Plum pox virus
Family : Potyviridae
Genus : Potyvirus
Acronym : PPV
Introduction
Plum pox, also known as sharka, is the most devastating viral disease of stone fruit from the genus Prunus. The Plum pox virus is a linear single stranded RNA virus. There are six strains of Plum pox virus: PPV-D, PPV-M, PPV-EA, PPV-C, PPV-Rec (Recombinant), and PPV-W. PPV-M isolates are more aggressive in peach.
Major Diseases
Pox diseases of plum
Geographical Distribution
Himachal Pradesh and commonly in himalayan regions.
Particle Morphology
Flexuous rod particles of 660-770 nm x 12.5-20 nm.
Transmission Method
Transmitted by a vector; an insect; Aphis craccivora, A. spiraecola, Brachycaudus helichrysi, B. cardui, Myzus persicae, M. varians, Myzus (Phorodon) humuli in a non-persistent manner. Virus transmitted by mechanical inoculation; transmitted by seed.
Detection
penicillinase-based indirect ELISA using bromothymol blue and starch iodine complex as indicators was standardized and the virus was detected from leaves.
Host Range and Symptomatology
| Host | Symptoms |
| Stone fruits (including peach, plum, apricots, almonds and cherries) | Pre-mature fruit dropping, severe chlorosis and vein banding on the leaves coupled with severe reduction in size |
References
| 1 | Plum pox virus. [Distribution map].. 2007, Distribution Maps of Plant Diseases, October, pp Map 392 (Edition 4). |
| 2 | Bhardwaj, S. V. ; Kohosla, K. ; Sharma, D. R. ; Thakur, P. D., Detection of plum pox virus in India.. 1995, 386, pp 237-240. |
| 3 | Thakur, P. D. ; Bhardwaj, S. V. ; Garg, I. D. ; Kishore Khosla ; Sharma, D. R., Plum pox virus on stone fruits from India - a new record.. 1994, Plant Disease Research, 9, 1, pp 100-102. |