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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Disease and Pest Management Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #385347
Research Project: Development of Knowledge-based Approaches for Disease Management in Small Fruit and Nursery Crops

Location: Horticultural Crops Disease and Pest Management Research Unit

Title: Diagnostic and historical surveys of sweet cherry (Prunus avium) virus and virus-like diseases in Oregon

Author
item Reinhold Aboosaie, Lauri
item PSCHEIDT, JAY - Oregon State University

Submitted to: Plant Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/21/2022
Publication Date: 3/7/2023
Citation: Reinhold, L.A., Pscheidt, J.W. 2023. Diagnostic and historical surveys of sweet cherry (Prunus avium) virus and virus-like diseases in Oregon. Plant Disease. 107(3):633-643. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-02-21-0327-SR.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-02-21-0327-SR

Interpretive Summary: Oregon is the second-ranked state for sweet cherry production in the United States. Sweet cherries are susceptible to many different viruses. Viruses can cause significant economic impact by killing trees or reducing vegetative growth, vigor, and/or fruit quality. Statewide surveys were conducted in Oregon sweet cherry orchards to look for viruses that cause disease. Orchards in key production regions with suspected virus disease symptoms were sampled. Molecular tests were used to confirm the presence or absence of a virus or similar pathogen. Cherry leaf roll virus, a new virus of sweet cherry in Oregon, was found in association with severe symptoms including leaf deformations and tree dieback in The Dalles. Some viruses causing mild to severe symptoms were found in new regions, which included: Hood River (prune dwarf, prunus necrotic ringspot virus, and tomato ringspot virus) and the Umpqua Valley (prune dwarf and prunus necrotic ringspot virus). All cherries with symptoms of little cherry from The Dalles, Mosier, and Dallesport, WA, tested positive for X-Disease, but not Little Cherry Disease. These findings will help growers manage these diseases of sweet cherry in Oregon and provide the background to support future studies of these pathogens. 

Technical Abstract: There are over 35 known virus and virus-like diseases of sweet cherry (Prunus avium), some with potential to cause severe economic impact by reducing vegetative growth, vigor, and/or fruit quality. Oregon is the second-ranked state for sweet cherry production in the United States. Statewide surveys were conducted in Oregon sweet cherry orchards for virus and virus-like diversity and distribution. Orchards in key production regions with suspected virus disease symptoms were sampled. Virus-specific ELISA, isothermal amplification, or qPCR were used to test for the presence of common and/or economically important sweet cherry pathogens, including: cherry leaf roll virus (CLRV), little cherry virus 2 (LChV2), prune dwarf virus (PDV), prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV), tomato ringspot virus (ToRSV), and the X-Disease phytoplasma (XDP). Cherry leaf roll virus, a new virus of sweet cherry in Oregon, was found associated with enation and dieback symptoms in The Dalles. Some viruses were found in new regions, which included: Hood River (PDV, PNRSV, ToRSV) and the Umpqua Valley (PDV, PNRSV). A subsequent survey was conducted in the Mid-Columbia production region for the presence of little cherry symptoms associated with Little Cherry and X-Diseases. All symptomatic samples from The Dalles and Mosier, OR, or Dallesport, WA, tested positive for XDP, but not LChV2. These findings provide a foundation for the current understanding and management of virus and virus-like diseases of sweet cherry in Oregon and context for further studies into these pathogens and their vectors.