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This May through June the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) will be conducting a survey for plum pox virus (PPV) on commercial peaches, plums and ornamental Prunus species in Berkeley, Jefferson and Hampshire Counties.

PPV can reduce crop yields and deform stone fruit crops. The virus is from Europe and has been found in the northeastern U.S. since 1999. The disease has not been found in West Virginia. Finding PPV in an orchard at early stages of infection greatly benefits the grower and neighboring growers by slowing the progression of this potentially devastating disease.

Anyone with a large number of peach, plum or ornamental Prunus trees in Berkeley, Jefferson and Hampshire Counties can help protect the health of stone fruit crops in West Virginia and the region by volunteering to have their orchards and ornamental trees sampled. Growers and homeowners can also choose to collect and send symptomatic leaf tissue to the Gus R. Douglass Agricultural Center at Guthrie for testing throughout the growing season.  More information about recognizing PPV is available on the web at: www.wvdaplantpath.com. To participate in the PPV survey call 304-558-2212 or email ndart@ag.state.wv.us.

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. Currently, Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is the longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org.

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