Potato virus Y

Necrotic_ringspot

Potato virus Y (PVY) is a plant pathogenic virus of the family Potyviridae. It is one of the most economically important viruses affecting potato crops worldwide. PVY is transmitted by aphids and can cause significant yield losses and quality degradation in infected plants.

Taxonomy and Classification[edit | edit source]

Potato virus Y belongs to the genus Potyvirus within the family Potyviridae. It is closely related to other potyviruses that infect solanaceous crops, such as tobacco and tomato.

Symptoms[edit | edit source]

The symptoms of PVY infection can vary depending on the strain of the virus and the potato cultivar. Common symptoms include:

Mosaic patterns on leaves
Leaf necrosis
Leaf drop
Stunted growth
Tuber necrosis

Transmission[edit | edit source]

PVY is primarily transmitted by aphids in a non-persistent manner. This means that the virus can be acquired and transmitted by aphids within a short period of feeding. The virus can also be spread through infected seed potatoes and mechanical means.

Strains[edit | edit source]

There are several strains of PVY, each with varying degrees of virulence and symptom expression. The main strains include:

PVY^O (Ordinary strain)
PVY^N (Necrotic strain)
PVY^NTN (Necrotic tuber strain)

Management and Control[edit | edit source]

Effective management of PVY involves a combination of strategies:

Use of certified virus-free seed potatoes
Control of aphid populations through insecticides or biological control
Crop rotation to reduce the presence of virus reservoirs
Breeding and planting of resistant potato varieties

Economic Impact[edit | edit source]

PVY can cause significant economic losses in potato production due to reduced yield and quality. Infected tubers may be unsuitable for sale or processing, leading to financial losses for farmers.

Research and Development[edit | edit source]

Ongoing research aims to develop more resistant potato varieties and improve methods for early detection and control of PVY. Advances in molecular biology and genetic engineering hold promise for better management of this virus.