Page 2—Grower and Marketer, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 20, 2000
Team Effort Will Help
(Continued from Pago 1)
In Europe, the virus has in
fected 100 million trees. In
1984, the virus spread to
Spain and in 1992, to Chile.
In the video, growers noted
how the plum pox can easily
put Pennsylvania completely
out of the peach business, if
not controlled.
The emphasis was placed
on continuing cooperation to
APRICOT
Plum pox virus symptoms on Apri
cot.
ensure eradication of the
deadly strain. The national
effort helps protect a $l.B bil
lion industry.
Work in Pennsylvania will
ensure trees in other states,
including California (with
400,000 acres of stone fruit),
are protected.
Eradication of PPV is a na
tional issue.
All orchards in the state
are being sampled by teams
from Penn State with support
by USDA and the state de
partment of agriculture to
collect information about the
spread of the virus. The virus
is spread by plant material.
The virus has no ill effects
on humans. But the virus
leaves lesions on the fruit,
making them hard to market.
Adams County is the
center of the fruit-growing
region of the state. Pennsyl
vania produces more than
PEACH
Plum pox virus symptoms on
Peach.
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m
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%»"
$25 million of stone fruit each
year.
Included in this issue of
Grower & Marketer are pic
tures of what a virus infection
looks like on the plant’s
leaves and fruit.
If growers suspect they
have an infection, contact the
local extension office imme
diately.
There is work under way to
ensure orchards are compen
sated by the state and federal
government for losses be
cause of PPV. Fiscal year
Plum pox virus symptoms on
Plum.
2000 funding for PPV eradi
cation amounts to $4.7 mil
lion $3.7 million for
program operating costs and
$1 million for tree replace
ment.
More information is avail
able from your local exten
sion office.
Following are photos iden
tifying symptoms of PPV on
trees. Many symptoms may
not be visible until quite some
time after actual infection.
(Photos courtesy Penn
State.)
PLUM