The application of RT-PCR assay for the detection of Apple stem pitting virus and Apple stem grooving virus in four apple cultivars

Abstract

The reverse transcription polymerace chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was successfully used for the detection of Apple stem pitting virus (ASPV) and Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV) in four apple cultivars of a 25 years old orchard. These two main pome fruit viruses were detected frequently in all tested apple cultivars. ASGV and ASPV occurred in as many as 16 trees (in the cultivar Spartan) and 13 trees (in the cultivar Idared) out of 20 tested trees, respectively. Mixed infection by ASGV and ASPV was found in all tested cultivars (as many as 9 out of 20 tested trees of the cultivar Spartan).