Stralarivirus

Stralarivirus is a genus of plant-pathogenic viruses within the family Secoviridae. This virus is primarily recognized as a significant threat to various berry crops, particularly garden strawberries, where it causes systemic infections that severely impact plant vigor and overall yield.

The pathogen is characterized by its reliance on soil-borne nematodes, specifically of the genus Xiphinema, for transmission. This biological relationship ensures that the virus persists in the rhizosphere, making the management of infected fields a complex and long-term challenge for agronomists.

Symptoms of Stralarivirus infection include yellowing or chlorosis of the foliage, leaf distortion, and stunted growth. Infected plants often exhibit a reduced capacity to produce flowers and fruits, leading to economic losses due to smaller berry size and poor aesthetic quality, which makes them unsuitable for fresh market standards.

The spread of the virus is driven by the movement of infected plant material and the activity of nematode vectors in the soil. Favorable conditions for the disease include consistently moist and warm soil environments, which support the reproduction and mobility of the nematode vectors across the field.

Effective control of Stralarivirus relies heavily on preventive agricultural practices rather than curative treatments, as there are no chemical virucides available for plants:

• Implementation of strict phytosanitary measures, including the use of virus-indexed, certified stock.
• Systematic monitoring and roguing of infected plants to reduce the reservoir of inoculum.
• Management of nematode populations through soil fumigation or the use of non-host break crops in rotation.
• Maintaining rigorous farm hygiene to prevent the spread of soil and plant debris between different field sections.