Raspberry bushy dwarf virus – a Grapevine Pathogen in Serbia

During a field survey in 2005 in vineyards and grapevine nurseries at localities in central Serbia, a few plants with unusual virus-like symptoms were observed. Leaf samples were analyzed by DAS-ELISA for the presence of nine viruses. Besides other viruses frequently occurring on grapevine, Raspberry bushy dwarf virus (RBDV) was detected in two samples. Results were confirmed by nested-PCR and sequence analysis of the fragment in 5’ part of RNA-1. Obtained sequence shared at least 93% of nucleotide identity with the compared RBDV sequence originating from raspberry. The finding of Raspberry bushy dwarf virus on grapevine in Serbia is a second finding of this pathogen on grapevine worldwide. The first natural infection of grapevine with this virus was reported in Slovenia in 2003.