Environmental factors influencing aphid transmission of potato virus Y and potato leafroll virus

Summary The effect of temperature, relative humidity (RH) and light on aphid transmission of potato virus Y (PVY) and potato leafroll virus (PLRV) was studied using as vectorsMyzus persicae Sulz. andAphis gossypii Glov. Host susceptibility was enhanced by 48 h pre-inoculation exposure at 25°C and by 48 h post-inoculation exposure to 30°C. High RH (80%) in both pre- or postinoculation phases enhanced host susceptibility. Continuous fluorescent light (4000 lux) did not alter the rate of transmission of either virus. High RH (80–90%) and high temperature (25–30°C), when combined, increased virus transmission by 30–35%. Transmission rates were reduced by nearly 50% if RH was maintained at 50% in either of the two phases even if the temperature was 25 or 30°C. Both viruses were acquired by aphids earlier (13–20 days after inoculation) when the source plants were incubated at 25 or 30°C. Most virus was transmitted from plants inoculated with PVY 13 to 16 days and with PLRV 15 to 20 days previously. Transmission rates of PVY were enumerated from symptom expression on test plants and by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) whereas those of PLRV were enumerated from symptom expression alone.     

Resistance of potato clones to the green peach aphid and potato leafroll virus

During 1980 and 1981 potato cultivars and breeding selections, including cultivated species and their hybrid derivatives, were evaluated for resistance to the green peach aphid (GPA),Myzus persicae (Sulzer), and to potato leafroll virus (PLRV). Criteria used were the number of aphids which colonized the clones in free choice field experiments and the number of plants derived from these experiments which showed symptoms of PLRV infection. Generally, greater resistance to GPA was found inSolarium tuberosum gp.andigena selections and hybrids than in gp.tuberosum cultivars. There were approximately fourfold differences in season-mean GPA levels among the clones tested each year. Forty-two families, representing a cross-section of the USDA breeding populations at the University of Idaho Research and Extension Center, Aberdeen, showed a similar range in colonization levels. Resistance to GPA colonization appeared to be more prevalent in gp.andigena, gp.phureja, and gp.stenotonum derivatives. There was a weak positive correlation (r² = .34, P = .01) between foliar total glycoalkaloids and season-mean GPA colonization levels for six clones representing the range of observed resistance to GPA. Resistance to GPA colonization was apparently not directly related to resistance to PLRV infection. Katahdin, for example, was relatively susceptible to GPA colonization but very resistant to PLRV infection whereas selection A69657-4 (gp.andigena) was among the most resistant to GPA colonization but among the more susceptible to PLRV infection. Breeding for resistance to GPA colonization therefore may not be as promising for PLRV control as developing PLRV resistant cultivars.     

The infection pressure of potato leafroll virus and potato virus Y in relation to aphid populations in Cyprus

Summary The infection pressure of two viruses, potato leafroll (PLRV) and potato virus Y (PVY), both common in seed potatoes grown in Cyprus, was determined in three experiments in 1982–83. Virus-free bait plants, of potato and four other species, were exposed weekly to field infection during the growing season (March–June), and then returned to an aphid-free glasshouse for symptom expression. Only tobacco plants produced clear symptoms enabling reliable assessment of PVY infection pressure. When assessed with ELISA or by tuber indexing, the potato plants were efficient baits for both viruses whose infection period commenced at emergence (mid March to early April) and ended within 6–7 weeks. The seasonal trend of aphid populations, determined with Moericke traps or 100-leaf counts, correspond to that of virus spread. Correlation and regression analysis of aphid and virus data implicated the alate form ofMyzus persicae as the principal vector of both viruses.     

Biological factors influencing the transmission of potato leafroll virus by different aphid species

Summary Macrosiphum euphorbiae, collected in the field from potato plants infected with potato leafroll virus (PLRV), transmitted the virus to fewer potato plants in a field trial than did laboratory-rearedMyzus persicae. In the laboratory,M. persicae was the only efficient vector of PLRV fromPhysalis floridana seedlings, potato sprouts or excised leaves toP. floridana. Two clones ofM. euphorbiae and one clone ofAulacorthum solani transmitted PLRV from infected potato plants toNicotiana clevelandii as effeciently asM. persicae but a clone ofAphis gossypii was an inefficient PLRV vector. An isolate of PLRV, whichM. persicae transmitted inefficiently from potato toN. clevelandii, was also transmitted inefficiently byM. euphorbiae andA. solani.     

Potato leafroll virus distribution in potato meristem tips and production of virus-free plants

Summary Uridine-H³ was incorporated into meristem tips of both healthy and PLRV-infected potato plants, of the cultivars, Majestic and Primura. Autoradiograms of tips pretreated with actinomycin D showed that 13 of 14 and 11 of 14 respectively, were virus free in the dome and first 4 leaf primordia, 1 and 3 were infected in the 4th leaf primordium, and 1 of Primura also in its 3rd primordium. The highest plantlet yield from cultures in vitro of meristem tips that included 4 leaf primordia (7 to 9 plantlets per meristem), was obtained by growing them in sequence on 3 sequential media, each based on Murashige and Skoog basic medium complemented with various hormones. The 2nd medium, containing benzylaminopurine (0.5 mg/l) and gibberellic acid (0.5 mg/l), elicited callus and the subsequent formation of adventitious buds. Of the plantlets of the cvs Vivaks, Primura and Majestic, 88, 91 and 100 %, respectively, were PLRV-free. Propagation in vitro, by the single-node cutting technique and tuberlet production, were successful.     

Potato leafroll virus and potato virus Y in seed potatoes used to plant the North Carolina crop

Incidence of potato leafroll virus (PLRV) and potato virus Y (PVY) was determined in seed potatoes (Solatium tuberosum) from Canada, Maine, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin used to plant the North Carolina crop in 1977, 1978 and 1979. Incidence of PLRV ranged from 0–5.2% (X = 0.57%) and for PVY from 0-5.6% (X = 0.62%) from all sources (112 seed lots). All PVY isolates (177) tested from potato caused a very mild veinbanding and mottling onNicotiana tabacum cultivars NC 95 and NC 2326. No serological difference was detected between these isolates and the common strain of PVY from tobacco in North Carolina. Essentially no spread of PVY occurred in three potato fields observed each year of the study.     

Heat inactivation of leafroll virus in potato tuber tissues

Heat inactivation of leafroll virus in tuber tissues of three potato varieties (Russet Burbank, Katahdin, and Mohawk) was studied. Russet Burbank did not tolerate high constant temperatures and a low proportion of tubers and eye-pieces survived the treatments. On the other hand, Russet Burbank eye-pieces survived, with few exceptions, treatment at 40 C for four hours alternating with room temperaure (16–20 C) for 20 hours daily for as long as eight weeks. Inactivation of the virus was complete after six weeks of this treatment. Results obtained with the Katahdin and Mohawk varieties in similar tests were variable, and this possibly may be attributed to the higher room temperature (25–30 C) prevailing during these experiments.     

Volunteer potatoes as a source of potato leafroll virus and potato virus X

Volunteer potatoes were investigated as infection sources for potato leafroll virus (PLRV) and potato virus X (PVX) in a high elevation seed potato growing area of eastern Idaho. Population densities ofMyzus persicae were assessed. Percentage of PLRV and PVX infection of the volunteers and seed potato crops was determined, as well as density of volunteers and certain parameters of volunteer growth and reproduction. Volunteers apparently harbored no more PLRV than the potato crop from which they originated. But they were found to be an important reservoir of PVX with the infection increasing as much as 12.43% in one year. No aphids capable of transmitting PLRV were found although one species that can transmit potato virus Y was recorded. The mean density of volunteers varied from 0 to 84,880 stems/ha. The number of tubers remaining in the field after harvest and winter weather conditions appeared to be the only factors affecting volunteer density. Volunteer plants arising from seed pieces at an average depth of 6.1 cm were found to set an average of 2.1 new tubers per plant at an average depth of 4.0 cm. These results suggest that volunteer potatoes are a significant source of PVX infection in subsequent seed potato crops.     

Diploid genotype DW.84-1457, highly resistant to potato leafroll virus (PLRV)

Summary The diploid clone DW.84-1457 which has outstanding resistance to potato leafroll virus (PLRV), has been selected at the Mlochów Centre of the Institute for Potato Research. It has in its pedigree PLRV-resistant clones from the Max Planck Institute nos. MPI 44.1016/10, MPI 44.335/130 and MPI 49.540/2. Its behaviour in the field and response to aphid inoculation indicate high resistance to infection, and the low concentration of the virus in graft-inoculated plants indicates high resistance to multiplication. This combination within one genotype of two aspects of resistance is not connected with hypersensitivity, and is heritable. Clone DW.84-1457 has other desirable characters such as extreme resistance to potato virus X (PVX), high resistance to potato virus M (PVM) and good table and processing quality. It is being utilized in the development of parental lines, both at the diploid and tetraploid level.     

Potato leafroll virus concentration in the vascular region of potato tubers examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

Summary Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), used in conjunction with a new rapid extraction method, showed that potato leafroll virus (PLRV) concentration in the vascular region of infected potato tubers decreases from the heel to the rose end. Lower virus concentration at the rose than at the heel end was found not only in dormant tubers but also in tubers three weeks after breaking dormancy although the difference was then less pronounced. These results were obtained from plants with both primary and secondary infection by one of two French virus isolates which behave differently in respect of either accumulation in the ants or in their serological properties or both.     

Overwintering and monitoring of potato leafroll virus in some wild crucifers

A potato leafroll virus (PLRV) isolate has been successfully transmitted to and recovered from two wild crucifers,Sisymbrium altissimum L. (Jim Hill or tumble mustard) andCapsella. bursa-pastoris (L.) Medic. (shepherd’s purse) by the green peach aphid (GPA),Myzus persicae (Sulzer). Virus antigen in both plant species was found to be higher in root tissue than in foliar tissue, based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) determinations.C. bursa-pastoris was apparently a relatively poorer source of inoculum for the GPA thanS. altissimum. Using two geographically-separated biotypes ofC. bursa-pastoris, a Washington biotype was found to contain higher antigen titer in both leaf and root tissue than a California biotype, as determined by ELISA. Field studies demonstrated that both weed species can serve as overwintering sources of PLRV     

Breeding potato cultivars with tubers resistant toPhytophthora infestans

Summary Available information has been reviewed on tuber resistance toP. infestans, its inheritance and breeding procedures used to obtain potato cultivars superior in this character. P. infestans is worldwide the most destructive potato pathogen. Tuber resistance is an essential component of potato resistance as this pathogen is often responsible for tuber rot in storage, and infected tubers of susceptible cultivars provide an important way for its overwintering. In Europe many cultivars and advanced breeders selections have been obtained with tuber resistance toP. infestans, but in the last decades no progress is noted in the mean level of this resistance in cultivars. The expression of tuber resistance depends to a large extent on testing conditions and therefore it can be difficult to evaluate. Consequently making progress in breeding is not easy, and also cultivar assessment data from various countries sometimes differ considerably. It is concluded from published data that it should be easier to make progress in breeding potato cultivars with resistant tubers if more attention is paid to combining the various types of resistance which are already known, and if the genetic determination of durable resistance toP. infestans is better understood. Professor Dr. K.M. Świeżyński passed away on 27th July 2000