Little cherry disease
| Little cherry virus 1 | |
|---|---|
| Virus classification | |
| Group: | Group IV ((+)ssRNA) |
| Order: | Unassigned |
| Family: | Closteroviridae |
| Genus: | Velarivirus |
| Species: | Little cherry virus 1 |
| Little cherry virus 2 | |
|---|---|
| Virus classification | |
| Group: | Group IV ((+)ssRNA) |
| Order: | Unassigned |
| Family: | Closteroviridae |
| Genus: | Ampelovirus |
| Species: | Little cherry virus 2 |
Little cherry disease or LChD, sometimes referred to as little cherry, K & S little cherry or sour cherry decline, is a viral infectious disease that affects cherry trees, most notably sweet cherries (Prunus avium) and sour cherries (Prunus cerasus). Little cherry disease should not be confused with cherry buckskin disease, which is caused by Phytoplasma. Note that both diseases are among the diseases referred to as cherry decline.
Little cherry disease is associated with two filamentous plant viruses of the family Closteroviridae, little cherry virus-1 (LChV-1) and little cherry virus-2 (LChV-2). Whereas little cherry virus-2 belongs to the genus Ampelovirus, little cherry virus-1 has been assigned (2013) to the genus Velarivirus. Both viruses are found in the phloem companion and parenchyma cells of infected plants. Little cherry virus-1 has been reported in, apart from cherry trees, plum, almond and peach.
Due to considerable genetic variation among strains, isolates from both viruses have previously been designated as belonging to new and separate species before being reassigned to one of the two recognized viruses.
Long-distance spread of the disease occurs through the planting of infected trees, as well as budding and grafting of infected tissue. To prevent the establishment of the disease, guidelines typically call for testing of and budwood before planting, removal of all trees known and suspected to be infected and eradication of ornamental and wild cherry trees from the surrounding area.
Short-distance spread of the disease occurs through transmission of the viruses by insect vectors. Little cherry virus-2 is spread by scale insects of the family Pseudococcidae, primarily the apple mealybug (Phenacoccus aceris). In areas where the apple mealybug is commonplace, application of insecticides prior to cutting infected trees are routinely used to stop the spread of little cherry disease within orchards. Little cherry virus-1 is spread by an unknown vector. Little cherry disease likely originated in Japan and spread with ornamental cherry trees world-wide; many of the top cherry producing nations in the world have reported infections, including USA, Italy and Spain.
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Wikipedia