aphid

果樹の病気「プラムポックスウイルス」の初感染が確認された青梅市の「梅の公園」では，その拡大を食い止めるための伐採作業を開始しました。

1,266 famous Tokyo plum trees get the axe to prevent spread of 'plum pox'

It’s cherry blossom time in Tokyo, which means that the plum blossom season is just coming to a close, and one of Tokyo’s most popular spots to see plum blossom, Umeno Park in Ome, has finished the season with a sad announcement: it is chopping down all 1,266 of its famous plum trees to prevent the spread of a disease called plum pox.

Plum blossom, or ume in Japanese, blooms just at the end of winter and come in shades of red, pink and white. Ume may not be quite as popular as the cherry blossom, since it’s usually too cold to hold parties under their blossom-laden branches, but they are beloved as harbingers of spring.

According to Ome’s agriculture and forestry division, the plum pox virus was first noticed in the city in 2009 and was spread by aphids and through grafting infected trees. Although it poses no danger to humans or animals, the virus causes discoloration of leaves and fruit and causes the fruit to fall from the tree before maturity. It can also spread to other stone fruit trees. There is no treatment available, so the only way to prevent the spread of the virus is to cut down infected plants.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/1266-famous-tokyo-plum-trees-get-the-axe-to-prevent-spread-of-plum-pox

ウイルスを媒介するのは接ぎ木（grafting）に加えてaphid /éɪfɪd/ の仕業ということです。aphidはアブラムシのことです。昔，デートに訪れた思いでの場所でした。残念です。（Koyamamoto）