Hazelnut Cultivars Affected by ApMV

The presence of Apple mosaic ilarvirus (ApMV) was studied in different hazelnut cultivars growing in a trial at IRTA-Mas de Bover, Constanti (Tarragona), northeastern Spain, during a period of 9 years to test the natural transmission of the virus. Eleven cultivars from three different countries were planted in the trial. Two Spanish cultivars were infected by ApMV at the time of planting and the remaining material was ApMV free. A visual observation of leaves to check symptoms of mosaic and the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect ApMV were periodically performed every two years. In general, no variation related to the presence of ApMV in the trial was detected. Only one tree of 'Lewis' cultivar, showing the characteristic mosaic symptoms, was positive to ApMV by ELISA in the last year. The rest of the initially healthy trees in the trial did not present any symptoms on leaves and remained free from ApMV infection.