Progression of Symptoms on Blueberry Infected with Blueberry shock virus

Abstract

A half acre of blueberries, planted in 1999, was free of virus symptoms until 2004 when Blueberry shock virus (BlShV) was first identified in a single plant. The progression of shock symptoms and recovery of plants was monitored until all plants were free of shock symptoms in 2013. The disease was greatest in 2008 with 53% of the plants expressing a shock reaction of blossom blight and no yield. Of the 408 plants, 53 expressed symptoms for 2 years in a row, 4 plants expressed symptoms 3 years in a row, 10 plants expressed shock symptoms after full recovery, and 8 never showed shock symptoms. Letting the disease run its course in small blocks will result in years in which growers may suffer up to 53% yield loss. In the years before and after this peak, growers may experience an average yield loss of 18%. Accepted for publication 27 March 2014. Published 20 June 2014.