Plum Pox Virus 

Survey in Progress

PPV symptoms on a yellow-fleshed peach (European and Mediterranean 

Plant Protection Organization Archive, Bugwood.org)

PPV symptoms on a peach leaf 

(Biologische Bundesanstalt für Landund Forstwirtschaft, Bugwood.org) 

PPV symptoms on apricot fruit and 

leaf (John Hammond, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org)

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) needs your help 

to track and prevent the spread of an invasive plant disease 

called plum pox virus (PPV). PPV is the most devastating 

viral disease of stone fruit worldwide. 

To see if this disease is in your area, we are inspecting 

residential landscape plants that are susceptible to PPV. Our 

goal is to find new infestations early—before the disease 

can spread. Your cooperation is essential to conduct a 

full, complete survey and to help stop the spread of this 

unwanted disease. 

Thank you for helping us safeguard America’s agriculture. 
Q. Is PPV a serious disease?

A. Yes. PPV is a serious plant disease and a major threat to 

U.S. agriculture. It severely reduces fruit yield and quality, 

rendering fruit that is blemished and unmarketable. Stone 

fruit species that are susceptible to PPV include almonds, 

apricots, cherries, nectarines, peaches, and plums, among 

others. PPV can also infect wild and ornamental plants, such 

as Korean cherry (also known as oriental bush cherry), purple 

leaf plum, and American wild plum. If allowed to become 

established in the United States, our agricultural production 

will be impacted and our trading partners may restrict or 

prohibit certain U.S. stone fruit and ornamental plant exports 

to their countries. 

Q. What are the symptoms of PPV?

A. Symptoms may include yellow or brown blotches or rings 

on leaves or fruit; severely deformed and bumpy fruit; leaf 

distortion and drop; and deformed, discolored seeds. They 

vary in type and severity based on the virus strain, infected 

species, season, location, and other factors. Sometimes 

infected trees show no symptoms at all. In fact, newly 

infected trees rarely show symptoms.

Q. How does PPV spread? 

A. PPV is most commonly spread over relatively short 

distances by aphids, tiny insects that transmit the disease 

while feeding. The aphids suck sap from infected plants and 

then carry the virus to healthy plants. At least 20 different 

aphid species can transmit PPV throughout an orchard and 

to other trees in nearby orchards, forests, and residential 

areas. The disease is typically spread long distances when 

people move infected plants. 

Q. How often will USDA inspect for PPV in my area?

A. Inspections may be required annually in some areas.

Q. How can I support the PPV survey?

A. Talk to your family and friends about the survey and why 

it’s important. Also, please allow survey personnel to enter 

your yard and sample leaves from your shrubs and trees. 

We need your cooperation to help detect PPV and keep it 

from spreading. 

Q. Does PPV make people or animals sick? 

A. No. PPV does not harm people or animals. 

Q. Where can I get more information about PPV? 

A. You can learn more about this disease at www.aphis.

usda.gov/plant-health/plumpox. If you have questions 

about the survey, please call the phone number provided on 

the front.

APHIS 81-25-004 

 Issued March 2017

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