Scientific Opinion on the pest categorisation of Prunus necrotic ringspot virus

The Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) for the European Union (EU) territory. PNRSV is a well-defined virus species of the genus Ilarvirus for which the entire genome sequence and molecular detection assays are available. It is transmitted by vegetative multiplication of infected hosts and also via seeds and pollen (both horizontally and vertically) in some of its hosts. PNRSV has a somewhat restricted natural host range, which contains Prunus spp., hops, roses and Rubus ellipticus (yellow Himalayan raspberry). It is listed on plants of Rubus for planting in Annex IIAI of Directive 2000/29EC, probably as a result of confusion with the closely related Apple mosaic virus. PNRSV is widely present in the EU, but there are no records on its regulated hosts. It is not expected to be affected by ecoclimatic conditions wherever its hosts are present, and it has the potential to establish in large parts of the EU territory. PNRSV can spread through efficient seed- and pollen-mediated transmission mechanisms and through the movement of vegetatively propagated plants for planting. However, the existence of efficient and widely adopted certification systems for Prunus spp. constitutes a limitation to PNRSV spread. Although the virus alone or when in mixed infection can cause significant diseases in some hosts, the actual impact of PNRSV appears to be limited.