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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Aberdeen, Idaho » Small Grains and Potato Germplasm Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #352747
Research Project: Potato Genetic Improvement for Enhanced Tuber Quality and Greater Productivity and Sustainability in Western U.S. Production

Location: Small Grains and Potato Germplasm Research

Title: Symptom expression of Potato virus Y across all market classes of U.S. potato varieties

Author
item Whitworth, Jonathan
item Gray, Stewart

Submitted to: Potato Association of America Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/12/2018
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Potato varieties are susceptible to Potato virus Y (PVY) which can plant and tuber symptoms resulting in loss of yield and quality in the subsequent crop. In this study, five strains of PVY were used to infect 70 potato varieties in greenhouses. Three to five isolates per strain were used and healthy plants were infected by using sap from infected plants. Symptom expression was observed weekly and tubers were evaluated at harvest for tuber defects typically associated with PVY. PVY strains represented were PVYO, PVYNTN, PVYN:O, PVYNWi, PVYNE-11. Results showed that across all varieties, PVYO had the most severe leaf symptoms and had a much higher percent compared to all other strains tested. Tuber defects occurred in all strains but the number of varieties that were susceptible to tuber symptoms was lower than for foliar symptoms. These results can be used by growers and the industry to identify and remove diseased plants from seed lots that are then used to produce the commercial potato crops

Technical Abstract: Potato virus Y (PVY) can cause a range of foliar and tuber symptoms that can lead to reduced yield and quality defects in the daughter tubers. Five strains of PVY were used to inoculate 70 potato varieties in aphid screened greenhouses in Idaho and New York. Three to five isolates per strain were used and plants were mechanically inoculated when they were 20-25 cm tall. Three leaflets were inoculated by sprinkling carborundum on the surface and using infected sap in a phosphate buffer and hand rubbing across the leaflet surface. Foliar evaluations were taken weekly and tubers were evaluated at harvest for tuber necrosis symptoms typically associated with PVY. PVY strains represented were PVYO, PVYNTN, PVYN:O, PVYNWi, PVYNE-11. Results showed that across all varieties, PVYO had the most severe mosaic leaf symptoms and had a much higher percent of leaf necrosis compared to all other strains tested. Tuber necrosis occurred in all strains and the number of varieties that were susceptible to tuber symptoms was low and more uniform than for foliar symptoms. These results can be used by growers and the industry to facilitate visual roguing and evaluate the potential for necrotic tuber symptoms in specific varieties.