Susceptibility to sharka ( Plum Pox Potyvirus) in Prunus Mandshurica × Prunus Armenica seedlings

Abstract

Prunus mandshurica [(Maxim.) Koehne] is a species related to apricot from Central Asia and grown in China and Mongolia. This species has been used in apricot breeding as a source of frost resistance. In addition, some authors suggested P. mandshurica as the possible origin of some North American apricot cultivars resistant to sharka (plum pox potyvirus, PPV). The aim of this work was to evaluate, under controlled conditions, the resistance to a Dideron PPV isolate of a P. mandshurica accession and the descendants from a cross with the Spanish apricot cultivar 'Currot'. The results showed the susceptibility to PPV of the P. mandshurica accession and the apricot cultivar. Furthermore, all the progeny behaved as very susceptible showing stronger sharka symptoms than both parents.