In Mexico about 40 000 hectares are cultivated with two peach types [Prunus pérsica (L.) Batsch]; the first includes soft flesh and freestone cultivars known as table peach and suitable for fresh consumption, while the second includes yellow, firm, sweet flesh and clingstone fruits, suitable for fresh consumption and industry (^{Rincón et al., 2004}). In the states of Aguascalientes (table peach) and Zacatecas (industrial peach), peach plantations cover about 17 000 hectares, in Zacatecas most orchards (80 %) are rainfed, in Aguascalientes, peach surface is grown under irrigation (^{SAGARPA, 1998}; ^{Zegbe, 2004}, ^{Zegbe et al, 2005}), and there are isolated or domestic plantations of other stone fruit trees, mostly apricot (P. armeniaca L.) and plum (P. domestica L.). In the state of Jalisco there are just over 300 ha of peach (Michoacán Peach Product System, 2013). Except for the ^{Oldfield et al. (1995)} report, there is little information on virus vectors presence in fruit trees in the region, therefore, this study aimed to determine the occurrence and dispersion of Xiphinema spp. and Eriophyes spp. virus vectors in stone fruit trees in the states of Aguascalientes, Jalisco and Zacatecas. In 2005 and 2006, the peach, apricot and plum production areas were explored in Jerez, Fresnillo, Enrique Estrada, Calera de V.R., Sombrerete, Morelos, Villanueva, Ojocaliente and Loreto municipalities in the state of Zacatecas as well as in Aguascalientes, Pabellón de Arteaga, Jesús María, Asientos, Rincón de Romos and Cosío municipalities in the state of Aguascalientes and in Lagos de Moreno municipality in the state of Jalisco.

Soil was collected in the first 20 cm of the drip area in peach, apricot and plum trees, the soil sample was homogenized and a subsample was placed in Baermann funnels to check the liquid 48 h later. Xiphinema spp. nematodes were identified based on ^{Mai and Mullin's (1996)} taxonomic keys. Eriophyidae mites were detected by collecting buds and dissecting them under a stereomicroscope.

Potyviruses were detected through Dot blot and Western blot according to Loera-Wall et al. (2007). The presence of the Xiphinema spp. nematode and mites from the Eriophydae family (Figure 1), which have been previously reported as virus vectors in stone fruits worldwide (^{Hansen and Oldfield, 1995}; ^{Oldfield et al., 1995}; University of California, 1999) was confirmed, as well as the presence of potyviruses in the foliage of these trees.

Figure 1 Geographical distribution of sampling sites with presence of bud mites (Acari: Eriophyidae) and the Xiphinema sp. nematode in stone fruit trees in Aguascalientes, Jalisco and Zacatecas. 

Also, a population of this nematode was observed in an apricot tree located in a commercial nursery in the Jerez municipality, where no individual bags or containers were used, posing a greater risk of spread to other plants within the nursery or to other orchards, since a virus can be acquired by these nematodes in less than an hour and be transmitted for weeks or months (^{Shurtleff and Averre III, 2000}). In Zacatecas Xiphinema spp. individuals were identified in commercial orchards of creole peach in the Jerez, Enrique Estrada and Calera de V.R. municipalities, in an isolated plum tree in the Villanueva municipality, on a plum tree (Cv. Burmosa) in the Zacatecas Experimental Field (INIFAP), Morelos municipality, Zacatecas, and in apricot and peach trees in the experimental orchard at the Faculty of Agriculture at the Autonomous University of Zacatecas (UAZ), Villanueva municipality.

Xiphinema spp. was found in the peach 26 selection in the Asientos municipality, and in selections 3, 4, 7, 17 and CP 87-9 located in the Aguascalientes municipality, as well as in commercial orchards of creole peach in Milpillas at the Jesús María municipality, and in another orchard in Rincón de Romos, in soil from a peach tree within the Experimental Field Pabellón (INIFAP) facilities in Pabellón de Arteaga, and in isolated peach and apricot trees in the Jesús María municipality, Aguascalientes.

It was also detected in an isolated peach tree in the Lagos de Moreno municipality, Jalisco. In Zacatecas, mite populations from the Eriophyidae family were detected inside creole peach buds in commercial orchards located in Jerez, Enrique Estrada and Calera de V.R. municipalities; in six plum materials (cvs. Ozark, Methley, Laroda, Frontera, Burbank and Burmosa) located in Morelos y Villanueva and in apricot trees from Jerez and Villanueva.

In Aguascalientes populations of this mite were found in peach selections 22, 26, 64, 65, 66 and 174 located in the Asientos municipality. The only symptoms of possible viral origin observed during explorations in peach trees in both states were diffuse mosaics, central vein and short internodes crinkle, no other typical peach mosaic symptoms were observed (^{James and Howell, 1998}) like petal color break, delayed foliation, fruits deformation and dwarf plants.

Potyviruses presence was detected in peach trees from 12 improved selections (9, 10, 12, 13, 18, 43, 75, 78, 84, 918, 919 and CP 91-16) and in San Isidro cultivars in two orchards in the Aguascalientes municipality. In Zacatecas the presence of potyviruses was detected in three peach selections (Rojo de los Félix, Roberto-2 and Roberto) from UAZ, as well as plum and apricot samples collected in the Villanueva municipality. No vectors (Eriophyids in buds or Xiphinema spp.) were found in bud and soil samples from Sombrerete, Zacatecas, but potyviruses were detected in the foliage from creole peach trees in that area, showing that other vectors like aphids or plant material may spread potyviruses and highlights the need for certified nurseries producing virus-free materials.

Further studies in this region should address the potyviruses and nepoviruses identification, and search for other potential viral groups, like fruit ilarviruses. Viruses affecting stone fruit trees can also be transmitted by other vectors such as aphids or thrips, but more information is needed about their role in the occurrence and spread of these diseases in the region.