Visual inspection of potato seedlings in routine virus diagnosis: validation of a rating method

Visual inspection of seed potato plants is a routine method in virus diagnosis prior to enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedures. In this study, the visual rating of potato plants for virus symptoms, together with both these laboratory procedures, was subject to an accreditation by International Standard ISO/IEC 17025 in the plant protection office of Lower Saxony, Germany. The validation of the rating was applied to two samples with 100 single potato plants in each. Each sample was investigated using four ratings, each carried out by three inspectors, consecutively. Standardization was established using inspection under available daylight to assess the degree of virus symptoms. An inspection procedure is suggested which (i) takes into account the light conditions during the inspection and (ii) uses a calibration of the ratings given by the three inspectors obtained from prior inspection jointly of another sample. For each rating the number of plants showing virus symptoms was recorded and ratings were compared using standard statistical methods (mean value, standard deviation and coefficient of variation).     

Reaction of saprophytic bacteria from potato peel extracts and plant pathogenic bacteria in ELISA with antisera to Erwinia chrysanthemi (serogroup O1Ha)

The specificity of two antisera raised to whole cells ofErwinia chrysanthemi (Ech), serogroup O₁H_a, was studied in double antibody sandwich (DAS-) ELISA with 100 strains of different plant pathogenic bacteria (PPB), including 39 Ech strains, and of one of these antisera with 900 saprophytic bacteria isolated from extracts of potato peelings of Dutch seed potatoes grown in several production areas.All tested European Ech strains from potato reacted positively while no reactions were observed with any of the other plant pathogenic bacterial species. Two saprophytes (A254 and A256), both identified as pectinolyticPseudomonas fluorescens species, cross-reacted strongly with polyclonal antibodies against Ech. Non-specific reactions were found in DAS-ELISA with 16 saprophytes. The detection limits for the individual saprophytes varied between c. 10⁵ and 10⁹ cells.ml^–1. The non-specific reactions were also found with monoclonal antibodies (mca 2A4) against a proteinase K resistent epitope of Ech and with antisera against other plant pathogens including an antiserum against potato virus Y^N. The non-specific reactions were observed in DAS-ELISA, but not in Ouchterlony double diffusion or immunofluorescence colonystaining, whereas A254 and A256 reacted in all tests, but only with antibodies against Ech. When in making dilution series potato peel extracts were used instead of phosphate buffered saline with 0.1% Tween 20, the 14 non-specifically reacting saprophytes only reacted at concentrations of 10⁹ cells.ml^–1 or higher. Only one of these 14 saprophytes was able to multiply on injured potato tuber tissue.In contrast to most saprophytic strains, the saprophytes A254 and A256 reacted strongly in ELISA in dilutions series made with potato peel extracts. A256 was able to grow on potato tuber tissue but only under low oxygen conditions; A254 did not grow at all on potato tissue.Defatted milk powder or bovine serum albumin added to the dilution buffer for the enzymeconjugated antibodies, drastically reduced the non-specific reactions, but not the reactions with A254 and A256.To reduce the cross-reaction with A254, an Ech antiserum was absorbed with A254. This resulted in a substantial drop in antibody reaction with the homologous antigen in Ouchterlony double diffusion.     

Uneven distribution of two potyviruses (feathery mottle virus and sweet potato latent virus) in sweet potato plants and its implication on virus indexing of meristem derived plants

Abstract

The distribution of two sweet potato potyviruses, FMV and SPLV, was assessed in three plants infected with both viruses and in one plant infected with FMV only. All leaves, the top and basal sections of the main stem, and branch sections were tested by ELISA. Both symptomless leaves and leaves showing symptoms including purple rings, chlorotic spots, mottle or discoloration were found to contain the viruses. However, neither could be detected in every leaf or stem piece. SPLV was found in a lower proportion of leaf and stem samples than FMV. This indicates that the two viruses are either very unevenly distributed within sweet potato plants or that the virus concentration in some parts is below the detectable level. Testing of each leaf is recommended for reliable virus indexing of small, meristem‐derived sweet potato plantlets, if the ELISA method is used. Additional indexing of all ELISA‐negative materials by grafting to susceptible indicator plants is nevertheless still necessary.     

Incidence of potato viruses and characterisation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Potato virus Y</Emphasis> variability in late season planted potato crops in Northern Tunisia

Surveys were conducted of symptomatic potato plants in late season crops, from the major potato production regions in Northern Tunisia, for infection with six common potato viruses. The presence of Potato leafroll virus (PLRV), Potato virus Y (PVY), Potato virus X (PVX), Potato virus A (PVA), Potato virus S (PVS) and Potato virus M (PVM) was confirmed serologically with virus infection levels up to 5.4, 90.2, 4.3, 3.8, 7.1 and 4.8%, respectively. As PVY was prevalent in all seven surveyed regions, further biological, serological and molecular typing of 32 PVY isolates was undertaken. Only one isolate was shown to induce PVY^O-type symptoms following transmission to tobacco and to react only against anti-PVY^O-C antibodies. Typical vein necrosis symptoms were obtained from 31 samples, six of which reacted against both anti-PVY^N and anti-PVY^O-C antibodies showing they contained mixed isolates, while 25 of them reacted only with anti-PVY^N antibodies. An immunocapture RT-PCR molecular test using a PVY^NTN specific primer pair set in the 5’NTR/P1 genomic region and examination of recombinant points in three genomic regions (HC-Pro/P3, CI/NIa and CP/3’NTR) showed that all 25 serotype-N PVY isolates were PVY^NTN variants with similar recombinations to the standard PVYNTN-H isolate. This is the first report of the occurrence of the PVY^NTN variant and its high incidence in late season potatoes in Tunisia.     

利用RNA干扰介导抗病性获得兼抗四种病毒的转基因马铃薯

为获得兼抗马铃薯X病毒(Potato virus X,PVX)、马铃薯Y病毒(Potato virus Y,PVY)、马铃薯卷叶病毒(Potato leaf roll virus,PLRV)和马铃薯潜隐花叶病毒(Potato virus S,PVS)4种病毒的转基因马铃薯新材料,分别以这4种病毒全长CP基因为模板,通过设计PCR引物和亚克隆获得4种病毒CP基因相对保守区段的基因片段,并将其拼接成融合基因,以载体pHANNIBAL和pBI121为基础,构建RNA干扰(RNA interference,RNAi)载体,利用农杆菌介导的转基因体系进行马铃薯遗传转化,并对获得的转基因马铃薯进行病毒抗性检测。结果表明,所获得的融合基因片段RH1和RH2,酶切鉴定分别得到长度为1 200 bp的条带,与预期片段相符;构建了含pdk内含子和RH1、RH2融合基因的RNAi植物表达载体,经Bam H I/Sac I双酶切,获得长度约3 200 bp的片段,表明RNAi植物表达载体pBI121-pRH构建成功;转化易感病毒马铃薯品种陇薯11号,PCR检测和PCRSouthern杂交分析表明融合基因已整合到陇薯11号马铃薯基因组中;抗病性检测显示4株转基因马铃薯植株对4种病毒均免疫。表明利用RNAi可筛选出抗多种病毒的转基因马铃薯新种质。     

Effect of temperature on resistance to Potato virus Y in potato cultivars carrying the resistance gene Rychc

The effect of cultivation temperatures on the resistance reaction to three Potato virus Y strains (PVY^O, PVY^N and PVY^NTN) in potato cultivars carrying Ry_chc was examined. When potato plants carrying Ry_chc were cultivated at 22 °C, a few small necrotic spots developed on inoculated leaves by 5 days after mechanical inoculation (dpi), and systemic infection of a few symptomless plants was confirmed at 28 dpi by IC‐RT‐PCR. At 28 °C, distinct necrotic spots developed on inoculated leaves by 5 dpi, and systemic symptoms occasionally appeared at 28 dpi. Thus, high temperature weakens Ry_chc‐conferred resistance. However, the incidence of systemic infection and the titre of virus in resistant cultivars at 28 °C were lower than in a susceptible cultivar. In graft inoculation under high summer temperatures, some plants developed necrosis on the leaves and stem, but PVY was barely detected by RT‐PCR in leaves on potato carrying Ry_chc. When seedlings from progeny tubers of plants that were inoculated with PVY and grown in a greenhouse at >30 °C in the daytime were examined by ELISA and IC‐RT‐PCR, PVY was not detected in cultivars carrying Ry_chc. These results show that Ry_chc confers an extreme resistance to PVY strains occurring in Japan.     

Crop border and mineral oil sprays used in combination as physical control methods of the aphid‐transmitted potato virus Y in potato

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this work were to determine if the control of potato virus Y (PVY, genus Potyvirus, family Potyviridae) in seed potato could be improved by combining border crops and mineral oil sprays, and if the border crop acts as a barrier or a virus sink. RESULTS: Field tests over 3 years confirmed that mineral oils alone are an effective barrier to PVY, and showed that borders alone act as a PVY sink. Combining the familiar mineral oil and the more recent crop border methods was almost twice as effective in reducing PVY incidence as either one used alone. The combination provided consistently high PVY control compared with the variable and often lower level of control by either method alone. The contribution of the oil to PVY reduction was similar whether it was applied to the border, the center seed plot, or both. Oil application to the border alone should not affect efficacy and would help keep control costs down. CONCLUSION: Combining border and oil provided the best reduction in PVY incidence 3 years out of 3, providing producers with a tool to reduce year‐to‐year variation in the effectiveness of crop borders or oil sprays used separately. © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri‐Food Canada. Published by John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.     

Transgenic potato plants expressing the potato virus X (PVX) coat protein gene developed resistance to the viral infection

The gene coding for potato virus X (PVX) coat protein (CP) was expressed in transgenic potato plants obtained byAgrobacterium tumefaciens transformation. One hundred independent clones were analyzed in challenge experiments for resistance to PVX infection under greenhouse conditions as a preliminary test. From this test, 16 clones with the best resistance results were selected for a small-scale field trial. Clones 54, 60, 73 and 91 demonstrated the best values of resistance to PVX in the field. Statistical analysis of the field trial showed significant differences between means of optical density obtained in ELISA from transgenic clones and non-transformed plants (P<0.05). There was correspondence between resistance to virus infection and expression of the CP gene of PVX virus in the analyzed clones. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Jan. 21, 2002. Corresponding author [e-mail: vivian.doreste@cigb.edu.cu].     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of potato viruses A and Y in potato leaves and sprouts

With the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) potato virus A (PVA) could be detected reliably in potato sprouts, especially when these were young and sappy. The detection of this virus in leaves of glasshouse-grown potato plants was less reliable. The tobacco veinal necrosis strain of potato virus Y (PVY^N) was readily demonstrated in foliage of glass-house-grown potato plants using an antiserum to this strain. Plants infected with the common strain (PVY^O) did not react in ELISA with this antiserum. In young sappy sprouts, using the PVY^N antiserum, PVY^N could be detected reliably when samples with PVY^O were excluded, as the reaction of samples infected with the latter virus was intermediate between PVY^N-diseased and PVY-free samples. PVY was also detected in plants inadvertently infected during the experiments.     

基于小RNA深度测序和RT-PCR检测侵染广东省冬种马铃薯的病毒

为明确侵染广东省冬种马铃薯的病毒种类及优势病毒,结合小RNA深度测序技术及RTPCR检测方法,对采集于广东省冬种马铃薯7个主产区的189份疑似病样进行检测分析。结果表明,经小RNA深度测序技术检测马铃薯病毒病混合样,发现存在马铃薯Y病毒(Potato virus Y,PVY)、马铃薯S病毒(Potato virus S,PVS)和马铃薯卷叶病毒(Potato leaf-roll virus,PLRV)3种病毒。进一步设计3种病毒的特异性引物并利用国内已报道的其它5种马铃薯病毒的特异性引物进行RT-PCR检测,发现189份马铃薯病毒病疑似病样中仅检测到PVY、PVS和PLRV这3种病毒,检出率依次为75.13%、10.05%和4.76%,且3种病毒在马铃薯上还存在复合侵染,复合侵染率为14.19%,其中PVY在各马铃薯产区均可检测到。表明侵染广东省冬种马铃薯的病毒为PVY、PVS和PLRV,其中PVY是优势病毒。     

山东甘薯主要病毒的鉴定及多样性分析

为明确山东省甘薯病毒病发生现状,在重病区调查采样,通过鉴别寄主、电镜和分子检测技术明确主要病毒种类;并克隆病毒外壳蛋白基因序列,利用Mega 5.0构建系统进化树进行遗传分析。结果显示,巴西牵牛嫁接甘薯染病枝条后叶片黄化、褪绿及皱缩;病样组织中存在大量600~900 nm的线状病毒粒子和柱状内含体。24份病样中检测到甘薯羽状斑驳病毒、甘薯潜隐病毒、甘薯G病毒、甘薯曲叶病毒和甘薯褪绿矮化病毒5种病毒,其中23份为复合侵染,存在11种侵染类型。遗传分析显示山东省甘薯羽状花叶病毒主要为EA、O和C株系,甘薯潜隐病毒与周边省份分离物相近,甘薯G病毒与中国海南和美国分离物相近,甘薯曲叶病毒分属3个株系。表明山东地区甘薯病毒种类繁多,侵染模式复杂,病毒遗传结构具有多样性。     

Serological reaction of beet western yellows and potato leafroll viruses in ELISA

The detection of potato leafroll virus (PLRV) and beet western yellows virus (BWYV) and their serological relatedness were investigated by the double sandwich ELISA (DS). In both pure preparations and crude plant extracts, an unequivocal detection of each of these viruses was obtained by DS, provided the homologous antisera were used. No detection was achieved when the heterologous antisera were used, although purified virus could be detected when using the heterologous antisera for coating, providing the homologous antisera were used as conjugates. Therefore, for routine screening of BWYV or PLRV infection in plants, the DS method with homologous antisera can be used. However, it does not seem that BWYV infection in potato could be detected by the routine DS aimed for PLRV screening. In immunosorbent electron microscopy, PLRV and BWYV could be easily detected by coating grids with either homologous or heterologous antiserum. This and the possibility of trapping each virus in ELISA plates with the heterologous antiserum indicate serological cross-reactivity between PLRV and BWYV.     

Reaction of three potato cultivars to potato virus S and alteration of miRNAs and mRNA targets in the resistant genotypes

Reactions of three Polish potato cultivars to potato virus S (PVS) were investigated at 22°C. Cultivars Tajfun and Tonacja exhibited partial resistance with systemic infection detected in some inoculated plants; cultivar Bryza was susceptible to PVS with systemic infection detected in all inoculated plants. The virus was not detectable by ELISA at 23 days postinoculation (dpi) but was detected after 40 dpi. Infection rate and viral accumulation were significantly lower in Tonacja and Tajfun than in Bryza, but no statistically significant difference between Tajfun and Tonacja was detected. Both susceptible and resistant genotypes displayed various, either common or cultivar-specific, symptoms. Delayed systemic infection at 56 dpi was observed in some cases in Tonacja and Tajfun. Resistance-related alteration of a set of miRNAs and mRNA targets in the tested cultivars in response to PVS at 22°C exhibited inter- and intracultivar variability. The majority of tested genes were altered only in the partially resistant Tajfun and Tonacja but not in the susceptible Bryza. Enhanced expression of AGO1-2, DCL1, stu-miR482 and its target Gpa2 was observed in Tonacja and plants of Tajfun in which PVS was detected, with the highest induction of Gpa2 in Tajfun (30.2-fold). However, their expression remained unchanged or decreased in plants of Tajfun in which PVS was undetected. Increased expression of stu-miR168a and stu-miR172e was observed in Tonacja and the PVS-undetected plants of Tajfun, respectively, but not in the PVS-detected plants of Tajfun. This is the first report on cultivar-specific alteration of miRNA in a potato–PVS resistance interaction.     

Detection of quarantine viruses of potato by ELISA

According to EC regulations, imported material of tuber-forming Solarium spp. has to be tested for the absence of defined quarantine viruses. In order to allow an efficient and timesaving application of the quarantine inspection procedure, antisera have been developed and scrutinized for their use by the ELISA technique. The viruses concerned were Andean potato latent virus (APLV), Andean potato mottle virus (APMV), arracacha virus B oca strain (AVB-O), potato virus T (PVT) and tobacco ringspot virus Andean potato calico strain (TRSV-Ca). The results show that all viruses can be reliably detected by double-antibody sandwich (DAS) ELISA. The detection limits were in the range ≤ 1–32 ng ml⁻¹. The strain specificity by DAS-ELISA of the antisera for APLV and APMV was overcome by mixing antisera from the different strains and strain groups, respectively. Strains C and Lm of APMV seemed to be serologically identical. A comparison of the suceptibility of several wild species of tuber-forming Solanum with that of several cultivars of Solanum tuberosum showed a higher frequency of infection in the wild species.     

Problems associated with potyviruses in potato certification-field inspection and serological testing1

In UK, the tobacco veinal necrosis strain of potato virus Y (PVY^N), potato virus A (PVA) and potato virus V (PVV) each occur in the field only in limited ranges of potato cultivars in which they mostly cause mild symptoms or even symptomless infection; little is known about incidence of strain C of PVY (PVY^C). The ordinary strain of PVY (PVY°), however, is widespread causing symptoms ranging in severity from very severe through to very mild, depending on cultivar sensitivity/tolerance. During field inspections, very mild potyvirus symptoms may be missed, so inspectors are trained to be particularly vigilant when examining problem cultivars which react in this way. PVA is almost invariably treated, along with PVX, as a mild kind of virus infection, but infections with PVY°, PVY^N and PVV are treated as severe with stricter tolerances being applied for them (especially for PVY^N) regardless of symptom severity. Wide variation within the same cultivar in the behaviour of variants within the PVY° strain group also sometimes causes difficulties in interpretation at inspection. To detect PVY, PVA and PVV in routine serological testing on potato certification samples, it is necessary to employ specific antisera to each of them. PVY^N-specific monoclonal antibodies can be used in ELISA to distinguish PVY^N from PVY°.     

Control of potato virus Y (PVY) in seed potatoes by oil spraying,straw mulching and intercropping

Potato virus Y (PVY) is the potato virus with the highest economic impact on seed potato production. Insecticides are efficient in controlling aphids, which are the vectors of this virus, but rarely limit virus spread in the field. Straw mulching and mineral oil spraying are known as alternatives to insecticides to reduce PVY incidence, but important year‐to‐year variation in efficacy has been observed with both of these techniques. Preliminary studies revealed the efficacy of intercropping in controlling PVY spread, but more data are needed to validate this observation. A four‐year field trial was conducted in Switzerland to assess the potential synergistic effect of combining mineral oil spraying with straw mulching to increase the protection of seed potato crops against PVY spread. Furthermore, the efficacy of intercropping with oat and hairy vetch was examined as a novel way to control in‐field PVY spread. The present work demonstrates that the modes of action of mineral oil and straw mulching are complementary and reduce the year‐to‐year variation observed with oil and straw when used alone as PVY control agents. The results also demonstrate the efficacy of intercropping for the control of PVY, and the mode of action of this novel control method is discussed. Overall, this work shows that it is possible to increase the protection of potato fields against PVY spread by combining control strategies with different modes of action that complement each other, such as mulching, oil spraying and intercropping.     

Seed transmission of Sweet potato leaf curl virus in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)

Sweet potato leaf curl virus (SPLCV) infects sweet potato and is a member of the family Geminiviridae (genus Begomovirus). SPLCV transmission occurs from plant to plant mostly via vegetative propagation as well as by the insect vector Bemisia tabaci. When sweet potato seeds were planted and cultivated in a whitefly‐free greenhouse, some sweet potato plants started to show SPLCV‐specific symptoms. SPLCV was detected by PCR from all leaves and floral tissues that showed leaf curl disease symptoms. More than 70% of the seeds harvested from SPLCV‐infected sweet potato plants tested positive for SPLCV. SPLCV was also identified from dissected endosperm and embryos. The transmission level of SPLCV from seeds to seedlings was up to 15%. Southern blot hybridization showed SPLCV‐specific single‐ and double‐stranded DNAs in seedlings germinated from SPLCV‐infected seeds. Taken altogether, the results show that SPLCV in plants of the tested sweet potato cultivars can be transmitted via seeds and SPLCV DNA can replicate in developing seedlings. This is the first seed transmission report of SPLCV in sweet potato plants and also, to the authors' knowledge, the first report of seed transmission for any geminivirus.     

An investigation of the reliability of ELISA as a practical test for detecting potato leaf roll virus and potato virus Y in tubers

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), involving mechanical sampling of tubers, was compared with a growing-on test in which virus was assessed visually, and with ELISA on leaves. The percentage infection of potato leaf roll virus and potato virus Y on samples of potential seed tubers sent for advisory test during the winter, was determined by each method. The tuber ELISA underestimated the incidence of both viruses, and was less accurate than the growing-on or leaf ELISA. The effect on the reliability of tuber ELISA of the amount and distribution of virus in the tuber, the compromises made to make the test fast and simple, and the quality of anti-serum and composition of the extraction buffer are discussed.