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Title: REACTION OF POTATO VARIETIES TO POTATO MOP-TOP VIRUS INFECTION IN THE ANDES

Author
item TENORIO, J - CIP LIMA PERU
item FRANCO, Y - CIP LIMA PERU
item CHUQUILLANQUI, C - CIP LIMA PERU
item Owens, Robert
item SALAZAR, L - CIP LIMA PERU

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/23/2006
Publication Date: 10/31/2006
Citation: Tenorio, J., Franco, Y., Chuquillanqui, C., Owens, R.A., Salazar, L.F. 2006.Reaction of potato varieties to potato mop-top virus infection in the andes. American Journal of Potato Research. 83:423-431.

Interpretive Summary: Each year U.S. farmers produce approximately 25 million tons of potatoes with a total value of $2-3 billion. Potato mop-top is an important disease in many foreign potato producing areas, but until recently the U.S. was thought to be free of the soil-borne virus that causes this disease. Following the 2002 discovery of Potato mop-top virus (PMTV) in potatoes produced in the U.S. and Canada, it became important to determine the susceptibility of major U.S. varieties to this virus. Thus, we have examined the effects of PMTV on field-grown plants at three locations in the Peruvian Andes where both the virus and its fungal vector are endemic. Of the 21 U.S. varieties tested, Kennebec, Monona, and Norland were the most susceptible to virus infection. PMTV infection did not result in the appearance of symptoms in the tubers resembling those reported from many North American and European locations, but a disproportionate proportion of virus-infected tubers did exhibit cracking on their surface. Two cultivars, Monona and Russet Burbank, appeared to be somewhat tolerant to PMTV infection. These results will be of greatest interest to scientists and regulatory officials working to limit the spread of PMTV in the U.S.

Technical Abstract: The unexpected detection in 2002 of Potato mop-top virus (PMTV) in potatoes growing at several locations in the U.S. and Canada has led to the realization that this soil-borne virus is actually wide-spread throughout the potato-producing regions of both countries. The lack of information concerning the response of U.S. cultivars to PMTV infection led us to examine the effects of PMTV on field-grown plants at three locations in the Peruvian Andes where the virus and its fungal vector Spongospora subterranea are endemic. All 21 U.S. cultivars tested proved susceptible to PMTV infection, especially at La Victoria where the overall incidence of both PMTV and powdery scab was high. Symptom expression in the foliage proved to be an unreliable indicator of virus infection, and, thus, NCM-ELISA and NASH were used to monitor tuber tissue for the presence of PMTV. The cultivars most susceptible to PMTV infection were Kennebec, Monona, and Norland. PMTV infection did not result in the appearance of spraing or other internal necrotic reactions in the tubers resembling those reported from many North American and European locations, but a disproportionate proportion of virus-infected tubers did exhibit reticulate cracking on their surface. Efforts to demonstrate the presence of other pathogens (viral, fungal, or bacterial) in these areas were unsuccessful, and the proportion of affected tubers increased dramatically in hydroponic culture where inoculum pressure was high. Two cultivars, Monona and Russet Burbank, appeared to be somewhat tolerant to PMTV infection.