Hort. Sci. (Prague), 2012, 39(3):144-148 | DOI: 10.17221/260/2011-HORTSCI

Apricot latent virus - Review

L. Grimová, P. Ryšánek

Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

Apricot latent virus (ApLV) is a definitive species of the Foveavirus genus, the Betaflexiviridae family. Although the virus is not highly prevalent, it was identified in several European and Mediterranean countries thus far. Biological experiments demonstrated that, in addition to the only known natural host, Prunus armeniaca, ApLV can be experimentally graft-transmitted to several Prunus species. Therefore, the eradication of the viral pathogen largely depends on the use of virus-free propagating materials and rootstocks, which should be seriously considered when designing and implementing stone fruit certification schemes. Although ApLV is not present on the list of viruses and other pathogens that require testing in the EPPO certification schemes for the production of healthy stone fruit trees for planting, Peach asteroid spot disease (PAS) causing agent whose occurrence was often justly correlated with ApLV, is included on the list. This review summarises the current available knowledge of ApLV on the biological, morphological, physicochemical and molecular levels and includes the contemporary management approaches.

Keywords: ApLV; Foveavirus; Betaflexiviridae; stone fruit

Published: September 30, 2012  Show citation