Geneva experiment station with a war on smallpox virus in plum trees

When two plum trees and a peach tree in Niagara County, NY, responded positively to the plum pox virus (PPV) in 2006, a group that killed the virus immediately acted but after a few months had to seek the help of pathologist Marc Fuchs of Cornell.

Last year, 16 plants in New York state responded positively to PPV. Therefore, 26 samples (acres) of fruit trees were destroyed. However, hopefully, through efforts to identify and control strictly, PPV can be completely eradicated from New York.

Plum family pox first appeared in Bulgaria in 1915 and is currently the main plague in Prunus in Europe, affecting plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots as well as ornamental plants. Because aphids can spread this disease, agencies operating in New York have taken many measures to prevent this disease. In 2006, the US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced the agricultural emergency in New York, pouring more capital into epidemic extermination efforts including one. Intensive survey for Prunus fruit trees and Prunus ornamental plants in parks and gardens.

Symptoms of smallpox plum (round spots) on Fuchs plum leaves , professor of plant pathology at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, NY, analyzed Prunus plant samples to identify PPV for officials. of APHIS and the Department of Agriculture and Market in New York State. His laboratory analyzed all samples collected in New York, up to 91,000 last season. Fuchs thinks there will be more than 110,000 samples to analyze this season.

Fuch's laboratory, like all laboratories participating in the survey, must implement strict regulations on sample analysis and collection, including not knowing the source of the sample to minimize bias due to information about the origin of the crop. When a USDA positive sample reaction and National Germplasm Research Laboratory in Beltsville, Md., Confirmed that the sample is positive, the corresponding tree will be removed with all but affected trees in the radius. 50 meters (about 55 yards).

Positive results are very harmful to farmers, because both the garden and the source of income are destroyed. However, growers understand the potential risk of PPV for Prunus orchards across the country and they are compensated by the government for trees removed and yield losses. There are many efforts to train growers and update them in time so that they also become part of the group.

A huge amount of plum smallpox samples during the survey season (3.5 months) and a short analysis period (1 week) have brought a significant challenge to Fuchs. He had to hire an assistant to run the laboratory and oversee 16 full-time helpers this summer.