An outbreak of Potato spindle tuber viroid in tomato is linked to imported seed

In 2011, an outbreak of the quarantine-regulated pathogen Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) occurred in a commercial glasshouse-grown tomato crop in Queensland, Australia. Phylogenetic studies showed that the genotype of this isolate grouped in a cluster of PSTVd genotypes from tomato and Physalis peruviana, and exhibited an interesting mutation (U₂₅₇→A) that has previously been linked to lethal symptom expression in tomato. Transmission studies showed that the viroid could be mechanically transmitted from crushed fruit sap, but not from undamaged fruits. A low rate of asymptomatic infection was determined for plants in the affected glasshouse, demonstrating the efficacy of using symptoms to detect PSTVd infections in tomato. No PSTVd infections were detected in solanaceous weeds located outside of the infected glasshouse, excluding them from playing a role in the viroid epidemiology. Monitoring and subsequent testing of new tomato crops grown in the facility demonstrated successful eradication of the pathogen. A trace-back analysis linked the outbreak of PSTVd to an infected imported tomato seed-lot, indicating that PSTVd is transmitted internationally through contaminated seed.     

4个马铃薯品种感染马铃薯纺锤块茎类病毒（PSTVd）的症状

马铃薯纺锤块茎类病毒在中国及世界许多国家都是检疫性病害, 该病害可大幅度降低马铃薯产量和品质。根据植株及块茎的症状, 汰除感病的马铃薯种薯, 是控制PSTVd传播和危害的重要手段。本研究利用分子克隆及测序技术, 分离并鉴定了PSTVd的分离物351-17, 利用PSTVd田间接种技术, 分别接种了4个黑龙江省常用的马铃薯品种‘夏坡地’、‘克新18’、‘荷兰15’和‘尤金’, 对其侵染后第一代的株高、叶片、块茎外观和单株产量进行了调查, 结果表明：4个供试马铃薯品种感染PSTVd后均表现出了一定的症状, 其中‘克新18’在株高、叶片和块茎的症状方面最为明显, 单株产量下降显著, 表明其对PSTVd非常敏感。     

The distribution of potato spindle tuber viroid in potato plants and tubers1

Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTV) in potato plants was investigated by ‘return’ gel electrophoresis. The experiments were carried out under quarantine conditions in the greenhouse with primarily and secondarily infected plants. The PSTV content in different plant parts was estimated by the intensity of the viroid band in polyacrylamide gel. The results showed a decrease of viroid content from the upper to the lower parts of the plant. In both primarily and secondarily infected plants, PSTV was reliably detected in the top leaves, but less so in the lower leaves. In four out of ten secondarily infected plants, PSTV was found in the roots. In dormant tubers, the bands were more intense with samples obtained from the rose end and the heel than from those obtained from the medullary tissue. With one exception, all 64 tubers from 26 primarily infected plants were infected with PSTV.     

Genetic diversity and pathogenicity of potato spindle tuber viroid and chrysanthemum stunt viroid isolates in Russia

European Journal of Plant Pathology - To investigate the current status of viroid infection in potato fields in Russia, potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) and chrysanthemum stunt viroid (CSVd)...     

Development of a standard method for detection of potato spindle tuber viroid in potato plants

A standard test method for detecting viroids was designed, to be applied on imported plant material, for which a zero-tolerance exists in the Netherlands towards potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTV).Partial purification of nucleic acids after homogenizing leaf material with a Polytron homogenizer, followed by increasing the viroid concentration by inoculation of an intermediate tomato host, and complete purification of the small nucleic acids from the tops of these plants, followed by polyacrylamide gelectrophoretic analysis, proved successful. With this procedure, now used as a standard method, more samples could be handled than with other methods tested.Desalting by Sephadex filtration proved to be superior to dialysis. An attempt to develop a serological test for PSTV failed. Albinism, induced in PSTV-infected tomato plants by certain environmental conditions, was not of diagnostic value.

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Samenvatting Voor het viroïde, dat de aardappelspindelknolziekte veroorzaakt (ASKV) geldt in Nederland een nultolerantie. Al het geïmporteerde aardappelmateriaal wordt daarom getoetst op het voorkomen van het viroïde. Voor dat doel is een betrouwbare en, zo mogelijk, ook snelle toets noodzakelijk, die niet alleen secundaire infecties maar ook jonge, primaire infecties kan aantonen.Een standaardmethode, die werd ontwikkeld, bleek zeer betrouwbaar, hoewel niet snel. Zij toont meer infecties aan dan snellere methoden die in het buitenland beschreven zijn. De toets omvat de volgende stappen: 2–5 g bladmateriaal wordt vermalen en op het homogenaat wordt een eenvoudige nucleïnezuurextractie en-concentratie toegepast. Dit preparaat wordt gebruikt om vier jonge tomatezaailingen te inoculeren. Door deze zaailingen 4 weken onder optimale omstandigheden te houden wordt het eventueel aanwezige viroïde vermeerderd. Geeft tenminste één van de tomateplanten symptomen, dan wordt het oorspronkelijke monster ziek verklaard. Vertoont geen van de vier tomateplanten symptomen dan wordt een nucleïnezuurextractie uitgevoerd van de topjes van deze planten. Kleine nucleïnezuurmoleculen worden geïsoleerd, geconcentreerd en tenslotte geanaliseerd met behulp van polyacrylamide gelelektroforese.Om overdracht van het ene naar het andere monster te voorkomen werd voor het vermalen gebruik gemaakt van verwisselbare schachten bij de Polytron homogenisator.Ontzouten van de nucleïnezuurextracten met Sephadexfiltratie gaf betere resultaten en was sneller uitvoerbaar dan dialyse.Pogingen om een specifiek antiserum tegen ASKV te maken zijn niet gelukt. Onder onze omstandigheden was het ook niet mogelijk om op een betrouwbare manier albinisme in geïnfecteerde planten te induceren als middel om infecties met ASKV op te sporen.

     

Occurrence and molecular variability of Potato spindle tuber viroid and Tomato apical stunt viroid in ornamental plants in Croatia

Viroids of the genus Pospiviroid are able to induce diseases in a wide range of host plants including important crop species. Although occasional disease outbreaks of Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) and closely related pospiviroids have been reported in potato and tomato, recent studies found an increase in number of latent infections in ornamental solanaceous species. In order to verify the presence of PSTVd and other pospiviroids in Croatia, a survey was conducted between 2009 and 2012. A total of 182 samples belonging to five ornamental species and two solanaceous crops were analyzed. Eight plants belonging to two different species (Solanum jasminodes and Lycianthes rantonnetii) were found infected by PSTVd and, in addition, one S. jasminoides plant infected by Tomato apical stunt viroid (TASVd). Viroid infection was confirmed by mechanical inoculation on tomato plants to observe symptom expression. Molecular characterization of the isolates was done and complete viroid sequences were submitted to the GenBank. This is the first evidence of the presence of PSTVd and TASVd and their variability in Croatia.     

Comparison of bi-directional electrophoresis and molecular hybridization methods to detect potato spindle tuber viroid and chrysanthemum stunt viroid1

A comparison was made of methods for viroid detection. Molecular hybridization using cDNA is a very sensitive method that can handle large quantities of samples at the same time but it has the disadvantage that only small amounts of the sample can be applied to the nitrocellulose filter. The method therefore can only detect viroid in plants when its concentration is 10–20 ng g^-1 of leaves, using ³²P as a marker system. Bi-directional electrophoresis can detect viroid in plants when its concentration is 10 ng g^-1 of leaves, because it uses larger samples. It does not need hazardous chemicals like ³²P and formamide, and the reading of the results of the test is less liable to failures because it is based on two criteria (position and intensity of RNA band). The Dutch Plant Protection Service and the Dutch General Inspection Service for Ornamentals therefore use a modified bi-directional electrophoresis method to detect potato spindle tuber viroid and chrysanthemum stunt viroid, respectively.     

Simplified application of return gel electrophoresis for the routine detection of potato spindle tuber viroid

The return gel electrophoresis method for the detection of potato spindle tuber viroid has been modified to simplify its use for large-scale testing. The quantities of dissolvents for the extraction of nucleic acids were reduced and adapted to the use of disposable plastic tubes. The vertical electrophoresis system was replaced by a horizontal one, which was easier to handle. Migration distance for the separation of PSTV bands was shortened, saving time for the electrophoretic run. A single-buffer system was used. The detection limit was estimated as 0.3 ng per slot. It was possible to detect both mild and severe strains of PSTV.     

Characterization of Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) incidence and new variants from ornamentals

We analyzed the spreading and persistence of PSTVd variants in several ornamentals in the territory of the Czech Republic. The pool of PSTVd variants detected in Solanum jasminoides, S. muricatum, Datura sp. and Brugmansia sp. was biolistically transferred to Matricaria chamomilla, Argyranthemum frutescens and Diascia sp., species which we found as sensitive hosts for PSTVd from ornamentals. The PSTVd pool showed sequence changes and increased variation after its transfer to potato, suggesting a wide adaptation potential of PSTVd in this crop. Potato exhibited genotype-dependent leaf and spindle tuber symptoms, when inoculated with the sap from S. jasminoides infected with the predominant and sequence-stable PSTVd-S1.     

Comparison of direct-RT-PCR and dot-blot hybridization for the detection of Potato spindle tuber viroid in natural host plant species

Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) is an EPPO A2-listed quarantine pathogen and its detection in large scale surveys requires complex decision schemes. In this study, a simple and rapid application of direct-RT-PCR was evaluated together with dot blot hybridization for the detection of PSTVd in dormant potato tubers harvested from primary infected plants, as well as in tomato and solanaceous ornamental plants. In all infected dormant potato tubers tested, both direct-RT-PCR and dot blot hybridization detected two different PSTVd isolates, with direct-RT-PCR being ten times more sensitive than dot blot. Similarly, in infected tomato and Brugmansia spp., PSTVd was detected by direct-RT-PCR with higher sensitivity compared to that of dot blot hybridization. However, in Brugmansia spp., a ten-fold decrease of the typical working concentration of the sap was required for an unequivocal detection of the viroid by direct-RT-PCR. The potential to use direct-RT-PCR for routine PSTVd examination is discussed.     

Mechanism underlying potato spindle tuber viroid affecting tomato (Solanum lycopersicum): loss of control over reactive oxygen species production

Journal of General Plant Pathology - Severe infection of the tomato cultivar ‘Rutgers’ with potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) variants resulted in systemic stunting, leaf...     

Development of an EU protocol for the detection and diagnosis of Potato spindle tuber pospiviroid*

The work described here formed part of the EU SMT DIAGPRO project, to develop diagnostic protocols for 18 regulated pests. The Potato spindle tuber pospiviroid (PSTVd) protocol was developed primarily for testing in vitro‐ and glasshouse‐grown potato plants for the purposes of post‐entry quarantine and the production of pathogen‐tested nuclear stock. After a performance audit of methods used by 12 laboratories in Europe and America by ring testing, four methods were chosen for multilaboratory validation. For most laboratories, the detection limits were 10–20 mg of PSTVd‐infective tissue for R‐PAGE; 0.25–0.5 mg for DIG‐probe; 0.062 mg for RT‐PCR; and 0.0155 mg for TaqMan (this was the lowest weight of infective tissue tested). Some laboratories were able to extend the detection limit to 0.0155 mg for DIG‐probe and RT‐PCR. The DIG‐probe and R‐PAGE are recommended as primary detection methods, with confirmation of viroid presence by any of the four validated detection methods. Specific diagnosis requires the viroid to be sequenced. Other methods may be used for primary detection, providing that they preferably detect all PSTVd isolates and other Pospiviroids that have the potential to infect potato, and detect viroid in at least 1/10 of the tissue weight normally tested per plant.     

不同探针大小、标记物及反应底物对马铃薯类病毒杂交检测的影响

 灵敏可靠地检测马铃薯纺锤块茎类病毒(Potato spindle tuber viroid,PSTVd)对脱毒种薯的生产具有重要意义。本研究探索了影响核酸杂交检测技术的关键因素。通过基因克隆技术构建了插有PSTVd全长单体、双体及片段的载体。分别以地高辛和同位素为标记物,利用PCR和转录标记技术制备cDNA和RNA探针。比较探针大小、标记物、标记方法、反应底物等对检测灵敏度的影响。结果显示,以地高辛为标记物,利用PCR标记制备的PSTVd双体cDNA探针,在以CDP-Star为底物,通过在柯达X-OMAT BT胶片进行化学发光反应来分析结果的检测灵敏度最高,可以检测到0.05 pg总RNA中的PSTVd,是国外报道检测灵敏度的500倍。利用核酸斑点杂交技术检测PSTVd具有灵敏度高,一次可检测样品数量多等特点,对于大规模PSTVd检测更加方便可行。