Comparison of some apple latent viruses

Apple latent viruses were eliminated from, the tips of apple shoots by exposure to a temperature of 36 °C for various periods. The length of treatment needed to eliminate a particular virus differed from plant to plant, but viruses were always inactivated in the same order: first chlorotic leaf spot, followed by stem pitting and finally Spy decline. Quince plants developed sooty ring-spot and bark necrosis when inoculated with buds from some heat-treated apple clones infected with Spy decline virus. Only chlorotic leaf spot virus was transmitted to herbaceous hosts by sap extracts from apple leaves, petals and fruits, and returned from herbaceous plants to apple. This virus, isolated from either apple or cherry, caused a dark green mottle on peach leaves.