Etiological and host range study of plum bark necrosis–stem pitting disease. M.S. thesis. 1999. UC Davis library. 70-

Marini DB, Zhang Y-P, Rowhani A, Uyemoto JK. Etiology and host range of a Closterovirus associated with plum bark necrosis-stem pitting disease. Plant Dis. 2002. 86(4):415-7. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS.2002.86.4.415

Rott ME, Jelkmann W. Detection and partial characterization of a second Closterovirus associated with little cherry disease, Little cherry virus-2. Phytopathol. 2001. 91:261-7. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO.2001.91.3.261

Tian T, Klaassen VA, Soong J, et al. Generation of cDNAs specific to lettuce infectious yellows Closterovirus and other whitefly-transmitted viruses by RT-PCR and degenerate oligonucleotide primers corresponding to the Closterovirus gene encoding the heat shock protein 70 homolog. Phytopathol. 1996. 86:1167-73. https://doi.org/10.1094/Phyto-86-1167

Uyemoto JK, Teviotdale BL. Graft transmission of the causal agent of a bark necrosis–stem pitting disease of ‘Black Beaut’ plum (Prunus salicina). Phytopathol suppl. 1996. 86(11):111-2.

Also in this issue:

Two-Dimensional Spectral Analysis of Soil Surface Temperature

Water will drive California response to climate change

Trade Center air laden with very fine particles, DELTA scientists find

Carbon dioxide hampers nitrate incorporation by plants

Super-sensitive nitrogen dioxide detector identifies greenhouse gases

World grapples with climate change

Global climate change will affect: air, water in California

Contract use widespread in wine grape industry

Avocado thrips: New challenge for growers