Elimination of Plum pox virus through in vitro thermotherapy and shoot tip culture compared to conventional heat treatment in apricot [Prunus armeniaca] cultivar bebecou

The effectiveness of in vitro thermotherapy (explants at 35-37°C for 20 days) in obtaining propagating material of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) cultivar Bebecou that is free of Plum pox virus (PPV) was compared to a conventional heat treatment technique (potted plants at 30-35°C for 8 weeks). An improved protocol for in vitro thermotherapy was combined with shoot tip culture. The protocol is 5.8 times more effective than conventional thermotherapy while taking half the time and is likely to have a high commercial impact for nurseries.