Plumpox, also known as sharka, is the most devastating viral disease of stone fruit from the genus Potyvirus. The disease is caused by the plum poxvirus (PPV), and the different strains may infect a variety of stone fruit species including peaches, apricots, plums, nectarine and almonds. The virus is transmitted by aphids and by the transfer of infected plant material to new locations. Plum pox poses no danger to consumers, but it can ruin the marketability of stone fruit by causing acidity, deformities, loss of taste, and fruits that drop prematurely. The only way to manage the disease is to destroy all infected trees, which can cause significant economic losses (as high as 80–100% of a crop). To achieve successful eradication or effective management of the associated disease, detection of the virus in infected plants is required.
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