Distribution and incidence of viruses in Irish seed potato crops

Abstract

Virus diseases are of key importance in potato production and in particular for the production of disease-free potato seed. However, there is little known about the frequency and distribution of potato virus diseases in Ireland. Despite a large number of samples being tested each year, the data has never been collated either within or across years. Information from all known potato virus testing carried out in the years 2006-2012 by the Department of Agriculture Food and Marine was collated to give an indication of the distribution and incidence of potato virus in Ireland. It was found that there was significant variation between regions, varieties, years and seed classes. A definition of daily weather data suitable for aphid flight was developed, which accounted for a significant proportion of the variation in virus incidence between years. This use of weather data to predict virus risk could be developed to form the basis of an integrated pest management approach for aphid control in Irish potato crops.

Characterization of Potato Virus Y Isolates and Assessment of Nanopore Sequencing to Detect and Genotype Potato Viruses

“…In spite of the fact that the diversity of PVY has been investigated in many countries all over the world, these data are still scarce for PVY isolates circulating in Ireland. While previous studies have reported the overall predominance of the PVY N serotype [52] and the presence of recombinant genotypes of the virus [53], finer molecular characterization of the isolates is lacking, and it is still unclear how prevalent the recombinant genotypes are.…”

Response of Selected Potato Genotypes to Natural Virus Infection in the Field

“…Percent crop emergence was low in FG4 compared to FG3. This may be attributed to infections of the seed potato tubers by seed borne viruses in the field during seed multiplication process in FG1 and FG2 in addition to new infections during FG3growth period [20]. Singh et al [21] also reported decline in percent crop emergence between seasons.…”

Potato virus Y and Potato leafroll virus management under climate change in sub-Saharan Africa

“…Effective, usually government-regulated, seed potato certification programmes, together with virus testing regimes, have long been implemented in developed countries for the control of seed potato quality. [26][27][28] Certification thresholds or disease tolerances are set to limit secondary virus transmission from infected seed tubers to daughter tubers and to limit primary infection within a crop in the next season. However, the recent emergence of new strains, e.g.…”

“…Thus, PVY or PLRV infection can lead to downgrading or rejection of seed lots if tolerance levels set by seed potato certification schemes are exceeded. [25][26][27][28] Tubers from informal seed systems, previous crops or tubers that are unmarketable are often used for planting 29 ; this becomes a severe problem, especially for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Both PVY and PLRV are transmitted to the new potato crop through aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) vectors (horizontal transmission; primary infection) or via infected seed tubers to daughter tubers (vertical transmission; secondary infection).…”