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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Production and Genetic Improvement Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #361407
Research Project: Genetic Improvement of Blackberry, Red and Black Raspberry, Blueberry, and Strawberry

Location: Horticultural Crops Production and Genetic Improvement Research Unit

Title: First evidence of viruses infecting berries in Mexico

Author
item DIAZ-LARA, A - University Of California, Davis
item Martin, Robert
item RWAHNIH, MAHER - University Of California, Davis
item VARGAS, O - Dole Food Company
item REBOLLAR-ALVITER, A - University Of Chapingo

Submitted to: Journal of Plant Pathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/23/2019
Publication Date: 8/5/2019
Citation: Diaz-Lara, A., Martin, R.R., Rwahnih, M.A., Vargas, O.L., Rebollar-Alviter, A. 2019. First evidence of viruses infecting berries in Mexico. Journal of Plant Pathology. 102:183–189. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42161-019-00381-9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42161-019-00381-9

Interpretive Summary: There is considerable trade in berries and berry plants between the U.S. and Mexico. The production of berry fruits has increased dramatically over the past decade, with much of the fruit targeted for export. At the same time there is no information available on the virus status of berry crops in Mexico, thus we carried out an initial survey in September 2017. Twenty-four berry plants displaying virus-like symptoms were sampled in the main berry-producing areas of Mexico and later analyzed for the presence of 29 different viruses via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Additionally, virus screening was verified using high-throughput sequencing (HTS). As a result of this study, two blackberry plants collected in Los Reyes de Salgado, Michoacán were determined positive for tobacco ringspot virus (TRSV; genus Nepovirus), such plants exhibited yellowing and ringspot on leaves. In contrast, the rest of berry samples tested negative for any other virus. This is the first report of TRSV or any other virus infecting berries in Mexico.

Technical Abstract: The first survey on the incidence of viruses in berries (blackberry, raspberry and blueberry) was conducted in Mexico. In September 2017, 24 berry plants displaying virus-like symptoms were sampled in the main berry-producing areas of Mexico and later analyzed for the presence of 29 different viruses via enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Additionally, virus screening was verified using high-throughput sequencing (HTS). As a result of this study, two blackberry plants collected in Los Reyes de Salgado, Michoacán were determined positive for tobacco ringspot virus (TRSV; genus Nepovirus), such plants exhibited yellowing and ringspot on leaves. In contrast, the rest of berry samples tested negative for any other virus. This is the first report of TRSV or any other virus infecting berries in Mexico.