Reservoirs of Tomato Ringspot Virus in Fruit Orchards. Charles A. Powell, Plant Pathologist, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Harrisburg 17110. Lyle B. Forer, Chief Plant Pathologist, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Harrisburg 17110, and Richard F. Stouffer, Professor, The Pennsylvania State University, Fruit Research Laboratory, Biglerville 17307. Plant Dis. 66:583-584. Accepted for publication 5 October 1981. Copyright 1982 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-66-583.

Xiphinema spp. overwintered in tubs containing soil collected in late summer from root zones of four nectarine trees with symptoms of Prunus stem pitting disease. Weeds that grew in these tubs were indexed for tomato ringspot virus in May and July, and positive transmissions were confirmed serologically. At least one plant of each of the following species of dicotyledonous weed found in the tubs was infected with the virus: common chickweed (Stellaria media), henbit (Laminum amplexicaule), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), creeping woodsorrel (Oxalis corniculata), common plantain (Plantago major), strawberry (Fragaria virginiana), sorrel (Rumex acetosella), and red clover (Trifolium pratense).

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