Transmission of prune dwarf virus by peach pollen and latent infection in peach trees

Abstract

Pollen from peach trees infected with prune dwarf virus (PDV) was used to hand-pollinate emasculated flowers on Golden Queen peach trees in the nursery. Symptoms of rosetting developed 20–25 days later on five of the 10 trees used, and PDV could be detected only in these affected trees. Rosetting symptoms developed in the remaining five trees 6–12 months later. Peach trees with latent or incipient infection also occurred naturally in the orchard. 14% and 12% of symptomless Golden Queen and Pullar's Cling trees, respectively, growing next to trees affected with peach rosette and decline were infected with PDV.