JANUARY 13, 2023

Special Edition
Blueberry Scorch Virus is here.

CONT E N T BY:
DR. T O M W ALTERS, WA L T E R S AG RESEARCH
JASO N M YER & JUL IE POND, NOR T H W EST BERRY FOUNDATION

Blueberry Scorch Virus (BlScV) causes shoot and

flower dieback, leaf yellowing and plant decline,
with symptom progression varying considerably
among varieties. There is often an interval of 1-2
years between a plant becoming infected and
showing symptoms, which makes it difficult to
control. The virus is spread from symptomatic
and asymptomatic plants alike and on planting
stock is by aphids not by pruning or any other
mechanical means. This virus has been a major
problem in BC blueberry fields since the early
2000’s, being managed by scouting, testing,
removal of infected plants and season-long aphid
control. It was reported in Washington in 1987,
but did not seem to be at all widespread.
Similarly, the virus was thought to be rare in
Oregon.

However, recent blueberry virus surveys in

western Washington and Oregon identified BlScV
positive plants in numerous fields, including
widespread positive detections in some fields. It Figure 1 'Draper' plant infected with BIScV
is likely to become a significant threat to
blueberry production in these places, as it is in
BC.

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 What's going on?

Over three years of Oregon Blueberry Commission funded work, Peerbolt Crop Management
surveyed 34 random fields for BlScV in Oregon and eight of those fields had positive finds; a
rate of 23.5% of fields tested positive. During year 1 of this project (2019), high-throughput
sequencing analysis of plant material collected in Oregon and the NW discovered additional
viruses that had never been previously described or known to exist in addition to BlScV, a virus
that is terminal for infected plants and was thought to be exceedingly rare in Oregon. In year 2
(2020), samples were collected and analyzed for these new viruses to better understand how
they may compound symptoms that have generally been solely associated with a non-lethal
virus with similar symptoms to BlScV, blueberry shock virus (BlShV). The most concerning
discovery from the 2020 sampling was that BlScV was present in even more fields and farms.
In 2022, given the dire nature of the disease, emphasis was placed on screening a wider
number of fields for BlScV. Results found numerous fields had positive detections of BlScV,
indicating that it has spread and is now far more common in production fields than previously
assumed. This survey also revealed that many plants in Oregon were also infected with a new
luteovirus.

Walters Ag Research, funded by the Washington Blueberry Commission, collected leaf

samples from eight blueberry fields in Skagit, Whatcom, and Lewis counties in 2021, based on
growers’ observations of recurring symptoms of BlShV. Blossoms and young emerging shoots
were seen to collapse mid-bloom for more than one year on the same plant. The same plants
at these locations were re-sampled in 2022, as well as plants at four new sampling locations.
BlScV was detected in three of the eight original locations in 2021; in 2022, it was confirmed in
two of those and was also detected in two of the new locations. It was extremely widespread
at one of those locations, present in 38 of 48 samples. Symptoms were severe on all four
varieties in this field: Bluecrop, Liberty, Draper and Reka. Like the Oregon study, the
Washington study found widespread occurrence of the new luteovirus. In addition, the
Washington study found one location with a new carlavirus, related to BlScV and referred to as
Blueberry virus S.

BlScV, BlShV, Blueberry virus S and the new luteovirus are being considered as a “blueberry
virus complex”. The role that each virus plays, and the ways they interact with cultivar and
environment are not yet well-known. However the BC experience shows that BlScV can spread
to render fields almost completely unproductive. BlScV does not explain all parts of the
blueberry viral complex, but it is a part that must be managed now in Washington and Oregon
blueberry fields.

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 What does this mean for WA and OR blueberry growers?
Blueberry Scorch virus is not as rare in Washington and Oregon as previously thought. It has
been found in most WA and OR production areas west of the Cascades. In some fields with
“recurring shock” symptoms, the symptomatic plants are infected with BlScV. As the rate of
infection increases, the virus can spread very rapidly within a field, to devastating effect.

At the same time, many of the plants with “recurring shock” symptoms tested in Washington
were not positive for BlScV. There may be some false negatives due to testing limitations, but
it seems likely that some “recurring shock” symptoms are unrelated to BlScV.

It’s time to take the advice given to BC growers for dealing with BlScV:
Monitor for virus symptoms.
Test plants with symptoms.
Remove bushes testing positive for BlScV.
Control aphids (season-long).

To our knowledge BlScV has not been reported in WA or OR east of the Cascades. However,
there is no reason to think the virus will not become a problem there. Many blueberry plantings
east of the Cascades are managed organically, and have abundant aphid populations capable
of spreading BlScV.

Monitor for virus symptoms

Blighting of blooms and young leaves due to BlScV most commonly occurs from mid-bloom
onward (Figure 2), these symptoms showing up somewhat later in the season than the similar
symptoms resulting from BlShV infection. Unlike plants affected by cold injury or
Pseudomonas, the shoots usually, but not always, remain green. Distinguishing from cold
injury, Pseudomonas or mummy berry strikes can only be certain with a laboratory (ELISA or
PCR) test.

In particular, it can be difficult to distinguish plants infected with BlScV from BlShV-infected
plants. One important difference is that BlShV-infected plants grow back and generally do not
show symptoms in following years (though they do remain a source of inoculum for this
pollen-transmitted virus). BlShV will go through most plants in a planting within the first 10
years, depending upon the variety. In contrast, BlScV-infected plants may develop a summer
flush of growth, but show progressively worse symptoms in subsequent years with rapid
decline in yield. In WA and BC, infected plants of ‘Bluecrop’ often appear nearly asymptomatic,
but the leaves have a slightly lighter color and the plants are less productive. In 2022, perhaps
resulting from a late winter cold snap, ‘Bluecrop’ plants showed much more severe symptoms
than in previous years (Figure 3).

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 Figure 2. Classic BIScV symptoms: blighted blossom leaf shoots,
Figure . Severe BlScV symptoms in 'Bluecrop', 2022. stem remains green . Photo by Carolyn Teasdale

Test plants with symptoms

Plants with symptoms of BlScV should be tested, particularly when the virus is known to be present in
the field, or in nearby fields.

Begin testing fields when they are young. In early years, many symptomatic plants may only be BlShV-
positive, but the sooner you can identify and remove BlScV-infected plants, the easier it will be to
control the virus. Repeated testing will be needed throughout the life of the planting. Be suspicious if
you see symptoms on a plant more than 10 years old, if you believe it has shown symptoms previously
– this could mean that plants that previously recovered from BlShV have now become infected with
BlScV. Mark symptomatic bushes with flagging tape and note their locations.

The easiest time to sample is when you see symptoms and label the plant. It is probably OK to label the
plant and return to it later in the season, though virus titer declines later in the season making virus
detection less reliable. BlScV symptoms sometimes develop later than BlShV symptoms, so you may
want to scout a second time two weeks after intital scouting, paying particular attention to plants with
later symptom development.

ELISA and PCR tests are available. PCR is generally more sensitive, but may miss some BlScV strains,
depending upon the primers used. ELISA testing is less expensive than PCR. It is also less sensitive,
but ELISA may detect a broader range of BlScV strains. Work is ongoing to improve the ability to detect
all strains of BlScV with both ELISA and PCR. Due to the lower cost, ELISA is the method used for
routine diagnostics in BC. To sample for ELISA testing, collect 5-10 leaves on or near the branches with
symptoms. Choose leaves of different ages, if available. Place leaves in a ziplock bag, label the bag
and the plant. Keep the samples refrigerated until you get them to a lab. Have the lab test for both
BlScV and BlShV.

In BC, the BC Blueberry Council pays for up to 30 samples per farm annually. As of this writing, there is
no similar program in WA or OR.

A list of labs conducting testing is below. Contact the lab of your choice well ahead of shipping
samples to confirm their preferences for sample collection, labelling, and shipment.

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 The WSU Plant Pest Diagnostic Clinic

This clinic in Pullman, WA can test for BlScV and BlShV; the fee is $30/sample.

Agdia

This laboratory can test for BlScV, BlShV and many other viruses. Information from them is below:
Most of the testing costs are bundled into the price of the first sample in a shipment. Each
additional sample received is then tested at a discount:

BlScV only:
Cost of 1st sample in shipment = $79.15
Each additional sample = $23.15

BlScV, BlShV, Tomato Ringspot, Tobacco Ringspot:

Cost of 1st sample in shipment = $106.60
Each additional sample = $32.60

BlScV, BlShV, Tomato Ringspot, Tobacco Ringspot, Carlavirus Group PCR, Luteovirus-
Polerovirus Group PCR:
Cost of 1st sample in shipment = $596.60
Each additional sample = $92.60

Exact Scientific Services

This laboratory in Ferndale, WA has experience with PCR and ELISA testing and is willing to do
BlScV and BlShV testing. Kent Oostra, the owner, is leading the project there.

Oregon State University Plant Clinic

This laboratory in Corvallis, OR has ELISA and PCR options for testing BlScV and BlShV.

BlScV only:
The PCR fee is $100 for the first sample and $30/sample for each additional sample
submitted at the same time.
The ELISA fee is $81 for the first sample and $20/sample for each additional sample
submitted at the same time.
BlScV and BlShV:
The PCR fee is $130 for the first sample and $60/sample for each additional sample
submitted at the same time.
The ELISA fee is $101 for the first sample and $40/sample for each additional sample
submitted at the same time.
There are currently discussions underway to explore reduction of this fee.

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 Phyto Diagnostics Company Ltd,

This laboratory in Saanich, BC tests thousands of samples from hundreds of BC farms for BlScV
and BlShV. If you contact them ahead of time, they can provide you with an import permit to allow
you to ship samples across the border.

Remove infected bushes

Infected bushes should be cut off at the base after testing to reduce the opportunity for aphids to
spread the virus during the season. The plants can be sprayed with an herbicide to prevent re-growth,
but the roots and crowns should be removed as soon as possible or in the following fall or winter. Any
regrowth from these plants will be infected and serve as a source of the virus that aphids can spread to
neighboring plants or distantly within fields or between fields. Cutting off plants without removing the
root balls will not resolve the problem; the regrowth will also be infected. Furthermore, the proliferation
of new shoots from the cut-off plants will be tender and attractive to aphids, and this could make the
virus spread more rapidly.

Earlier guidelines suggested removing plants next to infected ones. This may be a good strategy for
eradicating an infection if caught early, but if the virus is already well established in the field, that may
not be an economically viable management strategy. Removing infected plants from a field where the
virus is already established should slow its progress; however, if the rate of infection is already very
high then this will be like trying to put out a forest fire with a garden hose and removal of the planting
may be warranted to reduce the risk to adjacent plantings.

Control aphids (season-long)

Season-long aphid management is the best preventative tool for slowing the spread of BlScV in a field.
This means paying attention to aphids from the time of planting and not waiting until the plants are
bearing.

Scout fields for aphids regularly, especially fields at high risk of BlScV (those where it has been
detected previously or that are close to fields where it has been detected). Control aphids pre-bloom
and throughout the season. Management of aphids during bloom is restricted by the need to support
honeybees and other pollinators.

For more information, contact:

Walters AG Research Northwest Berry Foundation

Julie Pond:
Dr Tom Walters: [email protected]
[email protected]
Jason Myer:
[email protected]

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