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Title: First report of Persimmon cryptic virus and Persimmon virus A in Korea

Author
item CHO, IN-SOOK - National Institute Of Horticultural & Herbal Science (NIHHS)
item PARK, MIN-JU - National Institute Of Horticultural & Herbal Science (NIHHS)
item KWON, SUN-JUNG - National Institute Of Horticultural & Herbal Science (NIHHS)
item CHOI, GUG-SEOUN - National Institute Of Horticultural & Herbal Science (NIHHS)
item Hammond, John
item LIM, HYOUN-SUB - Chungnam National University

Submitted to: Journal of Plant Pathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/6/2016
Publication Date: 11/2/2016
Citation: Cho, I., Park, M., Kwon, S., Choi, G., Hammond, J., Lim, H. 2016. First report of Persimmon cryptic virus and Persimmon virus A in Korea. Journal of Plant Pathology. 98(3):694.

Interpretive Summary: Virus infections affect the yield and quality of fruit trees, and thus can cause considerable economic loss. Mixed virus infections are frequently found due to accumulation over the life of the crop and through vegetative propagation. In order to establish a baseline for future crop health improvement, a survey of the viruses present in persimmon orchards in Korea was performed in 2014. Two viruses were detected, Persimmon cryptic virus and Persimmon virus A. Persimmon virus A was most commonly identified in mixed infection with Persimmon cryptic virus. Identification of these viruses for the first time in Korea reveals the extent of infection in persimmon orchards, and provides information to improve the future health and productivity of persimmon orchards through selection of virus-free trees for propagation.

Technical Abstract: In 2014, a total of 77 persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) trees from Korean commercial persimmon orchards were surveyed for Persimmon cryptic virus (PeCV) and Persimmon virus A (PeVA). Leaf samples were collected from symptomatic trees with necrosis (two), or mosaic and leaf malformations (one) and 74 asymptomatic trees. Total RNAs were extracted and subjected to RT-PCR using specific primer pairs designed to detect these viruses. PCR products of the expected sizes (526bp and 250bp for PeCV and PeVA, respectively) were directly sequenced for all trees. Results of RT-PCR revealed 67 PeCV and 11 PeVA positive samples, including nine samples with mixed infections of PeCV and PeVA. BLASTn of consensus sequences revealed 99% nucleotide sequence identity to Italian PeCV isolate SSPI (HE805114) and 98% to Japanese PeVA isolate (AB735628). The consensus sequences were deposited in GenBank. Mixed infections of both viruses were detected in one plant showing vein necrosis, and in eight asymptomatic samples. To our knowledge, this is the first report of PeCV and PeCV infection of persimmon in Korea.