Blueberry shock virus

Ilarvirus • Bromoviridae • plant viruses • plant diseases • pests-diseases-weeds

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symptoms of blueberry leaves infected with the Blueberry shock virus - A) in the field, B) leaf necrosis, C) leaf reddening in recovered plants (click on image to enlarge it)
Author(s): Robert R. Martin et al.
Source: Viruses (2012), 4, p. 2837

Blueberry shock virus (BlShV)

This virus infects blueberries and cranberries. It has been reported from some north-western and north-eastern states in the U.S. (Martin & Tzanetakis, 2018). Newly infected blueberry plants show a "shock reaction" during the first year, with leaves and flowers becoming necrotic and falling off from the bushes in spring, when then plants are in full bloom, see section A an B of illustration at right and Martin et al. (2012). However, during the summer new leaves grow and by autumn the plants look almost normal again, but lack any fruits. During the coming years, the recovered plants grow normally and bear fruits, except for leaf reddening symptoms in some cultivars (section C of illustration at right).

In blueberries, the virus is transmitted by pollen, just before the first blight symptoms appear. In some cases, it is more economical for a farmer to let the disease spread through a blueberry field and except the losses for one year, rather then removing the crop and replanting it.