Survey of major viruses in commercial nursery trees of major pear cultivars in Korea

Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV), Apple stem pitting virus (ASPV), Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV), and Apple scar skin viroid (ASSVd) are economically important viruses that infect pear tree species worldwide. To evaluate the prevalence of these viruses in Korea, we investigated infection degree of three viruses and one viroid for the commercial nursery trees of the pear cultivars, Niitaka, Chuwhang, Wonwhang, and Whasan in 2017 and 2018. The results showed that the infection ratio of ACLSV, ASPV, ASGV, and ASSVd for the scion of pear cultivar Niitaka was 10%, 45%, 77%, and 50%, respectively. From the scion of pear cultivar Chuwhang, infection ratios of ASPV, ASGV, and ASSVd were found to be 70%, 50%, and 60%, respectively. From the scion of pear cultivar Whasan, infection ratios of ACLSV, ASPV, ASGV and ASSVd were found to be 40%, 60%, 93%, and 20%, respectively. From the root stock of pear cultivar Wonwhang, infection ratios of ACLSV, ASPV, ASGV, and ASSVd showed 28%, 57%, 100%, and 14%, respectively. ASGV had the highest recorded infection rate, and ACLSV was characterized by the lowest infection rate. The mixed infection ratio of Niitaka, Chuwhang, Whasan, and Wonwhang was 45%, 60%, 70%, and 85%, respectively.