SEROLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR SCREENING OF PLUM POX VIRUS (PPV) IN THE F1 AND F2 ROMANIAN APRICOT GENOTYPES

Abstract

Sharka (Plum pox virus - PPV) is considered one of the most devastating diseases of stone fruits in terms of agronomic impact and economic importance. The disease is very detrimental to apricot, peach and plum trees because it reduces quality and causes premature drop of fruits. The dynamics of virus infection in F1 and F2 Romanian apricot cultivars (Prunus armeniaca) were analyzed in natural infection conditions. The F1 and F2 Romanian apricot progenies were serologically tested by DAS-ELISA using PPV-D and PPV-M specific monoclonal antibodies. Molecular tests were done by RT-PCR using P1/P2 primers. PPV detection by conventional serological and molecular methods was performed during the dormant period (wintertime). This period has important drawbacks due to both false negative results (sensitivity) and also false positive results (specificity). The Romanian apricot F1 and F2 progenies evaluated were initially classified into three groups: susceptible to PPV, partially resistant to PPV, and resistant to PPV. After that, the most important genotypes were grafted onto infected peach 'GF 305' in greenhouse conditions. The goals of the work presented in this communication are the introduction and development of marker-assisted selection (MAS) for PPV resistance in F1 and F2 progenies of Romanian apricot cultivars.