Occurrence of small fruit viruses in Belarus

Epidemiological control of plant virus diseases is necessary for creation of small fruit nurseries and production of berries with stable high yields. Phytosanitary state of Rubus idaeus L. and Ribes sp. L. was studied in Belarus. The aim of the research was to determine the most widespread small fruit viruses and to select plants that free from all tested viruses for further propagation in vitro as a basis for Nuclear stock. The following viruses were identified: CMV, ApMV, SLRV, RRV, RBDV, ArMV, TBRV and ToRSV. High level of virus infection for small fruit plantations was shown. The most common viruses for all three crops (raspberry, red and black currant) were RRV, SLRV and ArMV. It was noted that infection level of viruses considerably varied from plant cultivars and crops.