Influence of horticultural oil (Superior-70) on Plum pox virus (PPV) detection in treated and untreated PPV-infected peach (Prunus persicae L.) leaves

Abstract

The effect of foliar application of horticultural oil on the detection of Plum pox virus (PPV) in infected peach leaves was examined. No significant differences in virus detection using ELISA or DRT-qPCR were found between matching detached half leaves treated either with oil or water immediately after oil application, and up to 3 weeks post application. Similarly, in vitro amendments of oil to dilutions of PPV-infected leaf macerates did not affect DRT-qPCR detection of virus, and only reduced detection of virus by ELISA at the lowest virus dilutions containing 5 µl mL−1 of oil. Application of horticultural oil by growers to reduce aphid transmission of PPV should have no impact on virus detection in regulatory surveys associated with monitoring the quarantine zone.