Occurrence of apple proliferation and pear decline phytoplasmas in pears in Hungary
In Hungary, typical symptoms of pear decline phytoplasma (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) weren observed on indicators (cv. Williams) during a graft-transmission experiment with budwood from different pear cultivars in 1976. However, at that time, was not possible to confirm the result by laboratory identification of the pathogen, and infection by pear decline phytoplasma was not further reported. Apple proliferation phytoplasma (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) is widespread in apple orchards, but so far had not been found on pear in Hungary. Studies were carried out on samples (leaves and shoots) taken from seven symptomatic pear plants (cvs Williams and Esperen’s Bergamotte) in a nursery at Alsótekeres. Analysis (PCR, RFLP, PCR-ELISA) showed the presence of pear decline and apple proliferation phytoplasmas (in mixed infections in some cases). According to the EPPO Secretariat this is the first report of pear decline phytoplasma in Hungary.
Sources
Del Serrone, P.; La Starza, S.; Krystai, L.; Kölber, M.; Barba, M. (1998) Occurrence of apple proliferation and pear decline phytoplasmas in diseased pear trees in Hungary.
Journal of Plant Pathology, 80(1), 53-58.