The Southeastern Budwood Program was initiated as a collaboration between peach growers, nurseries, and former Clemson virologist Dr. Simon Scott (Clemson University Professor Emeritus) in 2001, with the goal of ensuring that buds and rootstocks being propagated by nurseries in the southeastern U.S. are tested for important viruses. In 2009, the SBP began collaboration and received support from the National Clean Plant Network. Each spring, we collect leaf samples from commercial peach orchards and test ~2,500 trees for PNRSV, PDV, and PPV. In addition, we test Guardian trees (for rootstock seed) for the same viruses. Nurseries are then provided with testing results and maps which they use to collect budwood from the virus-tested trees. This process helps to ensure that the major nurseries producing trees for the Southeast are not inadvertently spreading these viruses via nursery stock.
