WERA_OLD020: Virus and virus like diseases of fruit trees, small fruits and grapevines
Statement of Issues and Justification
Diseases caused by viruses and virus?like organisms continue to be important to tree fruit and berry industries in the United States and Canada. The impact of these pathogens can be significant and often limit the economic and biological viability of fruit production. WCC-020 facilitates a reduction in the impact of disease on this sector of agriculture by providing a forum for information exchange at annual meetings and by establishing contacts that encourage communication throughout the year. The discovery of Plum pox virus in North America in 1999 had an immediate impact on the tree fruit and nursery industries. Globally, this aphid-transmitted virus is the most economically important virus of stone fruits. The diagnosis of Plum pox virus was hastened because WCC-020 provided a network of researchers and specialists that were able to make the preliminary diagnosis and insure that the necessary testing was conducted to confirm this diagnosis. WCC-020 continues to foster experts that provided leadership and advice in developing testing and management strategies. Pollen-borne ilarviruses and nematode-transmitted nepoviruses cause significant decreases in orchard, raspberry, blueberry and vineyard production throughout the United States. Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) is a major limitation to citrus production worldwide and efforts to control this disease in California and Arizona have been critical to maintaining the viability of this fruit tree industry in the western United States. Grapevine leafroll virus, corky bark, rugose wood, Rupestris stem-pitting associated virus and other graft-transmissible pathogens contribute to the decline of grapevines, decrease vegetative growth and fruit yields. Raspberry bushy dwarf virus causes serious yield and quality losses in Rubus spp. and Blueberry scorch carlavirus is becoming a major disease problem in blueberry in the Pacific Northwest and in the Northeast. WCC-020 also promotes the exchange of information on diseases caused by isolates of the bacteria Xylella on citrus (variegated chlorosis), coffee (leaf scorch), peach (phony), almond (leaf scorch), and grape (Pierce's disease). Phytoplasmas that cause diseases such as Western X disease, pear decline, and peach yellow leafroll seriously reduce the production of stone and pome fruits in the western region of the United States. Although bacterial in nature, phytoplasmas and Xylella spp. have many features in common with viruses such as systemic infection, vector transmission, and graft transmission.(see attachment below for complete issues and justification)
Last Modified:
unknown
Back to Top