The effects of salicylic acid in reducing potato virus Y damage in two potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars, Agria and Marfona

In this study, in order to reduce the pathogenesis of potato virus Y in two potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars (Marfona and Agria), the effects of salicylic acid on chlorophyll content and leaf area were investigated under greenhouse conditions. The healthy potato plantlets were propagated and transferred to pots containing suitable and sterilized soil. The plantlets were sprayed with different concentrations (0, 0.2, 0.5, 1 and 2 mM) of salicylic acid. The leaves were inoculated by potato virus Y, extracted from infected tobacco leaves. Although viral infection symptoms on tobacco were manifested by leaf rippling, no such symptoms were visible on infected potato leaves. Also, results showed that treatments with 0.5 and 1.0 mM of salicylic acid resulted in 26% reduction in potato damages. Moreover, our study revealed that Marfona cultivar was more resistant to potato virus Y than Agria cultivar.