Identification of Potato virus Y Strains Associated with Tuber Damage During a Recent Virus Outbreak in Potato in Idaho

Potato virus Y (PVY) causes substantial losses in potato production by decreasing yields and affecting the quality of potato tubers. Management of PVY in potato is dependent primarily on potato seed certification programs to prevent or limit initial levels of virus inoculum. Prior to 1990, the ordinary strain of PVY (PVY ) was the predominant virus in North America. PVY induces clear foliar symptoms in many potato cultivars, allowing successful management in seed potato through a combination of visual inspections and limited laboratory testing. In recent years, necrotic strains of PVY (PVY , PVY , and PVY ) have begun to spread in the United States, many of which induce mild symptoms in potato, making them more difficult to manage through visual inspections. In addition to reducing yield, necrotic isolates may also cause external and internal damage in tubers of susceptible cultivars, which is known as potato tuber necrotic ringspot disease (PTNRD). Tuber necrotic strains of PVY have been reported across the northern United States (1,2,4), although limited information is available on their incidence and spread in commercial potato production. During June and July of 2007, 38 random samples were collected from three different commercial fields displaying disease problems (cvs. Russet Ranger, Alturas, and Russet Burbank) in the vicinity of Idaho Falls, ID. Plants collected showed various degrees of mosaic and leaf yellowing. By using double-antibody sandwich (DAS)-ELISA and reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, 25 of these plants were identified as PVY positive. The mutiplex RT-PCR assay (3) confirmed that nine plants were infected with PVY and 11 with PVY . No RT-PCR products were amplified from five samples. During September and October of 2007, 25 tuber samples (cv. Russet Burbank) showing various degrees of unusual internal symptoms (e.g., brown spots) were collected near Idaho Falls, ID. Twenty-two tubers were found PVY positive by DAS-ELISA, and multiplex RT-PCR determined 13 of those were PVY , three were PVY , one was a PVY mixture, and one was a PVY mixture. No RT-PCR products were amplified from four samples. In October 2007, six tubers showing distinct external tuber damage characteristic of PTNRD (cv. Highland Russet) were collected near Twin Falls, ID. All six tubers were determined to be PVY positive by DAS-ELISA, and RT-PCR identified five as infected with PVY and one with PVY . All the mixtures were easily separated by inoculating tobacco plants fo