Blueberry shoestring virus

Last updated
Blueberry shoestring virus
Blueberry shoestring virus symptoms.jpg
Reddish-purple coloration and strap-like leaf shape caused by BBSSV disease
Virus classification Red Pencil Icon.png
(unranked): Virus
Realm: Riboviria
Kingdom: Orthornavirae
Phylum: Pisuviricota
Class: Pisoniviricetes
Order: Sobelivirales
Family: Solemoviridae
Genus: Sobemovirus
Species:
Blueberry shoestring virus

Blueberry shoestring virus (BBSSV) is a disease-causing virus that is commonly transmitted by the aphid vector, Illinoia pepperi . [1] The blueberry shoestring virus disease is very prominent in highbush and lowbush blueberry plants in the northeastern and upper Midwest of the United States. [2] Symptoms can vary significantly depending on the environment, but the most common disease symptoms are reddish streaking on young stems, reduced vigor and strap-shaped leaves. [3] The blueberry shoestring virus disease can be managed by eliminating the aphid vector through the use of biological, chemical or cultural controls. In severe cases, the disease leads to an extensive loss of yield and marketable fruit. [4]

Contents

Hosts and symptoms

Lowbush blueberry bush.jpg
Healthy lowbush blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium , fruits.
Blueberry shoestring virus - flowers.jpg
Blueberry flowers with the blueberry shoestring virus disease.

The only known plant hosts of blueberry shoestring virus are highbush blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum , and lowbush blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium , plants. The highbush host cultivars include Blueray, Burlington, Coville, Earliblue, Elliot, Jersey, June, Rancocas, Rubel and Weymouth. [5] The Jersey, Elliot, and Blueray cultivars are particularly susceptible. When infected, these blueberry plants become stunted in growth. A common symptom that is present in infected plants is elongated reddish streaking on the stems, which is the most common visual diagnostic of BBSSV. Other common symptoms include red vein-banding on the leaf, which form a red oak-leaf like pattern, and a red-purple discoloration on undeveloped berries. The berries remain discolored and do not turn blue. The flowers of infected blueberry plants may have a pink tinge or reddish streaks on the petals. [1] [6] [7] As the severity of the disease increases, the leaves become crescent-shaped, and the yield production of blueberries is reduced. [1] However, the latency period (time between infection and symptom expression) of BBSSV can last as long as 4 years, which makes it difficult to distinguish between healthy and infected blueberry plants. [7]

Disease cycle

There are several species of blueberry aphids that colonize blueberry bushes. The most damaging blueberry aphid species are those that vector and transmit the viral particles that cause blueberry shoestring virus. Adult blueberry aphids have a light green thorax and abdomen with darker legs and antennae. The cornicles, a distinguishing feature of aphids, are located towards the rear of the body and contain a dark brown tip. [8]

Blueberry aphid, Illinoia pepperi, colony on a leaf of a blueberry bush. Illinoia pepperi - blueberry aphid.jpg
Blueberry aphid, Illinoia pepperi, colony on a leaf of a blueberry bush.

Aphid life cycle

The blueberry shoestring virus is vectored by the blueberry aphid, Illinoia pepperi. [9] During the winter, blueberry aphids overwinter as tiny eggs at the bases of buds. In the Spring, when young foliage begins to develop, which is usually during bloom, eggs begin to hatch and young aphids move in search for a place to feed. The ideal temperature for the eggs to hatch is around 38 °F [3.3 °C]. [8] Once the aphids are mature, they are able to reproduce sexually and asexually (females produce offspring without mating). As a response to crowding in the growing colonies, wings begin to develop on the aphids. Although most aphid movement is within the same blueberry plant, winged aphids have the ability to fly onto other blueberry plants and infect them. In the fall, the male and female aphids mate and the eggs are laid on buds on the new plant growth where they overwinter until the spring. [1]

Virus transmission

The pathogen that causes blueberry shoestring virus is a single-stranded RNA virus with isometric particles that are 27 nanometers in diameter. [4] Aphids obtain viral particles from diseased plants by inserting their stylet into the stem. The viral particles can be transmitted to healthy plants through aphid saliva for up to 10 days after feeding on an infected plant and it has been found that aphid hemolymph (blood-like fluid) contains virus particles, which indicates that the virus circulates within the insect. The blueberry shoestring plant virus causes a systemic infection of the blueberry plant. Virus particles are transmitted primarily through the phloem, but research by Urban et al has shown that the virus is able to travel through the xylem, in the form of plant sap, and it is found in all plant tissues, such as the parenchymatous tissue, as well. [7] Symptoms may not be visible until up to 4 years after initial infection, which causes complications with disease detection. [8]

Environment

Blueberry shoestring virus is a widespread disease of blueberries in Michigan and New Jersey, but it has also been detected in Washington, North Carolina, and Oregon. It has also been found in lowbush blueberry in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Canada. The disease has not been reported from other parts of the world. The blueberry aphids overwinter as tiny eggs at the bases of the buds of the blueberry plant. Once young foliage has begun to develop, the young aphids will search for a place to feed and may move between adjacent plants. Aphid colonies reproduce most quickly on fast-growing young shoots so it is important to avoid over fertilization. [8] The spread of the pathogen towards the south is limited because the vector, I. pepperi, is not found in warm regions since the optimal temperature for blueberry aphid eggs to hatch is around 38 °F [3.3 °C]. [8] [10]

Management

One way to reduce the virus and infection risk is through aphid management. Aphids are typically found on the undersides of leaves on the lower succulent shoots. After bloom, the lower shoots should be inspected weekly in multiple areas of the field. Wingless aphids are found early in the growing season while later in the season, the colonies will be made up of both wingless and winged aphids. Aphids have multiple natural predators, which growers rely on to naturally control the aphid population, such as parasitic wasps, Aphidius spp., as well as the seven spotted lady beetle, Coccinella septempunctata . The parasitic wasps lay their eggs inside of aphids and the larvae then consume the aphids from the inside. These parasitic predators also attack the aphid eggs. When growing blueberries, it is important to only use certified virus-free planting material. In order to detect the presence of the virus, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) readily detects the virus in infected leaves, blossoms, and fruit bud tissues. ELISA kits are commercially available for growers testing their potentially infected blueberry bushes. When transferring plants from an infected field to a healthy field it is important to wash the plants with water to remove virus-carrying aphids and prevent the spread of the disease to other areas. For chemical management of the disease, optimal aphid control insecticides are Provado, Actara or Assail. These insecticides belong to the neonicotinoid class and are able to spread in the foliage after application. [8] Studies have shown that infection can be spread by rubbing viral particles on the leaves of healthy blueberry plants so it is important to immediately remove and dispose of infected plant material once infection has been detected. [11] There is no single common way to control the spread of the blueberry shoestring virus. The management option used depends on the severity of the disease and the population density of the aphid vector. [8]

Importance

Blueberry shoestring virus is a devastating disease because once a plant is infected there is no cure. This virus has been detected in northeastern and upper Midwest states such as Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Washington. Blueberries are native to Michigan and for the past 100 years it has been the nations leading producer of blueberries, but due to reduced yield and bush decline caused by the blueberry shoestring virus it has experienced annual losses of nearly 3 million dollars. [4] [12]

Over the past few years there has been a major shift and expansion in blueberry production and now many different countries, such as Canada and Switzerland, are cultivating fields to join the blueberry industry. Many countries do not have certification programs to safeguard the blueberry industry, which raises concerns because it may lead to the introduction of existing blueberry viral diseases to new regions of the world. Once a virus is introduced to a new area it can cost growers tens of millions of dollars to eradicate the viral pathogen. If the blueberry industry is to survive, quality controls will have to become a priority to limit the spread of blueberry viruses, especially those that can be transmitted through vectors. [13]

Related Research Articles


Barley yellow dwarf (BYD) is a plant disease caused by the barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV), and is the most widely distributed viral disease of cereals. It affects the economically important crop species barley, oats, wheat, maize, triticale and rice.

Plum pox

Plum pox, also known as sharka, is the most devastating viral disease of stone fruit from the genus Prunus. The disease is caused by the plum pox virus (PPV), and the different strains may infect a variety of stone fruit species including peaches, apricots, plums, nectarine, almonds, and sweet and tart cherries. Wild and ornamental species of Prunus may also become infected by some strains of the virus.

<i>Potato leafroll virus</i> Species of virus

Potato leafroll virus (PLRV) is a member of the genus Polerovirus and family Solemoviridae. The phloem limited positive sense RNA virus infects potatoes and other members of the family Solanaceae. PLRV was first described by Quanjer et al. in 1916. PLRV is transmitted by aphids, primarily the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae. PLRV is one of the most important potato viruses worldwide but particularly devastating in countries with limited resources and management. It can be responsible for individual plant yield losses of over 50%. One estimate suggests that PLRV is responsible for an annual global yield loss of 20 million tons. Symptoms include chlorosis, necrosis and leaf curling.

Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) is a viral species of the genus Closterovirus that causes the most economically damaging disease to its namesake plant genus, Citrus. The disease has led to the death of millions of Citrus trees all over the world and has rendered millions of others useless for production. Farmers in Brazil and other South American countries gave it the name "tristeza", meaning sadness in Portuguese and Spanish, referring to the devastation produced by the disease in the 1930s. The virus is transmitted most efficiently by the brown citrus aphid.

<i>Papaya ringspot virus</i> Species of virus

Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) is a pathogenic plant virus in the genus Potyvirus and the virus family Potyviridae which primarily infects the papaya tree.

Asparagus virus 1 (AV-1) is one of the nine known viruses that affects asparagus plants. It is in the Potyviridae family. Initially reported by G. L Hein in 1960, it is a member of the genus Potyvirus and causes no distinct symptoms in asparagus plants. The only known plant that can get AV-1 is asparagus plants. It is spread by aphids vectors, which means that aphids do not cause the AV-1, but they do spread it.

<i>Banana bunchy top virus</i> Species of virus

Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) is a plant pathogenic virus of the family Nanoviridae known for infecting banana plants and other crops. It is aphid transmitted.

<i>Cucumber mosaic virus</i> Species of virus

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) is a plant pathogenic virus in the family Bromoviridae. This virus has a worldwide distribution and a very wide host range. In fact it has the reputation of having the widest host range of any known plant virus. It can be transmitted from plant to plant both mechanically by sap and by aphids in a stylet-borne fashion. It can also be transmitted in seeds and by the parasitic weeds, Cuscuta sp. (dodder).

Potato virus Y (PVY) is a plant pathogenic virus of the family Potyviridae, and one of the most important plant viruses affecting potato production.

<i>Tobacco rattle virus</i> Species of virus

Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) is a pathogenic plant virus. Over 400 species of plants from 50 families are susceptible to infection.

<i>Soybean mosaic virus</i> Plant disease

Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is a member of the plant virus genus Potyvirus. It infects mainly plants belonging to the family Fabaceae but has also been found infecting other economically important crops. SMV is the cause of soybean mosaic disease that occurs in all the soybean productions areas of the world. Soybean is one of the most important sources of edible oil and proteins and pathogenic infections are responsible for annual yield losses of about $4 billion in the United States. Among these pathogens, SMV is the most important and prevalent viral pathogen in soybean production worldwide. It causes yield reductions of about 8% to 35% but losses as high as 94% have been reported.

<i>Strawberry vein banding virus</i> Species of virus

Strawberry vein banding virus (SVBV) is a plant pathogenic virus and a member of the family Caulimoviridae.

<i>Orthotospovirus</i> Genus of viruses

Orthotospovirus is a genus of negative-strand RNA viruses, in the family Tospoviridae of the order Bunyavirales, which infects plants. Tospoviruses take their name from the species Tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus (TSWV) which was discovered in Australia in 1919. TSWV remained the only known member of the family until the early 1990s when genetic characterisation of plant viruses became more common. There are now at least twenty species in the genus with more being discovered on a regular basis. Member viruses infect over eight hundred plant species from 82 different families.

Blueberry Section of plants

Blueberries are a widely distributed and widespread group of perennial flowering plants with blue or purple berries. They are classified in the section Cyanococcus within the genus Vaccinium. Vaccinium also includes cranberries, bilberries, huckleberries and Madeira blueberries. Commercial blueberries—both wild (lowbush) and cultivated (highbush)—are all native to North America. The highbush varieties were introduced into Europe during the 1930s.

Commelina mosaic virus (CoMV) is a plant pathogenic virus in the genus Potyvirus and the virus family Potyviridae. Like other members of the Potyvirus genus, CoMV is a monopartite strand of positive-sense, single-stranded RNA surrounded by a capsid made for a single viral encoded protein. The virus is a filamentous particle that measures about 707-808 nm in length. This virus is transmitted by two species of aphids, Myzus persicae and Aphis gossypii, and by mechanical inoculation.

The Blueberry leaf mottle virus (BLMV) is a Nepovirus that was first discovered in Michigan in 1977. It has also appeared in New York, eastern Canada, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Portugal.

Blueberry shock virus (BlShV) is an Ilarvirus belonging to the Bromoviridae family. The Bromoviridae family contains single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses. Virus particles are icosahedral and 30 nm in diameter. Blueberry shock virus causes shock of blueberries in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. It gets its name because plants are shocked by the initial infection, meaning the flowers and foliage blight and wilt in the early spring, right when the plant is in full bloom. BIShV was first discovered in a blueberry field containing highbush blueberry in Washington in 1991. It continued to spread to Oregon, Washington and British Columbia since that time. In 2009, the disease was found in a western Michigan field, and may be preset in Pennsylvania as of 2011. Since its discovery, eradication is in progress to eliminate the disease and reduce loss of yield from it.

Carrot virus Y (CarVY) is a (+)ss-RNA virus that affects crops of the carrot family (Apiaceae), such as carrots, anise, chervil, coriander, cumin, dill and parsnip. Carrots are the only known crop to be infected in the field. Infection by the virus leads to deformed roots and discolored or mottled leaves. The virus is spread through insect vectors, and is currently only found in Australia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Morimoto, K.M., D.C. Ramsdell, J.M. Gillett, and W.G. Chaney. 1985. Acquisition and transmission of blueberry shoestring virus by its aphid vector Illinoia pepperi. Phytopathology 75:709-712.
  2. ↑ Ranger, C. M., J. Johnson-Cicalese, S. Polavarapu, N. Vorsa. 2006. Evaluation of Vaccinium spp. for Illinoia pepperi (Hemiptera: Aphididae) Performance and Phenolic Content. J. Econ. Entomol. 99(4): 1474-1482.
  3. ↑ Ramsdell, D.C. 1979. Blueberry shoestring virus, no. 204. CMI/AAR descriptions of plant viruses. Kew, Surrey, England.
  4. 1 2 3 Ramsdell D.C. Blueberry Shoestring. In: Converse R.H., editor. 1987. Virus Diseases of Small Fruits. US Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook No. 631, US Government Printing Office; Washington, D.C., USA: pp. 103–105.
  5. ↑ "Diseases". Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment University of Massachusetts . 2015-06-22. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  6. ↑ Morimoto KM, Ramsdell DC. 1985. Aphid Vector Population-Dynamics and Movement Relative to Field Transmission of Blueberry Shoestring Virus. Phytopathology 75:1217-1222.
  7. 1 2 3 Urban LA, Ramsdell DC, Klomparens KL, Lynch T, Hancock JF. 1989. Detection of Blueberry Shoestring Virus in Xylem and Phloem Tissues of Highbush Blueberry. Phytopathology 79:488-493.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Isaacs R, Schilder A, Miles T, Longstroth M. 2008. Blueberry Aphid and Blueberry Shoestring Virus. Extension Bulletin E-3050.
  9. ↑ Ranger CM, Singh AP, Johnson-Cicalese J, Polavarapu S, Vorsa N. 2007. Intraspecific variation in aphid resistance and constitutive phenolics exhibited by the wild blueberry Vaccinium darrowi. Journal of Chemical Ecology 33:711-729.
  10. ↑ J.F. Hancock1, P.W. Callow1, S.L. Krebs1, and D.C. Ramsdell. 1993. Blueberry Shoestring Virus in Eastern North American Populations of Native Vaccinium. HortScience 28(3):175-176.
  11. ↑ Acquaah, T., D.C. Ramsdell. 1995. Resistance to Blueberry Shoestring Virus in Southern Highbush and Rabbiteye Cultivars. HortScience 30(7):1459-1460.
  12. ↑ Longstroth, M. and E. Hanson. 2012. The Michigan Blueberry Industry. MSU Extension. www.agbioresearch.msu.edu.
  13. ↑ Martin, R.R., J.J. Polashock, and I.E. Tzanetakis. 2012 Nov. New and Emerging Viruses of Blueberry and Cranberry. Virus 4(11):2831-2852.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.