The potential for pollen-borne virus transfer in a plum orchard infected with Prunus necrotic ringspot virus

Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) is borne in stonefruit pollen. Previous work has shown that virus particles can enter cucumber seedlings when virus-bearing pollen grains contact puncture holes made in plant cells by thrips feeding. Stonefruit plant parts on which pollen is deposited and thrips spend considerable time feeding, are likely sites of PNRSV inoculation. The principal agents of pollen deposition may therefore play a key role in PNRSV epidemiology. We determined the principal sites of pollen deposition on Japanese plum trees and the major pollen depositing agents in a PNRSV-infected orchard in southeastern Queensland. Plum pollen was deposited mostly onto flowers, with few grains being found on leaves or stems. Within the flowers, pollen grains were distributed mostly on the petals, but some were found on the sepals, filaments and carpels. Honey bees were the most frequent visitors to plum flowers and they deposited more than any other insects. Flies visited flowers at low frequencies and also deposited pollen. Significant amounts of pollen were deposited onto flowers by unidentified nocturnal agents. Thrips were not observed during the study period, although they were present in the orchard. Previous studies have assumed that thrips carry virus-bearing pollen as well as bring it into proximity of feeding wounds. Our results suggest that, although thrips carriage of pollen may occur, it is not necessary for PNRSV spread in stonefruit orchards.