Detection of four RNA viruses in commercial and informal potato seed tubers in Antioquia (Colombia)

Abstract

Viral diseases are one of the most limiting factors in the production of potato worldwide and their spread can be facilitated with the use of uncertified seed tubers. In developing countries, only a minority of potato farmers has access to certified seeds, instead, the great majority uses tubers from previous crops or purchase them in local markets at a lower cost. Successive cycles of vegetative propagation of these informal seeds can result in a progressive decrease in seed quality due to the accumulation of pathogens and pests. In this work, we investigated the incidence of PVY, PLRV and PYVV and PVS in informal and commercial seed tubers used by farmers in Antioquia (Colombia). Viruses were initially detected by RT-qPCR in tuber-sprout tissues and their corresponding four-week-old plantlets. The presence of these viruses in commercial potato fields was confirmed by RT-PCR of dsRNA templates, and Sanger and Next-generation sequencing (NGS). Our findings reveal that both informal and commercial seed tubers have a high incidence of PVY, PLRV, PYVV, and PVS. No significant differences were found in the incidence of PVY, PYVV, and PVS between informal and commercial seed tubers. Recommendations to improve the potato seed tuber certification scheme in Colombia are proposed.

Keywords:

• Next-generation sequencing
• potato leafroll virus
• potato virus S
• potato virus Y
• potato yellow vein virus
• RT-qPCR

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Universidad CES (Grant: INV032017003) and Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Grant 40817).