Articles
RECOVERY OF PLANTS INFECTED WITH BLUEBERRY SHOCK ILARVIRUS (BISH V)
Article number
574_10
Pages
85 – 89
Language
English
Abstract
A multi-year field trial was initiated in 1995 in a commercial field of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L., cv Berkeley) where blueberry shock ilarvirus (BlShV) was actively spreading.
The objectives were to determine: 1) how rapidly newly infected bushes returned to productivity following the shock reaction phase of the disease and 2) if cutting infected bushes off just above the soil line (renovation) hastened recovery.
Previously, we observed that regrowth on infected bushes renovated in this way was free of symptoms although the bushes continued to test ELISA-positive for BlShV. BlShV was first detected in this block of 528 bushes in 1993 and by 1997, nearly 99% of the bushes were infected.
Losses from bushes showing symptoms for the first time varied from 34-90% depending on the year and were related to the severity of blighting.
Most bushes exhibited blighting for only one year.
Yield in the year following severe blighting averaged 74% of that for healthy control bushes.
This demonstrated that bushes were still able to form fruit buds by summers end of the year when blighting occurred.
For bushes newly infected in 1995, the three-year yield (1995-97) was 65% of healthy control bushes.
This compares with only 37% for bushes that were cut off in spring 1995. Our data show that renovation for the sole purpose of reducing the impact of BlShV is not warranted, unless, renovation is needed for some other purpose such as returning fruiting to younger wood or lowering the fruiting region of the bushes.
The objectives were to determine: 1) how rapidly newly infected bushes returned to productivity following the shock reaction phase of the disease and 2) if cutting infected bushes off just above the soil line (renovation) hastened recovery.
Previously, we observed that regrowth on infected bushes renovated in this way was free of symptoms although the bushes continued to test ELISA-positive for BlShV. BlShV was first detected in this block of 528 bushes in 1993 and by 1997, nearly 99% of the bushes were infected.
Losses from bushes showing symptoms for the first time varied from 34-90% depending on the year and were related to the severity of blighting.
Most bushes exhibited blighting for only one year.
Yield in the year following severe blighting averaged 74% of that for healthy control bushes.
This demonstrated that bushes were still able to form fruit buds by summers end of the year when blighting occurred.
For bushes newly infected in 1995, the three-year yield (1995-97) was 65% of healthy control bushes.
This compares with only 37% for bushes that were cut off in spring 1995. Our data show that renovation for the sole purpose of reducing the impact of BlShV is not warranted, unless, renovation is needed for some other purpose such as returning fruiting to younger wood or lowering the fruiting region of the bushes.
Publication
Authors
P.R. Bristow, R.R. Martin
Keywords
Vaccinium corymbosum, highbush blueberry, shock reaction, virus disease, renovation
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