A report of cherry rusty mottle-associated virus in South Carolina

A cherry tree (Prunus serrulata cv “Shirofugen”) exhibiting leaf symptoms frequently associated with viral infection was discovered at the Fruit Research Farm (Musser Farm) of Clemson University. A virus infecting the tree was characterized using molecular techniques, and a BLAST search using the full length genomic sequence of the virus (GenBank Accession KF356396) showed 97% identity with Cherry rusty mottle-associated virus. This virus had not previously been described from South Carolina. It is suggested that the virus originated from ornamental flowering cherry material (‘Yoshino’ cherry [Prunus × yedoensis]) planted on the nearby University Campus and “chip-budded” to the tree of “Shirofugen” as a positive control sample during a bioassay for Prunus necrotic ringspot virus.