Detection and molecular analysis of Hop latent virus and Hop latent viroid in hop samples from Poland

Monitoring the occurrence of virus diseases in plants is important for the implementation of early control measuresand prevention of further disease spread. In Poland,in 2004 a health programme for hop was started to eliminateviruses and viroids. In 2012/13, in vitro plants, samples from the IUNG-PIB experimental station and commercial hop gardens in Poland were tested for Hop latent virus (HpLV), and Hop latent and Hop stunt viroids (HpLVd and HpSVd). For virus testing, RT-PCR and ELISA methods were used. In order to detect hop viroids, RT-PCR was employed. The overall incidence of HpLV and hop viroidswas lower than reported before the start of theprogramme. Cloning and sequencing revealed that the HpLV and theHpLVd from Polish sources are very similar to the typesequences and the Czech sources.