Occurrence of blueberry virus L in Japan and its aphid transmission and pathogenicity in highbush blueberry

Abstract In this first report of the occurrence of blueberry virus L (BlVL) in Japan, BlVL was detected using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in 35 of 52 highbush blueberry shrubs in a field and in aphids (Aphis gossypii) on a BlVL-infected blueberry shrub. In the aphid transmission test of BlVL, the aphids transmitted the virus to uninfected blueberry bushes. No symptoms were observed in shrubs infected with the virus by aphid inoculation or by graft inoculation, suggesting that BlVL causes latent infection in highbush blueberry.