The molecular identification of latent viruses in the main apple production areas in Southwest China

Abstract:

In order to gain a further study of the impact of apples on the latent virus, 387 samples of apple leaves from the provinces of Yunnan, Sichuan and Guizhou were collected in this study. Three kinds of apple latent viruses, including ASPV（Apple stem pitting virus）, ASGV (Apple stem grooving virus) and ACLSV (Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus), were analyzed and identified by RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription PCR) and multiplex RT-PCR. The results demonstrated that the incidence rate of ASPV, ASGV, and ACLSV was 89.4%, 100%, and 81.6%, respectively. In addition, 304 out of 387 samples were co-infected by all three viruses. Compared with Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, apple samples collected from Sichuan province are most seriously infected by the apple latent viruses. The status of latent viruses infection in the main apple producing areas in Southwest China is first reported in this study, a set of rapid and effective molecular method for latent viruses identification is established.