New isolates of the necrotic strain of potato virus Y (PVYN) found recently in Poland

Summary In comparison to the previously known isolates of potato virus Y^N (PVY^N), some isolates found in Poland since 1984 are more infectious to potato plants, reach faster a higher concentration and induce milder disease symptoms. Potato cultivars resistant to the standard type of PVY_N may be susceptible to the new isolates whereas those that are extremely resistant to PVY remain extremely resistant to the new isolates. The potato cultivar Elipsa is suitable for the differentiation of PVY^N isolates.     

Host range,symptomology, and serology of isolates of potato virus Y (PVY) that share properties with both the PVYN and PVYO strain groups

In surveys for the tobacco veinal necrosis strain of potato virus Y (PVY^N) in potato, two isolates (I-136 and I-L56) were obtained that shared properties with both the PVY^N and the common (PVY^O) strain groups. The isolates produced veinal necrosis on tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) and mild symptoms on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cv. Jemseg, typical of PVY^N but their symptoms on some other indicator species such asCapsicum frutescens L.,Chenopodium amaranticolor Coste & Reyn.),Physalis angulata L.,P. floridana Rybd. were more typical of PVY^O. Their serological properties were also more typical of PVY^O in that they reacted with a PVY^O-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) in ELISA and they failed to react with four PVY^N-specific MAbs. The possible taxonomic position of these isolates is discussed.     

Importance and control of potato virus YN (PVYN) in seed potato production

Summary The tobacco veinal necrosis strain of potato virus Y (PVY^N) first became epidemic in several European countries in the 1950s. To prevent PVY^N-infections, account must be taken of virus sources both within and without potato fields; for forecasting, the aphid vector species, their vector efficiency, and their flight activity must all be known. Well-timed haulm destruction needs knowledges of PVY^N-translocation in potato plants and of the development of mature plant resistance. For successful virus control, also reliable methods for virus detection are needed, and for this ELISA has been well established for many years in seed potato certification schemes. A combined treatment of mineral oil and pyrethroids reduces aphid populations and the spread of stylet-borne viruses in the fields. In breeding for resistance, the major gene Ry induces complete protection against infections of all known PVY-strains.     

Rapid ploidy screening of tuber-bearingSolanum (potato) species through pollen diameter measurement

Determination of the sporophytic ploidy of numerous individuals by chromosome counting is a difficult and time consuming necessity for many genetic and taxonomic research problems. The potential for microscopic pollen diameter measurement as a fast, easy and reliable alternative method for estimating sporophytic ploidy was investigated. Contrary to popular assumptions, die diameters of large, well-stained pollen grains from plants of the same ploidy were shown to be quite consistent among a wide variety of tuber-bearingSolanum (potato) species, fitting remarkably well with expectations based on a linear relationship between ploidy and pollen grain volume (r = 0.97). Seventy-six ploidy predictions on a total of 83 coded samples were correct (92%). Although it is not effective in distinguishing 4x and 6x sporophytes, microscopic pollen diameter measurement is a very rapid and reliable method by which to distinguish 2x from 4x or 6x sporophytes.     

Resistance to potato viruses M,S, X and the spindle tuber virus in tuber-bearingSolanum species

On two separate occasions, some available accessions of tuber-bearingSolanum species were tested for resistance to potato viruses. Challenge inoculations were made mechanically with infective sap; and assessment was by sub-inoculation to differential host plants, supplemented by serological tests. In 1956–57, four accessions remained free from potato virus S (PVS), and nine remained free from PVM. In 1968–70, one or more clones of 11 accessions showed resistance to PVS—one of them,S. megistacrolobum, a diploid, apparently being hypersensitive. Resistance to PVX was found in seven accessions, and to PVM in two. There appeared to be resistance to the potato spindley tuber virus in five accessions.     

Screening tuber-bearingSolanum (potato) germplasm for efficient accumulation of tuber calcium

Resistance to several pathological and physiological tuber defects has been correlated with calcium level in the peel. In this study, a representative sample of potato species (including cultivated), was grown in the greenhouse. Plants were watered with low and high calcium solutions, and the resulting tubers analyzed. Thus, potato germplasm was screened for ability to accumulate tuber calcium when a control level of calcium is available, and ability to respond when higher levels are supplied. Some wild species significantly exceeded cultivated materials in one or both of these measures. Such species may provide a resource for breeding varieties which are more efficient calcium accumulators.     

Evaluation of tuber-bearingSolanum species for nitrogen use efficiency and biomass partitioning

Modern potato cultivars (Solanum tuberosum L.) require high rates of fertilizer nitrogen (N). This practice is costly and can pose a serious threat to surface and groundwater. Previous evaluation of wild potato germplasm demonstrated the existence of species capable of producing high total biomass under low N conditions, with the ability to make maximum use of added N. Therefore, a two-year field experiment was conducted in 1994 and 1995 to investigate the response of selected wild potato accessions and their hybrids with the haploid USW551 (USW) to low and high N environments. The haploid USW and cultivars Russet Burbank, Red Norland, and Russet Norkotah were also included in the study. Uniform propagules and seedlings from the variousSolanum species were transplanted to a Hubbard loamy sand (Udic Haploboroll) at Becker, Minn. and were subjected to two N treatments: 0 and 225 kg N ha^-1. At harvest, total dry biomass of wild and hybrid potato germplasm was equal to or higher than that of the cultivars. However, cultivar biomass partitioning was 1% to roots, 15% to shoots, 0% to fruits, and 84% to tubers, whereas wild potato species partitioned 18% to roots plus nontuberized stolons, 52% to shoots, 23% to fruits, and only 7% to tubers. Hybrids were intermediate, allocating 9% of their biomass to roots plus nontuberized stolons, 39% to shoots, 14% to fruits, and 38% to tubers. Nitrogen use efficiencies for many of the species and crosses were comparable to that for Russet Burbank and greater than those for Red Norland and Russet Norkotah. Of the wild species tested,S. chacoense accessions had the highest biomass accumulation and N uptake efficiencies and may be the best source of germplasm for improving NUE in a potato breeding program.     

Reevaluation of the potato aphid,Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas), as vector of potato virus Y

The effectiveness of the potato aphid,Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas), to transmit potato virus Y (PVY) to potato has generally been overestimated because tobacco has been used as the indicator host. Our results demonstrate that, although apterousM. euphorbiae can acquire PVY from potato and tobacco plants and transmit it to tobacco plants, it does not readily transmit it to potato plants. Alatae only transmitted the virus to 4.5% of potato plants. This relative inability to transmit the virus to potato seems independent of potato cultivar. Results suggest that the role of the potato aphid in the spread of PVY in potatoes may be negligible.     

Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) as a potential differential host of potato virus Y

Summary Guar is reported for the first time as a host of potato virus Y. The virus produced no symptoms, or occasional faint chlorotic spots on inoculated cotyledons and unifoliate leaves. No symptoms were observed on new growth, but the virus was consistently recovered from these leaves by back-inoculation to tobacco. Neither potato virus X nor cucumber mosaic virus infected guar.     

The relation between aphid flights and the spread of potato virus YN (PVYN) in the Netherlands

Summary In the Netherlands early haulm destruction is the main method of preventing excessive spread of virus diseases in seed potato crops. When potato leaf roll virus was the principal problem, the time of haulm destruction was determined by the flight ofMyzus persicae (Sulzer), studied with the aid of Moericke yellow water traps. As potato virus Y^N became a problem and other aphid species interfered, the interpretation of aphid flights became difficult. An attempt is made to quantify total aphid flight activity in terms of risk to the crop. By attributing relative efficiency factors to 9 vector species and considering their flights as recorded with suction traps, values of vector-pressure are obtained that correlate well with weekly infection of bait plants. If accumulated vector pressures are compared with the flights ofM. persicae as recorded with Moericke traps during 1970–1979, it appears that during 6 of these years the critical periods of both systems coincide. However, in 1974 and 1976 much potential vector threat occurred before the start of the flight ofM. persicae. Suggestions are made as to how to apply the method in practice. A semi-popular account of this paper has appeared in Dutch inGewasbescherming 12 (1981) 57–71.     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of potato leafroll virus and potato virus Y in potato tubers after artificial break of dormancy

Summary Conditions necessary for the detection of potato leafroll virus (PLRV) and potato virus Y (PVY) in tubers from primary and secondary infected plants were investigated. Tubers were analysed before and after breaking dormancy by rindite treatment. PLRV was reliably detected indormant tubers whereas PVY was readily detected only when tubers had been rindite-treated and held for two to three weeks at 22°C and high humidity in the dark. PLRV occurred in higher concentration at the heel end than at the rose end of infected tubers and the concentration remained nearly unchanged during the experimental period of 35 days, whereas PVY was found to be more concentrated at the rose end and was rapidly accumulating in the tubers after the break of dormancy. In dormant tubers PVY concentration dropped during storage at 22°C. The use of ELISA for tuber indexing is discussed.     

Solanum demissum P.I. 230579, a True seed diagnostic host for potato virus Y

Seedlings ofSolarium demissum P.I. 230579 in the 5-to 10-leaf stage growing under 18-hour days and at 20 to 24°C developed dark, irregular, slightly elongated local lesions 3 to 5 days following inoculation with any one of three strains of potato virus Y (PVY). Local lesions did not develop after similar inoculations with any one of two or more strains each of potato viruses A, M, S, X, or spindle tuber and a single strain each of potato calico and potato yellow dwarf. Inoculations from diseased specimens infected with PVY plus potato viruses A, M, S, and X, singly or in some combinations did not affect the efficiency of P.I. 230579 in detecting PVY in the mixed infections. Plants of P.I. 230579 developed significant numbers of local lesions from PVY inoculations at temperatures from 16 to 27°C and at inoculum dilutions through 1:100. Excised individual leaves of P.I. 230579 can be used to detect PVY. Leaves of plants exposed to air pollutants are unsuitable for assay purposes.S. demissum P.I. 230579 is homozygous for the local reaction to isolates of PVY and is a valuable aid for indexing aphid or mechanically inoculated potato clones or seedlings for resistance to the virus. It is a superior diagnostic host for differentiating PVY from other viruses commonly found in potatoes in the United States.     

The relative efficiency of some aphid species as vectors of potato virus Yo (PVYo)

Summary The relative efficiency of 7 aphid species as vectors of potato virus Y^o (PVY^o) was investigated. Winged aphids of one species were released in a net cage containing PVY^o-infected potato plants as a virus source and healthy young potato plants as test plants. After 35 hours the glasshouse chamber was fumigated and the young plants tested for PVY^o by ELISA at 10-days intervals.Myzus persicae andAcyrthosiphon pisum were the most effective vectors, infecting 26 and 25% of the test plants, respectively.Aphis fabae, Aphis nasturtii andRhopalosiphum padi infected only 1–7% test plants.Sitobion avenae andBrevicoryne brassicae did not transmit PVY^o. Relative ‘efficiency factors’ are suggested from these and other results.

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Zusammenfassung Um die relative Wirksamkeit einiger Blattlausarten als Vektoren für PVY^o zu untersuchen, wurden Versuche in den Jahren 1980 und 1981 durchgeführt. Geflügelte Blattl?use einer Art wurden in einem Netzk?fig (Bodenfl?che 1 m², H?he 0,5 m) ausgesetzt, in dem gesunde junge Kartoffelpflanzen und als Virusquelle PVY^o-infizierte Kartoffelpflanzen standen. Die K?fige befanden sich in einem Gew?chshaus mit künstlichem Licht als Erg?nzung zum Sonnenschein. Die durchschnittliche Tagesl?nge betrug 17 Stunden (16–18) und die durchschnittliche Temperatur 25°C (16–18°C) 35 Stunden nach dem Aussetzen wurden die Gew?chshauskabinen ger?uchert und die jungen Kartoffelpflanzen in 10-t?gigem Abstand mit ELISA auf das Vorhandensein von PVY^o geprüft. In ungef?hr 90 Versuchen wurden folgende Blattlausarten getestet:Myzus persicae, Acyrthosiphon pisum, Aphis fabae, Aphis nasturtii, Rhopalosiphum padi, Brevicoryne brassicae undSitobion avenae. Als wirksamste Vektoren mit Infektionserfolgen von 26 bzw. 25% der Testpflanzen erwiesen sichM. persicae undA. pisum. Weniger wirksam mit 1–7% Infektionserfolgen warenA. fabae, A. nasturtii undR. padi, w?hrendS avenae undB. brassicae PVY^o überhaupt nicht übertrugen (Tab. 1). Entsprechend diesen und anderen Ergebnissen werden für die 7 geprüften Blattlausarten ‘Wirksamkeitsfaktoren’ vorgeschlagen. Die h?chsten Faktoren wurdenM. persicae undA. pisum mit 1,0 bzw. 0,8 gegeben. Bei den anderen virusübertragenden Blattlausarten liegen die Wirksamkeitsfaktoren zwischen 0,3 und 0,1. Die Zeit zwischen dem Versuchsbeginn und der Auffindung von PVY^o im Saft der oberen Bl?tter der Testpflanzen betrug ca. 4 Wochen. Wenn PVY^o mit ELISA in den Kartoffelbl?ttern entdeckt werden kann, ist die Konzentration wahrscheinlich hoch genug, um den Blattl?usen die Virusaufnahme durch kurzfristige Einstiche in infizierte Pflanzen zu erm?glichen und es dann auf gesunde Pflanzen zu. übertragen. Diese Ergebnisse scheinen mit denen von Beemster (1979) übereinzustimmen, wobeiM. persicae 4 Wochen nach der Inokulation PVY^N von nicht inokulierten Spitzenbl?ttern aufnehmen konnte. Betrachtet man die Gefahr der Virusausbreitung, so ist sowohl die H?ufigkeit als auch die relative Wirksamkeit der verschiedenen Blattlausarten als Vektoren für PVY wichtig. Darüber hinaus spielt die Zeit von der Inokulation bis zu dem Moment, wo die Pflanze wiederum als Infektionsquelle dienen kann, eine bedeutende Rolle. Für die Entwicklung von Prognosemethoden w?ren bessere Kenntnisse über Virusvektoren, vor allem für nicht-persistente Viren, sehr hilfreich.

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Résumé En 1980–1981, des expériences ont porté sur l'efficacité relative de certaines espèces de pucerons en tant que vecteurs du virus PVY^o. Des pucerons ailés ont été lachés dans une cage appropriée (surface de base 1 m², hauteur 0,5 m) sous laquelle des plantes atteintes du virus PVY^o sont placées avec témoins sains. Les expériences ont lieu sous serre avec un complément de luminosité par éclairage artificiel. La longueur moyenne de jour est 17 heures (16–18) et la température moyenne +25°C (16–28°C). Après 35 heures, une fumigation est réalisée puis des test ELISA sont effectués à 10 jours d'intervalle sur les jeunes plantes. Environ 20 expériences ont été ainsi menées et les espèces de pucerons testés ont été les suivants:Myzus persicae, Acyrthosiphon pisum, Aphis fabae, Aphis nasturtii, Rhopalosiphum padi, Brevicoryne brassicae etSitobion avenae. M. persicae etA. pisum sont les plus efficaces vecteurs de PVY^o, contaminant respectivement 26 et 25 pour cent des témoins.A. fabae, A. nasturtii et R. padi le sont moins avec 1 à 7 pour cent de plantes contaminées etS. avenae etB. brassicae ne transmettent aucunement le virus (tableau 1). Des facteurs ‘d'éfficacité’ relative sont accordés aux sept espèces de pucerons étudiées, en fonction d'autres résultats et de ceux-ci. Les plus élevées se rapportent àM. persicae etA. pisum, respectivement 1,0 et 0,8. Des facteurs compris entre 0,3 et 0,1 sont donnés aux autres espèces de pucerons transmettant le virus. La détection du virus PVY^o est réalisée 4 semaines après la mise en place de l'expérience, à partir du jus prélevé sur les feuilles supérieures des plantes testées. Si le virus est détecté par la méthode ELISA dans les feuilles des pommes de terre, la concentration du virus est probablement suffisante pour tester les pucerons au niveau de l'acquisition des virus à partir de plantes déjà contaminées et leur transmission à des plantes saines. Ces résultats semblent corroborer ceux de Beemster (1979), oùM. persicae pouvait acquérir PVY^N après 4 semaines à partir des feuilles supérieures non-inoculèes de plantes préalablement contaminées. La fréquence et l'éfficacité relative de différentes espèces de pucerons en tant que vecteurs de PVY sont importants à prendre en compte dans le risque de transmission du virus. De plus, la durée entre la contamination et le moment où la plante de pomme de terre peut agir comme source d'infection est un facteur important. Une meilleure connaissance des vecteurs des virus, notamment des virus non persistants, serait très utile à l'avenir, pour développer des méthodes d'avertissements.

     

Elimination of viruses and hypersensitivity to potato virus Y (PVYo) in an important sudanese potato stock (Zalinge)

Viruses that infect naturally an important Sudanese potato stock Zalinge were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunosorbent electron microscopy and sap-inoculation to test plants. All of the 19 plants of Zalinge tested were infected with potato leaf roll virus (PLRV) and potato virus S (P VS), and five plants also with potato virus X (PVX). No potato virus Y (PVY), A (PVA) nor M (PVM) were found. The viruses were eradicated with thermo and chemotherapy using standard procedures. The combination of both therapies did not result in any virus-free plants, but resulted in poor plant survival. Thermotherapy reduced the incidence of PLRV and PVS by 45% and 50%, respectively, and one virus-free plant was obtained. It grew vigorously in the greenhouse, was symptomless and had a significantly increased tuber yield compared to the virus-infected plants. Following sap-inoculation with PVY^O, Zalinge showed mosaic symptoms, developed necrosis in the leaves and stem and died 14 days post-inoculation. However, the plants of Zalinge infected with PVY^N remained symptomless, which suggested that hypersensitivity was specific to PVY^O. The fast development of lethal necrosis following infection with PVY^O may contribute to the low incidence of PVY in Zalinge in the field in Sudan.     

Some remarks on the use of TE1 (Solanum chacoense) as a test plant for potato virus Y

Summary All strains investigated of PVY^c, PVYⁿ and PVY^o, even a strain of PVY^o, which did not produce local lesions on ‘A6’, induced pin-point necrotic lesions on detached and non-detached leaflets of TE₁ (Solanum chacoense) 3–4 days after inoculation. However, the local lesion production per cm² on ‘A6’ leaflets was higher than that on leaflets of TE₁ after inoculation with various dilutions of PVY. Moreover, the foliage production of TE₁ was much lower than that of ‘A6’. Therefore TE₁ is less suitable for routine detection of PVY than ‘A6’.     

Solanum microdontum (PI 558098): A diagnostic host plant for potato virus A

Solanum microdontum (PI 558098) develops diagnostic symptoms when inoculated with plant sap containing potato virus A (PVA). The symptoms consist of local lesions (2–4 mm), followed by systemic necrosis of leaf veins, bronzing of leaf surface, and leaf drop. Symptoms develop in a temperature range of 20–29 C with 4 to 8 Klux light intensity of 14 h daylength. Local lesions are visible within 1 wk of inoculation and can be caused by PVA containing sap dilutions of up to 1:100. Plants multiplied by shoot cuttings as well as those produced from true potato seed are equally sensitive. True potato seed production occurs under normal greenhouse conditions in cross-pollinated plants.