Journal of Plant Pathology (2004) 86, p. 331 (Ratti et al.)

C. Ratti, C. Rubies Autonell, L. Bianchi, A. Pisi, M. Cardoni, V. Vicchi and A. Babini (2004)
Certification of virus-free strawberry in Italy: Evaluation of molecular diagnostic methods
Journal of Plant Pathology 86 (4), 331-331
XI Meeting, Italian Society for Plant Pathology, Milan, 29/9 - 1/10, 2004 (poster)
Abstract: The absence of Strawberry crinkle virus (SCV), Strawberry mild yellow edge associated virus (SMYEV), Strawberry mottle virus (SMoV), and Strawberry vein banding virus (SVBV) is required for certifying virus-free strawberries in Italy. In commercial strawberries these viruses lower the quality of the crop and cause losses ranging from 30%, in single infections, to 80%, in mixed infections. Infection and distribution of these viruses depend on the season, geographical area, host susceptibility, aphid populations, and climatic conditions. In Italy leaf grafting is the only diagnostic technique for virus-free certification since direct identification of infection is impossible in commercial varieties, due to the absence of clear-cut symptoms. This technique is expensive, time consuming, and requires greenhouse facilities. Since serological approaches are unreliable (except for SMYEV), alternative nucleic acid-based detection assays have been tried. Few molecular protocols have been developed so far but they cannot be used for routine diagnosis. Thus, the reliability was tested of two recently published protocols, based on nested and multiplex PCR reactions for the single or simultaneous detection of SCV, SMYEV SmoV, and SVBV Experiments were performed on 135 accessions, including nine commercial varieties and indicators, comparing different tissue types and plants of different age. The results obtained confirm the scarce reliability of the two assays tested indicating that it is impossible to use a single protocol for the detection of all viruses in any given sample. Work to improve these protocols is in progress.
Database assignments for author(s): Concepcion Rubies Autonell

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
identification/taxonomy

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Strawberry mild yellow edge virus	Strawberry (Fragaria)	Italy
	Sadwavirus fragariae	Strawberry (Fragaria)	Italy
	Caulimovirus venafragariae	Strawberry (Fragaria)	Italy
	Cytorhabdovirus fragariarugosus	Strawberry (Fragaria)	Italy