Molecular detection of five cherry viruses from sweet cherry trees in Japan

To investigate the occurrence of viruses in sweet cherry in Japan, leaf samples were collected from sweet cherry trees in Aomori, Iwate, and Yamagata prefectures. Analysis of dsRNAs from sweet cherry leaves showed that 73% of 49 samples contained dsRNAs more than 6 kbp in size. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis of cherry viruses indicated that 14% of the samples had Little cherry virus-1, 65% had Little cherry virus-2, 14% had Cherry necrotic rusty mottle virus, 49% had Cherry virus A, and 92% had Cherry green ring mottle virus. This is the first molecular detection of these five cherry viruses in Japan. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]