SURVEY ON FIG VIRUSES IN LEBANON

A survey was carried out in the main fig-growing areas of Lebanon (Bekaa and Mount Lebanon) in 2006-2008. A total of 102 samples were collected and tested by RT-PCR for the presence of Fig mosaic virus (FMV), Fig leaf mottle-associated virus 1 (FLMaV-1), Fig leaf mottle-associated virus 2 (FLMaV-2), Fig mild mottle associated virus (FMMaV) and a still unclassified isometric virus of the Tymoviridae family (hereafter indicated as FFkaV) using virus-specific primers.
About 90% of the trees were infected with at least one virus, with mixed infections in ca. 46% of the samples.
FLMaV-1 closterovirus was the prevailing virus (47% infection), especially in Mount Lebanon (95%) and on ‘Aswad’ (80%), followed by FMV Emaravirus (42.2% infection), which was particularly widespread in North Bekaa (68.1%) on ‘Biadi’ (50.8%). Two more viruses of the family Closteroviridae, FLMaV-2 and FMMaV, were detected respectively in 29.4 and 26.5% of the samples, with FLMaV-2 particularly widespread in north Bekaa (57.4%) on ‘Biadi’ (39.4%). FFkaV was detected in 13.7% of the samples, with an infection peak in ‘Houmairi’ (40%).

XXVIII International Horticultural Congress on Science and Horticulture for People (IHC2010): International Symposium on the Challenge for a Sustainable Production, Protection and Consumption of Mediterranean Fruits and Nuts

T. Elbeaino, C. Mortada, M. Digiaro, E. Choueiri

Ficus carica, Lebanon, virus survey, RT-PCR

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2012.940.91