High incidence of Pelargonium line pattern virus infecting asymptomatic Pelargonium spp. in Spain

Geraniums (Pelargonium spp.) are traditional ornamental plants largely cultivated in Europe and northern America. Vegetative propagation makes them prone to viral infections, which have detrimental effects on crop production and quality. Asymptomatic samples collected in Spain were tested for a range of viruses using ELISA. The tobamovirus, Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), the cucumovirus, Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), and several viruses in the family Tombusviridae, namely, Pelargonium line pattern virus (PLPV), Pelargonium flower break virus (PFBV), and Pelargonium leaf curl virus (PLCV), were detected either singly or in combination in 59.2% of 800 samples. PLPV and PFBV infections were confirmed by dot-blot hybridisation. The most relevant viral infection found on Spanish asymptomatic geraniums was by Pelargonium line pattern virus (PLPV). Symptoms did not develop for 3 years on most of the PLPV infected geranium plants under greenhouse conditions.