Distribution of potato leafroll virus - (PLRV) and potato virus Y - (PVYn) in a field experiment

Abstract

KOTZAMPIGIKIS, A., D. HRISTOVA and E. TASHEVA-TERZIEVA, 2008. Distribution of Potato Leafroll Virus – (PLRV) and Potato Virus Y – (PVY n ) in a field experiment. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 14: 56-67 The aphid activity flight and the distribution of PLRV and PVY n were studied in an experimental potato field. The field experiment was carried out with three varieties of potatoes: Concorde - early, Arinda – medium early, Desiree – late, in an artificially created infectious background of 5% for each virus. Monitoring was carried out to identify viruliferous aphids through a biological test, for PLRV ELISA was also performed. Infection of potato plants was determined using DAS-ELISA. The following aphid species vectors of both viruses were present: Myzus persicae Sulzer, Aphis gossypii Glover, Aphis fabae Scop., Aphis nasturtii Kalt., Aulacorthum solanii Kalt., Macrosiphum euphorbiae Thomas. It was monitored that M. persicae is a dominating vector with a peak in flight during the 27 th week (4 – 10 July). A week after that, it was observed the highest percentage of plants infected with PVY n . The highest number of plants infected with PLRV was observed during the 30 th week (25-31 July), three weeks after the peak in flight of aphids and a week after the observation of the highest number of wingless individuals. PLRV causes a three-fold decrease in yield from the late and medium early variety. PVY n causes most severe damages to the early variety, reducing the yield four times. Mixed viral infection has the highest impact on yield with decrease in yield ranging from 4 to 5-fold, depending on the variety.