VIEW ARTICLE

Induction of Stem Pitting in Peaches by Mechanical Inoculation with Tomato Ringspot Virus. S. H. Smith, Associate Professor of Plant Pathology, The Pennsylvania State University, Fruit Research Laboratory, Biglerville 17303, Present address of senior author: Department of Plant Pathology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802; R. F. Stouffer(2), and D. M. Soulen(3). (2)Associate Professor of Plant Pathology, The Pennsylvania State University, Fruit Research Laboratory, Biglerville 17303; (3)Plant Pathologist, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Harrisburg 17120. Phytopathology 63:1404-1406. Accepted for publication 11 May 1973. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-63-1404.

Isolates of tomato and tobacco ringspot viruses were obtained from soil around stem-pitted peach and cherry trees. These isolates and recognized strains of tomato ringspot, tobacco ringspot, and Prunus necrotic ringspot viruses were used to mechanically inoculate peach seedlings. Inoculated seedlings were maintained in the greenhouse for 8-9 months before being planted outside in fumigated soil. Thirteen months later, seedlings inoculated with five of the six isolates of tomato ringspot virus exhibited symptoms characteristic of stem pitting. The percentage of inoculated seedlings showing stem pitting varied from 2.5-50.0. Stem pitting did not appear in the controls, in the peaches inoculated with tobacco ringspot virus isolates or the trees inoculated with prunus necrotic ringspot virus.