Distribution of Plum pox virus in Residential Sites, Commercial Nurseries, and Native Plant Species in the Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

Extensive surveys of native weed populations in peach orchards heavily infected with Plum pox virus strain D (PPV-D) in the Niagara Region quarantine area, Ontario, Canada, failed to identify natural infection in any of the species examined. Surveys of rural and urban residential properties within areas of high PPV incidence did not detect widespread infection of susceptible hosts, with infected Prunus glandulosa (dwarf flowering almond) being found only at one site. The prominent color-breaking observed in blossoms of PPV-infected P. glandulosa would make this an excellent sentinel species for early detection of virus in Prunus orchards. Surveys of susceptible ornamental Prunus spp. in Niagara nurseries failed to demonstrate PPV infection in any of the nursery field plantings.

Baseline susceptibility and cross resistances of some new acaricides in the European red mite, Panonychus ulmi

We have developed baseline susceptibility values for four new acaricides: bifenazate, acequinocyl, spirodiclofen and etoxazole for eggs or adult females of a susceptible laboratory population of Panonychus ulmi (Koch) (Acari: Tetranychidae). Further, we have tested diagnostic concentrations of each acaricide against populations resistant to organochlorine, organotin or IGR-type acaricides. Resistance to etoxazole (ca. 4-fold) was identified in populations resistant to the IGRs clofentezine and hexythiazox.

First Report of Onion Yellow Dwarf Virus in Ontario

Onion yellow dwarf virus (OYDV) (1) was identified in a commercial planting of garlic (Allium sativum L.) near Delhi, Ontario, in 1998. Infected plants exhibited mild mosaic symptoms that became less noticeable by mid-July. Many plants were co-infected with garlic latent virus (GLV) (4), which was mechanically transmitted to leek (A. porrum L.). Since leek is not susceptible to OYDV (3), it is an appropriate host for the differentiation of GLV and OYDV. OYDV was transmitted nonpersistently by Myzus persicae (Schultz) from garlic to garlic and onion (A. cepa L.). Infected onion exhibited yellow striping, leaf curling, and pronounced stunting. Necrotic lesions were not present on inoculated leaves of Chenopodium amaranticolor Coste & Reyn. and C. quinoa Willd., which are often associated with co-infection with leek yellow dwarf virus (2). The isolate reacted strongly in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with OYDV antisera (from M. Fukami, Chiba Prefectural Agric. Exp. Stn., Chiba 266, Japan; D. Z. Maat, DLO Research Instit., Plant Prot., Wageningen, The Netherlands). Electron microscopic observations of negatively stained preparations of infected leaf tissues revealed virus particles averaging 765 ± 45 nm with typical pinwheel inclusions. References: (1) L. Bos. CMI/AAB Descrip. Plant Viruses no. 158, 1976. (2) K. Graichen. Nachrichtenbl. Pflanzenschutz DDR 32: 245, 1978. (3) K. Graichen and H. U. Leistner. Arch. Phytopathol. Pflanzenschutz 23:165, 1987. (4) L. W. Stobbs et al. Plant Dis. 80:343, 1996.