Incidence and detection of negative‐stranded RNA viruses infecting apple and pear trees in California

Novel negative‐stranded RNA (nsRNA) viruses have been recently identified in multiple agronomic crops, including pome fruit trees. Citrus concave gum‐associated virus (CCGaV), citrus virus A (CiVA) and apple rubbery wood viruses 1 and 2 (ARWV1 and 2) are examples of such viruses. Given the novelty and lack of information about these pathogens in Californian orchards, in this study, real‐time RT‐PCR assays for CCGaV, CiVA, ARWV1 and 2 were...