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Title: SPONGOSPORA SUBTERRANEA AS A VECTOR OF POTATO MOP-TOP POMOVIRUS IN COSTA RICA

Author
item MONTERO-ASTUA, MAURICIO - U. COSTA RICA
item VASQUEZ, V - U. COSTA RICA
item Turechek, William
item RIVERA, C - U. COSTA RICA

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/2/2005
Publication Date: 8/1/2005
Citation: Montero-Astua, M., Vasquez, V., Turechek, W., Rivera, C. 2005. Spongospora subterranea as a vector of potato mop-top pomovirus in costa rica. Phytopathology. 95:S156.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Spongospora subterranea f. sp. subterranea is the causal agent of potato powdery scab and vector of Potato mop-top pomovirus (PMTV). The vector and virus mainly cause blemishes on potato tubers and have been shown to affect plant growth and yield. They are recognized as important threats to potato production in northern Europe and Australia and as emerging diseases in North and South America. S. subterranea and PMTV are both soil-borne diseases and the degree to which they are associated in the field is poorly understood. From 2001 to 2004 a survey was conducted to assess the occurrence and association of S. subterranea and PMTV in potato plantations in Costa Rica. A total of 633 paired samples (tuber and corresponding leaf tissue) from 39 plantations were analyzed by ELISA using specific antibodies for S. subterranea (Bioreba, Switzerland) and PMTV (Adgen, Scotland). The value of the Jaccard index of association was 0.245 and was found to indicate significant association ('=0.05) according to a randomization test. The transmission of PMTV from soil samples to bait plants was determined by bioassay using ELISA and PCR to detect the presence of PMTV and S. subterranea respectively. PMTV transmission was easily detected in the bait plants suggesting high contamination of soil by PMTV bearing S. subterranea sporeballs or a high efficiency of virus transmission by the vector. In summary, the data suggests that S. subterranea is an important component of PMTV epidemiology in Costa Rica’s potato agro-systems.