To date, no other PPV strains have been reported to infect cherry naturally. Scientists use several techniques to distinguish PPV strains. They monitor the behavior of host trees. They also sequence the PCR products or cut the PCR products with enzymes at locations in the DNA sequence that are unique to each strain. This appears as darker pink stripes on the flower petals and can be useful for early season surveys.
Some trees show no symptoms on leaves or fruit.
In Chile, several of the infections have been asymptomatic, and infections were discovered only through rigorous testing of trees. Not all PPV infection in Prunus are characterized by a ring symptom on leaves. Several cultivars show yellowing line patterns and blotches, or necrotic ring symptoms on expanded leaves. Leaf distortion has also been observed. PPV-infected fruit can develop yellow rings or blotches, or brown rings, and some plum and apricot fruit can be severely deformed and bumpy.