Viruses of stone fruits in Bosnia and Herzegovina

During spring 2004, field surveys were carried out in the main stone fruit growing areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina to assess the sanitary status of commercial orchards, nurseries, home gardens and bordering trees. A total of 1,080 samples: 592 plums, 244 peaches, 149 cherries, 68 apricots and 27 other Prunus species (myrobalan and blackthorn) were tested by ELISA for the presence of Plum pox virus (PPV), Prunus necrotic ring spot virus (PNRSV), Prune dwarf virus (PDV), Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV) and Apple mosaic virus (ApMV). The overall average infection level was 36%. The most infected species was peach (63%) and the least apricot (16%). The most frequent virus was PPV (47%), followed by PNRSV (37%), PDV (26%) and ACLSV (4%). No ApMV was detected. The infection rate in commercial orchards was 41% and in gardens and bordering trees 38%. Virus infection in nurseries (21%) indicated their potential role in spread of virus diseases into new plantings. Stone fruit viruses were detected in local and imported cultivars and found widely distributed throughout the country. Our study revealed a deteriorated sanitary status for the local stone fruit industry.