THERMOTHERAPY OF GRAPEVINES AND APRICOTS BY REASON OF VIRUSES AND PHYTOPLASMA ELIMINATION

The modified methods of thermotherapy were investigated for the use in pathogens elimination from grapevine rootstocks and apricot variety Hargrand. In case of grapevine rootstocks the in vitro thermotherapy was compared with therapy of plants in non-sterile conditions. Plants from varieties: Craciunel 2, Amos, Kober 125 AA and SO 4, were found positive by ELISA to ArMV, GLRaV 3 and GFLV, respectively. After therapies, the plants kept under controlled conditions (temperatures 37°C-light) and 35°C-dark) and shoot tips (3 mm long) were collected from the plants and cultivated on media. Plants originated from shoot tips were tested by RT-PCR two times in culture (1 year and 2 years after therapy) and in two terms after transfer to non-sterile conditions (6 months after transfer and 12 months after transfer). In case of apricots the hot water treatment method were tested for elimination of Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum. Woody grafts collected in February were tested by PCR and were placed into a water bath, where the temperature of water was 45°C. The experiment had the following variants: control – without treatment, 60, 75, 90 minutes in hot water bath, respectively. After therapy, the grafts grafted on virus free rootstocks and after 7 months were tested by PCR again.