1. Plum Pox Virus aka Sharka
Most feared viral disease of Prunus
Photo by M. Nemeth
Photo by Dr. Ken Hickey

2. History of PPV Perhaps first noticed in 1910 in Macedonia, Greece
Observed by plum growers in Bulgaria between 1915 and 1918
First paper 1932 called it “Sarka po slivite” meaning Pox of Plum
Spread throughout Europe by 1960
Found in the US in 1999 in Pennsylvania

3. PPV Hosts Apricot, Peach, Nectarine, Plums, Cherries, Almond
Wild & Ornamental flowering cherries and plums
Many herbaceous plants from various families

4. Plum Pox Virus Biology Causal Agent- PPV, D (Dideron) strain
a Potyvirus (named for potato virus Y)- see the filamentous particles
Vector: 20+ aphid species, esp. Green Peach aphid - virus carried in stylets
Spreads rapidly in springtime
Photo courtesy of APS

5. Major PPV Strains
PPV-D the Dideron Strain from apricot in SE France. Now also the US strain.
Apricot, Peach and Plum (not cherries)
Not seed transmitted, mild form, & non-epidemic
PPV-M the Marcus Strain from Greece and France. Very virulent, seed transmitted, very aggressive, causes necrosis in tree, spread very easily, epidemic. Also infects cherries

6. Plum Pox Virus in North America
2000
New York
July 2006
2000
August 2006
October 1999
Declared Eradicated 2010
PPV in Michigan