SEROLOGICAL DETECTION OF SOME VIRUSES IN CHERRY ROOTSTOCKS IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN REGION OF TURKEY

Seedlings for cherry rootstocks were inspected in the field, and shoot and leaf samples were collected from susceptible seedlings in the rootstock blocks of two nurseries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of Turkey in autumn 2004 and early spring 2005. In total, 52 samples from seedlings, 43 samples from clonal rootstocks, and 56 samples from grafted rootstocks with different cultivars were investigated for Apple chlorotic leaf spot trichovirus (ACLSV), Apple mosaic ilarvirus (ApMV), Cherry leaf roll nepovirus (CLRV), Prune dwarf ilarvirus (PDV), Prunus necrotic ringspot ilarvirus (PNRSV) and Plum pox potyvirus (PPV) by DAS-ELISA. Although the seedling samples were negative for all of the detectable viruses, six of 43 clonal samples were found to be infected with ACLSV (1), CLRV (1), PDV (3), and PNRSV (2). No PPV or mixed virus infections were detected from the samples collected from cherry rootstock blocks in the nurseries. The samples that tested positive for different viruses also were investigated by biological indexing by using herbaceous indicators. Different symptoms as chlorotic leaf spot, yellow mosaic and leaf deformation were observed on the inoculated Cucumis sativus and Chenopodium quinoa (Willd.) test plants. However, the use of cuttings as rootstocks is uncommon in the region because the rooting of hardwood cuttings is very difficult. The results suggest that rootstocks produced by cuttings could become main reservoirs for the most important viruses of stone fruits, if the future use of cuttings derived from uncertified mother plants becomes widespread for obtaining genetically uniform rootstocks.