Evaluation of resistance to Plum pox virus of North American and European apricot cultivars

Abstract

The resistance to a Dideron isolate of Plum pox virus, which causes sharka disease, of four apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) cultivars from North America ('Harlayne', 'Henderson', 'Sunglo', and 'Veecot') and a Greek cultivar Lito (a cross of American cultivar Stark Early Orange x Greek cultivar Precoce Tirynthos) was evaluated. 'Stark Early Orange' and 'Canino', previously rated as resistant and susceptible respectively, were included as controls. Resistance, herein, was defined as inability to infect plants by graft-inoculation and negative assays by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cultivars found to be resistant were: 'Harlayne', 'Henderson', 'Sunglo', 'Lito', and 'Stark Early Orange'. Cultivars Veecot and Canino were susceptible.