MONITORING OF VECTORS PHENACOCCUS ACERIS AND PSEUDOCOCCUS MARITIMUS OF LITTLE CHERRY VIRUS 2 IN SWEET CHERRY ORCHARDS IN BELGIUM

Introduction In the early 80’s the presence of Little cherry disease in Belgium was detected in ornamental cherry trees (1) but the presence of both viral agents [Little cherry virus 1 (LChV-1) and Little cherry virus 2 (LChV-2), Closteroviridae] was only recently confirmed by PCR (2). During several years leaf samples of ornamental and sweet cherry trees with suspicious symptoms were sampled and tested. The infection rate of both viruses varied but LChV-2 was the most abundant, single or in combination with LChV-1. Two mealybug species (Pseudococcidae) are known to transmit this virus but as... Mehr ...