Attempts to eradicate sharka disease in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey

Sharka disease, cited in the domestic and external quarantine lists of Turkey and as one of the 16 most important plant pathogens in EU member states, threatens stone-fruit plantations. Plum pox virus (PPV) has been observed in Turkey since 1968, and was detected in Adana and Mersin provinces of the Mediterranean region in 2006. Extensive surveys to determine the current occurrence of PPV in the region were conducted in stone-fruit orchards and nurseries (almond, apricot, nectarine, peach and plum) of six provinces in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey between 2008 and 2011. A total of 542 samples, each of which represented an orchard/nursery sample, were collected and tested by DAS-ELISA and RT-PCR. According to the results, seven samples out of 542 were found infected with PPV by DAS-ELISA and confirmed by RT-PCR Infected orchards were reported to the responsible authorities for eradication, and a total of seven orchards (four from Mersin, two from Hatay and one from Adana) were immediately eradicated. The species composition of Aphididae (Hemiptera) that were reported as potential vectors of sharka disease in this region was also studied. Weed species that have cited as hosting PPV and aphid colonies in previous studies were also determined. While Pterochloroides persicae (Choli.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) was not detected, six aphid species (Brachycaudus persicae, Brachycaudus helichrysi, Brachycaudus cardui, Hyalopterus pruni, Myzus persicae and Myzus cerasi) were detected on PPV-infected stone-fruit trees.