Plum pox virus: An overview of the potyvirus behind sharka, a harmful stone fruit disease

Abstract

The study of Potyvirus plumpoxi (plum pox virus, PPV) has a long history, beginning with its foundational description by Atanassof in 1932 in Bulgaria. Interest in the virus has significantly increased over the past decades, as evidenced by a rise in published articles, highlighting its importance in plant pathology. Research on PPV offers broader insights into the biology and pathology of the extensive Potyviridae virus family to which it belongs. The virus's large strain diversity and wide host range make it a key subject for research into plant–virus interactions, host adaptation and virus evolution. PPV causes sharka, the most damaging disease affecting stone fruit trees. Economic losses from sharka disease have recently been estimated at over €2.4 thousand million for the last 28 years. The significance of this disease is further amplified by the ease of aphid-mediated transmission from infected plant material and the virus's ability to establish and spread to new regions, making it a global agricultural challenge. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the various biological traits of PPV and will form the basis of an updated version on the Association of Applied Biologists Description of Plant Viruses for PPV.