Incidence of ilarviruses in cherry nurseries and newly established orchards

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is one of the most important stone fruit species in Bulgaria. The known to be susceptible more than 30 viruses. Among them are prune dwarf virus (PDV), prunus necrotic ringspot (PNRSV) and apple mosaic (ApMV), ilarviruses. Testing for these viruses required certification schemes order provide virus-tested propagated material fruit-growing industry prevent their distribution by imported infected plant materials. Visual field surveys, followed DAS-ELISA tests 664 leaf samples collected 2019 2020 from trees grown several nurseries young orchards were conducted. PDV PNRSV serologically detected. ApMV was not detected any tested one-year-old seedlings trees. overall infection rate 11.4%. frequent (7.4%), both (7.2%) ‘young’ (7.6%), – 4.1% 4.0% orchards. results showed differences average occurrence among orchards, ranging 0.9 % a nursery (Plovdiv district) 31.6% orchard (Petrich region).