First molecular characterization of plum pox virus strains in stone fruits of Tuscany (Central Italy)

Abstract Plum pox virus (PPV) a potyvirus in the family Potyviridae , is etiologic agent of sharka, worldwide most important and detrimental viral disease stone fruits (genus Prunus ). Although PPV was identified Italy already 1970s it has been largely reported almost all Italian regions, broad investigation genetic characterization isolates lacking them, including Tuscany (Central Italy). To address this knowledge gap, 2020 2021, field surveys were carried out 80 commercial orchards total 690 leaf samples collected from different species. 25 12 peach plum samples, respectively (more than 5% tested samples), whereas no positive apricot. Eighteen 37 showed mixed infections with other viruses viroids, mostly necrotic ringspot latent mosaic viroid peach. Molecular typing infected generated NIb/CP amplicons corresponding to PPV-Marcus (M) or PPV-Recombinant (Rec) strains. Furthermore, starting identification eight nucleotide sequences (among which five two new PPV-M PPV-Rec isolates, respectively), study firstly PPV-Mb subgroup Italy, even prevalent PPV-Ma. Finally, resulted phylogenetically close Turkish previously detected. Overall, results here presented represent an step fill gaps about Tuscany, we believe may encourage similar research achieve more accurate data on populations at both national international levels.