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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Related Pages

• Potato
• Potyvirus
• Aphid
• Plant pathology
• Virus