Detection of Plum pox virus and Characterization of Oxidative Stress Responses in Stone Fruit Trees of Azerbaijan
- 1Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University, AZ1010 Baku, Azerbaijan
- 2Key Laboratory of Soybean Molecular Design Breeding, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, China
- 3Department of Agriculture, Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University, 60250 Tokat, Türkiye
Abstract
Sharka disease, induced by the Plum pox virus (PPV; genus Potyvirus, family Potyviridae), represents one of the most serious viral threats to stone fruit production worldwide. This study assessed PPV occurrence in major fruit-growing areas in Azerbaijan and characterized the physiological and oxidative stress responses of infected Prunus species. Symptomatic leaves from orchards in the Quba district were screened by immunochromatographic strips, DAS-ELISA, and RT-PCR. Of 60 trees surveyed, 22 (36.7%) tested positive across all three hosts, confirmed by RT-PCR amplification of a 243 bp coat protein (CP) gene fragment in peach (Prunus persica L.), plum (P. domestica L.), and apricot (P. armeniaca L.). Infection was associated with pronounced oxidative stress: hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were higher in infected trees (6.80–10.60 µmol g−1 FW and 8.0–15.2 nmol g−1 FW) than in healthy trees (3.20–3.90 µmol g−1 FW and 4.5–8.2 nmol g−1 FW). Antioxidant defenses were activated, with increased ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) activities and higher ascorbic acid (AsA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels. Photosynthetic performance declined markedly: total chlorophyll fell by 17.3–30.8% (greatest in apricot), maximum photosystem II quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm) was lower in infected trees (0.408–0.561) than in healthy trees (0.716–0.728), and total soluble protein was lower in infected trees (7.88–8.45 mg g−1 FW) than in healthy trees (9.38–9.58 mg g−1 FW). Collectively, PPV infection was associated with oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, with activation of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defenses, and with reduced photosynthetic performance in Prunus species. These findings advance understanding of host responses to PPV and support sustainable monitoring and management strategies for stone fruit production, aligned with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
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BibTeX
@article{sultanova2026detection,
title = {{Detection of Plum pox virus and Characterization of Oxidative Stress Responses in Stone Fruit Trees of Azerbaijan}},
author = {Nargiz Sultanova and Elshan Musazade and Serife Topkaya},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/ijms27219406},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9406},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Detection of Plum pox virus and Characterization of Oxidative Stress Responses in Stone Fruit Trees of Azerbaijan
AU - Nargiz Sultanova
AU - Elshan Musazade
AU - Serife Topkaya
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/22
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO - 10.3390/ijms27219406
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9406
AB - Sharka disease, induced by the Plum pox virus (PPV; genus Potyvirus, family Potyviridae), represents one of the most serious viral threats to stone fruit production worldwide. This study assessed PPV occurrence in major fruit-growing areas in Azerbaijan and characterized the physiological and oxidative stress responses of infected Prunus species. Symptomatic leaves from orchards in the Quba district were screened by immunochromatographic strips, DAS-ELISA, and RT-PCR. Of 60 trees surveyed, 22 (36.7%) tested positive across all three hosts, confirmed by RT-PCR amplification of a 243 bp coat protein (CP) gene fragment in peach (Prunus persica L.), plum (P. domestica L.), and apricot (P. armeniaca L.). Infection was associated with pronounced oxidative stress: hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were higher in infected trees (6.80–10.60 µmol g−1 FW and 8.0–15.2 nmol g−1 FW) than in healthy trees (3.20–3.90 µmol g−1 FW and 4.5–8.2 nmol g−1 FW). Antioxidant defenses were activated, with increased ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) activities and higher ascorbic acid (AsA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels. Photosynthetic performance declined markedly: total chlorophyll fell by 17.3–30.8% (greatest in apricot), maximum photosystem II quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm) was lower in infected trees (0.408–0.561) than in healthy trees (0.716–0.728), and total soluble protein was lower in infected trees (7.88–8.45 mg g−1 FW) than in healthy trees (9.38–9.58 mg g−1 FW). Collectively, PPV infection was associated with oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, with activation of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defenses, and with reduced photosynthetic performance in Prunus species. These findings advance understanding of host responses to PPV and support sustainable monitoring and management strategies for stone fruit production, aligned with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
SN - 1422-0067
ER -