Typical symptoms of fire blight, caused by Erwinia amylovora, were observed in late June of 1998 on Crataegus monogyna Jacq. (hawthorn) and Pyrus pyraster Burgsd. (syn. P. caucasia, wild or thorny pear) in the region of Plovdiv. Symptoms observed on hawthorn were shepherd's-crook shoots, necrotic
Virus-derived small interfering RNAs (vsiRNAs) can target not only viruses but also plant genes. Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV) is an RNA virus that infects Rosaceae plants extensively, including apple, pear and hawthorn. Here, we report an ACLSV-derived vsiRNA [vsiR1360(-)] that targets