LETHAL SENSITIVITY OF SOME NEW CHERRY ROOTSTOCKS TO POLLEN-BORNE VIRUSES

Most of the new precocious, vigor-controlling sweet cherry rootstocks now under regional research trial and early commercial adoption are derived from species other than, or are hybrids with, Prunus avium. While this genetic diversity provides novel and exciting horticultural traits, it also introduces increased risk of adverse reaction(s) to endemic pollen-borne viruses which typically are tolerated by traditional P. avium and P. mahaleb rootstocks.
At the last meeting of this Symposium, we provided a preliminary report (Lang et al., 1997, Acta Hort. 451:217-224) on more than a dozen new rootstock genotypes that exhibited “hypersensitive” (rapid, lethal) or “sensitive” (less severe but ultimately lethal) reactions to common strains of prune dwarf (PDV) and/or Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV). Conclusive classifications for those genotypes have been reported elsewhere (Lang et al., 1998, Acta Hort. 468:307-314). Herein we report preliminary results from grafted tree virus inoculation assays of a new set of rootstock genotypes (e.g., additional Giessen/Ahrensburg selections, the Weiroot series, Tabel Edabriz, etc.) which suggest that additional genotypes may be classified as hypersensitive (Gi 195/20, Gi 473/10), sensitive (Weiroot 10, 13, 53, 154), or (tentatively) tolerant (Gi 209/1, Gi 318/17, Weiroot 72, Weiroot 158, Tabel Edabriz, P-50). The implications of these virus sensitivity tests for future cherry rootstock testing and adoption are discussed.

VII International Symposium on Orchard and Plantation Systems

G. Lang, W. Howell

prune dwarf virus, Prunus necrotic ringspot virus, hypersensitivity, ilarviruses, Prunus avium, Prunus cerasus, Prunus canescens, Prunus fruticosa

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2001.557.19