Apple viruses and viroids

Abstract

Apples are the third most produced fruit in the world, behind bananas and oranges, in terms of volume. Over the past ten years, Serbia's apple production has nearly doubled. Apples are less subjected to viral and viroid attacks than other fruit species. Most viruses cause no visible symptoms on the plant's organs, and the trees either seem to be in good condition or, in the case of sensitive cultivars, their yield is reduced. Apple stem pitting virus (ASPV), apple stem grooving virus (ASGV), apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV), and apple mosaic virus (ApMV) are four apple economically important and widely distributed viruses. Among the viroids, the apple scar skin viroid (ASSVd) is particularly destructive for apple production.