Published in Scientific Papers. Series B. Horticulture., Vol. LVII
Written by Luminiţa Antonela ZAGRAI, Ioan ZAGRAI
Apple proliferation (AP), caused by the ‘Candidatus Phytoplama mali’ (’Ca. P. Mali’), is considered one of the most important disease affecting apple. While different reports showed its largely spread in some European countries, very limited information about the occurrence of AP in Romanian apple orchards are available. To start to secure this missing data, a preliminary survey was perform in two apple orchards located in Bistrita area from Romania. Watching typical AP symptoms (witches’ brooms, foliar reddening, dwarf fruits), twenty samples from symptomatic trees, belonging to three cultivars (Generos, Florina and Aura), were collected in autumn 2012. Serological DAS-ELISA using Bioreba monoclonal antibody, and nested-PCR using primer sets to detect AP group, were performed. ELISA results indicated that 17 out of 20 samples collected were positive, while nested-PCR revealed that all 20 samples were infected. Because plenty of trees showed similar symptoms like those sampled, this preliminary survey suggests a high incidence of AP in the two orchards. An extended study on surrounding areas of Bistrita, and then on regional and national level is necessary to provide relevant data about the AP occurrence in Romanian apple orchards and, subsequently, to recommend control measures, if will be needed.
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