Phytosanitary status of stone fruits, citrus and olives in Palestine
The phytosanitary status of stone fruits, citrus and olives was studied in Palestine. 1500 samples from commercial orchards, varietal plots and nurseries were collected in January 1999 and tested (ELISA, immunoprinting, mechanical inoculation, graft transmission and molecular assays). 900 stone fruit trees were tested (500 plum trees (Prunus domestica), 200 almond (P. dulcis), 100 apricot (P. armeniaca), 50 peach (P. persica), and 50 cherry (P. avium)). Result showed that 18.7 % of the tested trees were infected by at least one virus. The main types of infection found were: apple chlorotic leaf spot trichovirus in cherry (27.5%), prunus necrotic ringspot ilarvirus in peach (26.7 %) and prune dwarf ilarvirus in almond (13 %). Plum pox potyvirus (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) and apple mosaic ilarvirus were not detected. 140 citrus trees (C. sinensis, C. limon, C. reticulata etc.) were tested for the presence of citrus tristeza closterovirus (EPPO A2 quarantine pest), citrus psorosis, citrus variegation, citrus vein enation ?virus and Spiroplasma citri (EU Annexes). Citrus tristeza closterovirus was found in 16.3 % of the tested samples. However, infection was limited to the Western area of the West Bank. Citrus psorosis was also found in the same area on 10.5% of the tested samples (C. sinensis). Spiroplasma citri and other diseases included in this study were not detected. Concerning olive trees, two thirds of the 22 tested samples showed infections of probable viral origin.
Sources
Jarrar, S.A. (1999) Research highlights – Sanitary status of stone fruits, citrus and olives in Palestine.
Arab and Near East Plant Protection Newsletter, no. 29, December 1999, Arab Society for Plant Protection, Aleppo (SY) and FAO Near East Regional Office, Cairo (EG), p 26-27.