Abstract
Heat therapy followed by the isolation and in vitro culture of apical meristems is a suitable procedure for virus eradication. However, the period of heat treatment is usually long (28 - 50 days) and the yield of viable plants free of viruses after treatment is often low (<50%). Here, we describe an alternative method to obtain virus-free plants. We used traditional Galician cultivars, six apple trees and two pear trees, infected with Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV) and Apple mosaic virus (ApMV). We combined heat therapy of in vitro shoots using a temperature gradient from 25℃ to 40℃ increasing 1℃ per day for a shorter period of time (18 days) with the posterior isolation and culture of apical meristems. All DNA samples analyzed, obtained from plants developed from meristems, were 100% free of ApMV and almost 90% free of ACLSV. With this in vitro procedure combined we obtained a good yield of tested plants free of viruses. Our method is fast and effective and it could be also useful to eradicate these and other viruses in other fruit trees.
Highlights
Having healthy plant material is an important action to avoid loss of productivity, due to virus infection of fruit trees
Heat therapy followed by the isolation and in vitro culture of apical meristems is a suitable procedure for virus eradication
All DNA samples analyzed, obtained from plants developed from meristems, were 100% free of Apple mosaic virus (ApMV) and almost 90% free of Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV)
Summary
Having healthy plant material is an important action to avoid loss of productivity, due to virus infection of fruit trees. Apple chlorotic leaf spots virus (ACLSV) and Apple mosaic virus (ApMV) are main responsible for viral diseases in Pyrus and Malus trees [1] [2], provoking growth retardation and loss of productivity. ACLSV infection is widespread in stone fruit trees species, causing disease. These viruses can be transmitted mechanically and disseminated by infected propagation material [4]. The viruses are transmissible by grafting and persist in the vegetative propagation material of infected trees being probably the main source of inoculums. Cultivation of virus-free plants has the advantage of preventing other plants or fruit trees from being contaminated by these viruses
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
