Blueberry red ringspot virus eliminated from highbush blueberry by shoot tip culture

Abstract

In order to find an effective elimination method of Blueberry red ringspot virus (BRRV), shoot tips of 2–3 mm size originating from buds of highbush blueberry cv. Darrow naturally infected by BRRV and collected in winter months were regenerated and multiplied on woody-plant medium (WPM) with 1.5 mg/l zeatin and 20 g/l sucrose. Developed shoots tested negative by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for BRRV were transferred onto a rooting medium consisting of WPM supplemented with 1 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid. Rooting plants were transferred into soil and tested twice by PCR 6 months apart. Ninety per cent eradication of BRRV was achieved while isolating shoot tips, multiplying them in one vegetative generation, and regenerating whole 50–60 cm high plants within 30 months. All plants developed rich fruits after their overwintering in a cold greenhouse and were tested BRRV negative in summer 2013.