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.