Initial and subsequent yield reduction of peach trees affected by peach rosette and decline disease

Abstract

Fruit yields were compared in the orchard between symptomless peach trees and trees naturally affected with peach rosette and decline (PRD) [combined infection of prune dwarf virus and Prunus necrotic ringspot virus]. Trees not affected with PRD yielded 3 times the crop, by weight, obtained from trees affected for the 1st season and 6 times that of trees affected for the 2nd season. Individually affected limbs on otherwise symptomless trees produced 15% of the crop obtained from limbs on unaffected trees. The crop from apparently symptomless limbs on newly affected trees was only 46% of that obtained from limbs on trees not showing symptoms of PRD. The yield of fruit from an affected peach orchard was reduced by 13.2% 5 yr after the disease was first detected in the planting.