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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Aberdeen, Idaho » Small Grains and Potato Germplasm Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #121470
Title: EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CONTROL OF APHID TRANSMITTED POTATO VIRUSES.

Author
item HALBERT, SUSAN - UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
item Corsini, Dennis
item SANDVOL, LARRY - UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
item NOLTE, PHILLIP - UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO

Submitted to: University of Idaho Cooperative Extension Bulletin
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The aphid transmitted potato virus's potato leafroll virus, virus A and virus Y are limiting factors in potato seed production. Leafroll virus is also a major threat to commercial growers since infected tubers often develop a serious internal defect called net necrosis. This technical bulletin describes how these viruses are spread and describes the eaphids that are the most important vectors in Idaho, and outlines control procedures to minimize infection. The integrated approach to controlling these viruses is to minimize inoculum sources, reduce or eliminate aphid vectors by controlling over wintering sources and by using insecticides to control green peach aphid colonization of potato fields. Virus resistant varieties are being developed but most of the important cultivars in use today are susceptible.

Technical Abstract: Potato leafroll virus (PLRV) is spread only by the green peach aphid (GPA), which colonizes potato plants and transmits the virus after a prolonged period of feeding. Control of PLRV spread is accomplished by eliminating inoculum sources, infected potato plants primarily, by reducing GPA populations with insecticides, and by removing over wintering sources. Potato virus A and Y are spread by both colonizing and non-colonizing aphids. Major vectors are cereal aphids and a species that infects Russian Olive and Canadian Thistle. These aphids are transitory in potato fields and are not effectively controlled with either systemic or foliar insecticides. Spread of these viruses must be controlled primarily in seed sources by eliminating inoculum sources and by isolation.