Stone fruits are one of the most rapid developing
cultures worldwide and is a promising crop in Palestine.
Even though they are still facing many challenges, and plant
health is among them. This study focused on assessing the
sanitary status of stone fruits addressing the diseases induced
by intracellular infectious agents such as viruses that indeed
represent a major threat to stone fruit industry as some of
stone fruits viral diseases are considered quarantine agent.
For that purpose, several field surveys and samples
collection were carried out during two consecutive years
2018 and 2019 in ten governorates: Tubas, Jenin, Nablus,
Tulkarem, Qalqilia, Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Jericho
and Salfeet. The inspected stone fruit trees were tested in the
lab using molecular (RT-PCR) and/or serological diagnostic
(ELISA). techniques for the detection of any of the following
viruses: Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV, genus
Trichovirus, family Betaflixiviridae), Plum pox virus (PPV,
genus Potyvirus, family Potyviridae), Prunus necrotic ring
spot virus (PNRSV, genus Illarvirus, family Bromoviridae),
American plum line pattern virus (APLPV, genus Illarvirus,
family Bromoviridae), Apple mosaic virus (ApMV, genus
Illarvirus, family Bromoviridae), Prune dwarf virus (PDV,
genus Illarvirus, family Bromoviridae), Apricot latent virus
(ApLV, genus Foveavirus, family Betaflixiviridae), Plum
bark necrosis stem pitting-associated virus (PBNSPaV,
genus Ampelovirus, family Closteroviridae). Field surveys
and inspections for the detection of virus and other diseases
that produce symptoms suggestive of virus infection such as.
yellow spot, necrotic spot, shot hole, leaf curl, marginal leaf
necrosis, shortened internodes, bushy appearance,
discoloration and yellow mosaic of leaves. Almost one
thousand samples were collected from all districts and tested
individually for the presence of any of the above-mentioned
viruses. The results showed 28.5% of the samples were
positive for PNRSV. Positive ELISA result for viral disease
was found in all tested districts. The level of viral infection
was highest in the northern districts. Virus infection rates
were 50, 43.8, 32, 27.7, 18.2, 17.6, 14.3 and 9%, in Nablus,
Tulkarem, Tubas, Jenin, Ramallah, Hebron, Bethlehem and
Salfeet districts, respectively. ACLSV tests showed low
level of virus infection (3%); whereas only 1.6% were
positive for ApLV. None of other viruses were tested
positive in all fields surveyed. The survey concluded that the
sanitary status of stone fruits with respect to viral infection
was lower than that reported in neighboring countries. Even
though it is still higher than most countries of the
Mediterranean. The study recommended the need for a
certification program to prevent spread of detected viruses.
In addition, it was recommended to maintain the stone fruits
collection at NARC virus-free as a credible source for
propagation materials.

Conference Title

13th Arab Congress of Plant Protection (ACPP-2022), 16-21 October, 2022, Hammamet-Tunisia.V10

Conference Country

Tunisia

Conference Date

Oct. 16, 2022 - Oct. 21, 2022

Conference Sponsor

Arab Congress of Plant Protection