ARS | Publication request: Tuber symptoms associated with tobacco ratle virus infections

Submitted to: Potato Progress
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: January 12, 2008
Publication Date: January 14, 2008
Citation: Crosslin, J., Hamm, P.B. 2008. Tuber symptoms associated with tobacco ratle virus infections. Potato Progress. VIII (1):1-3.

Technical Abstract: Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) is a soil-borne pathogen that is transmitted by stubby root nematodes. In the Columbia Basin of Washington and Oregon the only nematode positively shown to transmit the virus is Paratrichodorus allius. When the virus is transmitted to young tubers by the nematode, various symptoms will subsequently develop in tuber tissue. In many cases dark, corky tissue occurring in arcs or rings will be produced thus giving the disease its common name, corky ringspot (CRS). The ring or arc symptoms may or may not be visible on the tuber surface. Although corky arcs are the “classic” symptom of TRV infection, the symptoms of CRS vary greatly depending upon time of infection, cultivar, and environmental conditions and arcs or rings are not always present. Several other viruses may cause similar types of symptoms and these include the necrotic strains of potato virus Y (PVY-N), alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV), tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), and potato mop top virus (PMTV). Because of the overlap in symptoms produced by these various viruses, testing is usually necessary for positive identification of the causal virus. The photos shown in this paper document the wide variability in tuber symptoms associated with TRV infections.