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Transmission of apple stem grooving virus (Capillovirus mali) to apple from the soil-borne fungus Fusarium solani

Summary

Researchers discovered that a common soil fungus called Fusarium solani can carry and transmit apple viruses to healthy apple trees through their roots. This fungus spreads the virus both to other fungal colonies and to apple plants, explaining how viruses naturally spread in apple orchards. This finding has important implications for protecting apple orchards and managing orchard soil health.

Background

Apple viruses are primarily spread through grafting and pruning, but the source of natural infection in wild apple trees remains unknown. Recent studies suggest fungi may serve as reservoirs or vectors for plant viruses. This study investigates whether soil-borne fungi can acquire and transmit apple viruses.

Objective

To determine if soil-borne fungi naturally harbor apple viruses and can transmit them to healthy apple plants, and to identify potential fungal vectors for apple stem grooving virus (ASGV) transmission.

Results

Four Fusarium solani isolates were identified as natural hosts of ASGV. ASGV-carrying F. solani transmitted the virus to healthy apple seedlings via root infection, causing reduced growth and root development. The virus demonstrated horizontal transmission through mycelial fusion and vertical transmission through asexual spores across eight consecutive subcultures.

Conclusion

F. solani serves as a novel vector for cross-kingdom transmission of ASGV in apple orchards. The persistence of ASGV in fungal populations through horizontal and vertical transmission mechanisms complicates disease management and suggests that soil-borne fungi may explain the natural spread of apple viruses in wild and cultivated settings.
  • Published in:BMC Plant Biology,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: 10.1186/s12870-025-07188-0, PMID: 41023582
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