INFLUENCE OF THE TIME OF SAMPLING ON DETECTION OF ESFY PHYTOPLASMA

Significant levels of European Stone Fruit Yellows phytoplasma (ESFY), recently named “Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum”, have been recorded in the Czech Republic, since 2003. The plant health inspection measures, required under the certification scheme for propagating young fruit trees, finds the nested PCR method is optimal. Therefore, it is important to know the best time for taking samples from the leaf-stalks or phloem of 2-year-old woody shoots. Detection of ESFY phytoplasma is possible throughout the year using PCR methods; however, the accuracy of this diagnostic tool varies with the seasons and also depends on which plant tissue is examined. It is generally more accurate in the growing season, and although it can be used in the dormant season, this is not appropriate for the plant health inspections under the certification scheme. The optimal time for the diagnosis of ESFY is June for phloem samples and September for leaf-stalk samples.