Eradication, Containment, and/or Management Plum Pox Disease (Sharka)

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Plum pox virus, a deadly pathogen discovered in Pennsylvania in 1999, threatens the entire stone fruit industry in the US. In New Jersey, this project will ascertain the extent of the virus, if any, in commercial stone fruit orchards and provide growers with the latest information on plum pox indentification and research.

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APPROACH: 1. Assist the NJ Department of Agriculture on any disease management or technical matters as related to their plum pox survey in New Jersey. 2. Provide oral presentations at grower meetings or provide written reports in grower newsletters to update them on the latest knowledge concerning PPV.
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PROGRESS: 2001/12 TO 2006/09 <BR>
In New Jersey, the national PPV eradication program is a cooperative effort between the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Rutgers Cooperative Research and Extension, and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry. The survey of commercial peach orchards, conducted by the NJDA, was completed in 2004 with collection of 5,951 foliar field samples and 3,254 fruit samples. A total of 36,712 ELISA tests conducted on these samples revealed no positive samples for plum pox virus. To date, all commercial New Jersey orchards have been tested, with none being positive for plum pox virus; consequently, surveys were not conducted during the subsequent 2005 or 2006 growing seasons. The research-oriented objectives of the project were not completed in New Jersey since the virus was not present; thus, project emphasis was on survey and extension activities. National NE-1006 Project meetings were held each year, sometimes in conjunction with a Canadian Plum Pox Virus meeting. Presentations on the latest research on PPV biology, detection, diagnostics, and resistance were given. Meeting discussions also included aspects of current PPV eradication and quarantine efforts, as well as impact of the virus on the stone fruit industry.
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IMPACT: 2001/12 TO 2006/09<BR>
During the course of the project, New Jersey growers were provided information on PPV symptoms and identification, informed of progress of the Pennsylvania and Ontario eradication programs, and updated on the latest research findings. In 2006, new discoveries of PPV in both upstate New York and Michigan warranted continued outreach activities. New Jersey growers were informed of the occurrence, ongoing surveys, and containment activities performed at these two sites in northeast and north-central United States. In addition, information was also published on methods to avoid or reduce the risk of importing PPV contaminated nursery stock into New Jersey. Notification was primarily accomplished through advisory newsletter articles and informal discussions at meetings. Grower awareness of PPV issues and challenges has continued to be "high" in New Jersey.