Experiments on the spread of rugose mosaic and leaf roll in potato crops in 1946

A series of experiments on the spread of potato rugose mosaic (virus Y ), and leaf roll, which has been in progress on a uniform plan since 1943, was ended in 1946. Mean values for thirteen centres in England and Wales showed that in 1946 69% of the infections with virus Y and 48 % of those with leaf-roll virus reached the tubers of Majestic potatoes by the beginning of August. There was usually little subsequent increase of rugose mosaic, but a late increase of leaf roll was associated with a relatively high initial spread. Three-quarters of the virus Y and over half the leaf-roll infections occurred within five plants distance of the source. There was no close correlation between the spread of either virus and the maximum number of Myzus persicae , either apterous forms on the plants or alate forms caught on adhesive traps, but centres with high trap catches in July and August showed pronounced late season spread of leaf roll. There were marked differences at different centres in the relative spread of the two viruses. The amount of spread and the gradients from source of infection of the two viruses are compared over the period 1943–6.     

THE SPREAD OF VIRUS DISEASES TO SINGLE POTATO PLANTS BY WINGED APHIDS

Young potato plants in pots exposed in the open near plots of potatoes for limited periods at intervals during the summer, became infested with large numbers of winged aphids only during warm, calm and dry weather. Although visited by aphids during May and June, when much of the spread of viruses occurred in nearby potato crops, few of the potted plants became infected. Most potted plants became infected in July when alate aphids were leaving neighbouring potato crops. Widely different proportions of the exposed plants became infected in different years; in two of the three years, many more plants were infected with virus Y than with leaf roll virus.     

SOME FACTORS AFFECTING THE TRANSMISSION OF LEAF-ROLL VIRUS BY APHIDS

Datura tatula is a more suitable host than potato for studying the factors influencing the transmission of potato leaf-roll virus by Myzus persicae ; it is more easily infected, provides a better source of virus for feeding aphids, produces symptoms more quickly and over a longer period of the year.
Loughnane's (1943) claim that leaf-roll virus is transmitted by starved aphids that feed for only 5 min. on infected potato plants was not confirmed. The shortest infection-feeding time in which M. persicae aphids became infective was 2 hr.; such aphids did not infect healthy plants in the first 2 days and, when transferred to a series of healthy plants at intervals, infected only few. The ability to cause infections was increased by increasing the length of infection feeding. Aphids fed for many days on infected plants could infect healthy plants in the first 15 min. of test feeding, and they continued to cause infections for long periods.
Aphids became infective more readily when feeding on recently infected Datura tatula , showing only slight symptoms, than on older plants with pronounced chlorosis; similarly, young potato sprouts showing no symptoms were better sources of virus for aphids than older plants showing severe leaf roll.
The differences in severity of symptoms shown by potato plants with leaf roll in the field mainly occur because of differences in virulence of accompanying strains of potato virus X , but isolates of leaf-roll virus were found that also varied in virulence.     

Virus content of seed potato stocks produced in a unique seed potato production scheme

Western Australia has a unique seed potato production scheme which has remained virtually unchanged for more than 60 years, consisting of summer plantings of predominantly one cultivar in wind-exposed coastal swamplands. No rotation is used and the scheme relies on natural winter flooding and 'grazing' by sheep to eliminate unharvested tubers. Stocks are recycled every year with only limited inputs of pathogen-tested seed tubers in recent times. Virus spread in the crop is controlled by selecting large tubers for planting, roguing, aphicide application and growing season inspections. Potato viruses X and S were commonly detected in old seed stocks produced by this scheme attaining 100% infection in some. Both viruses were less frequently found in newly introduced seed stocks. By contrast, potato virus Y was never detected and potato leaf roll virus rarely found.     

THE CONTROL OF POTATO VIRUS DISEASES BY INSECTICIDES

Replicated trials were carried out in the years 1950, 1951, 1953 and 1954 to see if the spread of leaf-roll virus and virus Y in potato crops could be reduced by applying insecticides. The crops were disease-free, except for small numbers of deliberately introduced infected plants, and were sprayed at intervals of 10 or 14 days, according to the stage of growth of the plants, with a tractor-mounted spraying machine at 1OO gal./acre/application. Disease spread was estimated by growing tubers taken from the five plants on either side of each infector. DDT emulsion, DDT suspension, endrin, schradan, mipafox, malathion, parathion and Systox prevented the spread of leaf-roll virus and decreased the spread of virus Y, although DDT emulsion was the only insecticide used in all the trials. Dieldrin and toxaphene were ineffective. When virus control was successful, aphid control (estimated by counting apterae in the crops) was good.     

FACTORS AFFECTING THE SPREAD OF APHID-BORNE VIRUSES IN POTATO IN EASTERN SCOTLAND: II. INFESTATION OF THE POTATO CROP BY POTATO APHIDS, PARTICULARLY MYZUS PERSICAE (SULZER)

Surveys in the years 1954-56 showed that potato crops in most districts of eastern Scotland were infested by the aphids Myzus persicae (Sulz.), Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) and Aulacorthum solani (Kltb.). Crops in different districts became infested by Myzus persicae at different times and to different extents, and these differences seemed consistent between years. Crops in the Edinburgh area were colonized between mid-May and mid-June, whereas crops in north Perthshire escaped infestation until the end of July or mid-August. The time and degree of infestation by M. persicae seems correlated with distance from sites where this aphid overwinters. Trap records show that many alate M. persicae disperse from outdoor brassica and early potato crops in the Edinburgh area between mid-July and mid-August, a period during which potato crops in Fife, Angus and Perthshire usually become infested. The freedom of crops in the better seed-producing areas from widespread infection by potato leaf roll and Y viruses is probably associated with lateness of aphid infestation rather than scarcity of aphid vectors.     

THE CORRELATION OF APHID NUMBERS WITH THE SPREAD OF LEAF ROLL AND RUGOSE MOSAIC IN POTATO CROPS

An analysis of the results of experiments in different parts of England and Wales from 1941 to 1947 on the spread of potato leaf roll and rugose mosaic showed that leaf roll spread was correlated with the number of alate Myzus persicae (Sulzer) caught on sticky traps throughout the potato-growing season; there was some correlation with the maximum count of M. persicae per 100 leaves, but this possibly results from the correlation between trapped aphids and the number per 100 leaves. Spread of rugose mosaic (potato virus Y) was correlated to a lesser degree with number of M, persicae , perhaps because other aphid species are often vectors. With both diseases higher correlations were obtained when the infected plants were dispersed among the healthy crop than when they were placed together in a row. It is concluded that it is possible to predict the average health of potato stocks in the following year from average trap data; further work may enable the health of individual stocks to be predicted.     

THE USE OF SOIL INSECTICIDES TO CONTROL POTATO APHIDS AND VIRUS DISEASES

A replicated trial was done to find whether the insecticides Thimet and Rogor applied in the soil affected the spread of aphid-transmitted viruses from infected to healthy plants with potato crops. The insecticides were applied at planting as activated carbon formulations at rates equal in cost to three sprays with DDT emulsion at 2 lb. DDT per acre. The infected plants were removed (rogued) in late June.
Thimet applied along the furrows with the fertilizer, and Rogor applied in individual doses beneath each tuber, kept the plants free from aphids from a week after the plants emerged until early August. Thimet in individual doses was less effective but greatly decreased the aphid infestation. All treatments prevented or greatly decreased the spread of leaf-roll virus, but they only slightly decreased the spread of virus Y. No treatment damaged the plants or depressed yields significantly.
Tubers harvested from the plots treated with insecticides contained only very small quantities of the insecticides, but shoots from them, when infested with adult Myzus persicae (Sulz.), carried fewer aphids a week after infestation than did shoots from control tubers. Shoots of tubers from treated plots also grew more slowly than those from the controls.
The aphicidal efficiency of Thimet applied as individual doses separated from the tubers by distances of up to 6 in., decreased as the distance increased, but the effect of distance became less as time passed.
Reasons for the differences in the behaviour of the insecticides are discussed, and the possibilities that the method offers to control virus diseases. The application of insecticides to soil promises to be a useful way of controlling the spread of viruses, provided the harvested crop is free from toxic residues.     

Field experiments on potato aphids and virus spread in South Wales 1966/9

In 1966-9 the spread of leaf roll and severe mosaic (Virus Y) was investigated in seed and ware areas in South Wales. The use of disulfoton granules at planting time greatly reduced the spread of leaf-roll virus in both areas but had less effect on the spread of severe mosaic. Foliar sprays with formothion did not reduce the spread of either virus. Practical considerations are briefly discussed.     

The effect of rouging on the spread of virus diseases in potatoes at Rothamsted in 1946

Experiments on roguing virus-diseased plants from plots of Majestic potatoes, which have been in progress since 1943, were continued in 1946. Plots were rogued in mid-June, early and late July, and plants were lifted from these plots at the end of July, August and September respectively. Roguing had little effect in reducing the spread of rugose mosaic (caused by potato virus Y ). The spread of leaf roll was reduced to half that on unrogued plots by roguing on 14 June. Later roguing did not reduce the spread of leaf roll, unless combined with early lifting. Early lifting increased the effect of early roguing. In spite of these results roguing main crop potatoes in the south of England is not considered a practical control measure.     

EXPERIMENTS ON THE COLONIZATION OF POTATO PLANTS BY APTEROUS AND BY ALATE APHIDS IN RELATION TO THE SPREAD OF VIRUS DISEASES

Batches of potato plants in pots were placed in the field for limited periods among plants infected with potato virus Y and leaf roll virus. Some of the potted plants were surrounded by sticky boards which prevented apterous aphids from reaching them. Almost as many plants within the boards as without became infected, indicating that most of the spread of virus was by winged aphids.
Apterae were probably responsible for spreading the viruses throughout a hill after one or more stems were infected. They may carry infection to neighbouring plants, but most of these will have been infected already by alatae.
The number of plants contracting infection was unaffected by watering.     

ROGUING POTATO CROPS FOR VIRUS DISEASES

Removing virus-infected plants from plots of Majestic potatoes at Rothamsted on 2 July 1947 did not reduce the spread of leaf roll but reduced rugose mosaic (potato virus Y) to about one-fifth of that in plots rogued on 21 July or left unrogued. Roguing Arran Pilot potatoes on 16 June or 2 July reduced leaf roll to five-sixths of that in unrogued plots; roguing on 16 June reduced rugose mosaic to about half that in plots rogued on 2 July, and about a quarter of that in unrogued plots. Lifting Arran Pilot potatoes in mid-August reduced virus diseases to about two-thirds.
Roguing flattened the gradient (decrease in percentage plants diseased with increasing distance from the source of infection) with rugose mosaic, but had little effect with leaf roll. Evidently any plants prevented by roguing from contracting virus Y were near the initially infected plants.
In 1948, Majestic and King Edward potatoes at three places were rogued during 22–24 June and tubers were dug during 28–30 July and again at the end of the season. Leaf roll spread more in Majestic than in King Edward, and rugose mosaic spread more in King Edward. Roguing reduced the spread of both by about one-fifth at Rothamsted, but had no effect at Sutton Bonington. At Bretton, in the Derbyshire hills, roguing had no effect on leaf roll, but prevented the spread of rugose mosaic.
The small benefit occasionally achieved by roguing in the ware-growing districts of England does not make the practice economically worth while.     

HEAT INACTIVATION OF LEAF-ROLL VIRUS IN POTATO TUBERS

When potato tubers were stored at 37^-5^° C. in a humid atmosphere, some lost their germinating power after 20 days but others survived up to 40 days. All tubers infected with leaf-roll virus that survived 25 days at this temperature produced healthy plants. Similar treatments up to 40 days did not free tubers from potato viruses X and Y.     

FACTORS AFFECTING THE SPREAD OF APHID-BORNE VIRUSES IN POTATO IN EASTERN SCOTLAND: I. OVERWINTERING OF POTATO APHIDS, PARTICULARLY MYZUS PERSICAE (SULZER)

Three species of potato aphids, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) and Aulacorthum solani (Kltb.), overwinter in eastern Scotland, primarily as apterae on perennial, glasshouse, frame and brassica crops. Brassica crops are the commonest hosts of overwintering Myzus persicae , the principal vector of potato leaf roll and Y viruses, and these crops are concentrated in the market-gardening areas of the Lothians and Moray. Although crops of savoy cabbage and brussels sprout often carried numerous M.persicae during the winter, spring cabbage, cabbage for seed and broccoli seem the most important overwintering hosts because they usually persist until mid-May, long enough to allow the development and dispersal of alatae to spring-planted crops. Many alatae dispersed during July and August from crops colonized in spring. Although M. persicae overwintered as eggs on peach and viviparously on plants in glasshouses, the influence of such sites, which are generally distributed throughout the main seed-potato growing areas of Angus, Perth and Fife, was local and unless numerous M. persicae survive the winter on weeds, the market-garden area of the Lothians is probably the most important source from which this aphid disperses in spring and early summer to colonize potato crops in eastern Scotland.     

Cryotherapy of shoot tips: a technique for pathogen eradication to produce healthy planting materials and prepare healthy plant genetic resources for cryopreservation

Cryotherapy of shoot tips is a new method for pathogen eradication based on cryopreservation techniques. Cryopreservation refers to the storage of biological samples at ultra-low temperature, usually that of liquid nitrogen (−196°C), and is considered as an ideal means for long-term storage of plant germplasm. In cryotherapy, plant pathogens such as viruses, phytoplasmas and bacteria are eradicated from shoot tips by exposing them briefly to liquid nitrogen. Uneven distribution of viruses and obligate vasculature-limited microbes in shoot tips allows elimination of the infected cells by injuring them with the cryo-treatment and regeneration of healthy shoots from the surviving pathogen-free meristematic cells. Thermotherapy followed by cryotherapy of shoot tips can be used to enhance virus eradication. Cryotherapy of shoot tips is easy to implement. It allows treatment of large numbers of samples and results in a high frequency of pathogen-free regenerants. Difficulties related to excision and regeneration of small meristems are largely circumvented. To date, severe pathogens in banana ( Musa spp.), Citrus spp., grapevine ( Vitis vinifera ), Prunus spp., raspberry ( Rubus idaeus ), potato ( Solanum tuberosum ) and sweet potato ( Ipomoea batatas ) have been eradicated using cryotherapy. These pathogens include nine viruses (banana streak virus, cucumber mosaic virus, grapevine virus A, plum pox virus, potato leaf roll virus, potato virus Y, raspberry bushy dwarf virus, sweet potato feathery mottle virus and sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus), sweet potato little leaf phytoplasma and Huanglongbing bacterium causing 'citrus greening'. Cryopreservation protocols have been developed for a wide variety of plant species, including agricultural and horticultural crops and ornamental plants, and can be used as such or adjusted for the purpose of cryotherapy.     

Resistance to potato leaf roll virus and potato virus Y in somatic hybrids between dihaploid Solanum tuberosum and S. brevidens

Summary Many somatic fusion hybrids have been produced between a dihaploid potato Solanum tuberosum and the sexually-incompatible wild species S. brevidens using both chemical and electrical fusion techniques. S. brevidens was resistant to both potato leaf roll virus (PLRV) and potato virus Y (PVY), the viruses being either at low (PLRV) or undetectable (PVY) concentrations as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The S. tuberosum parent was susceptible to both viruses. A wide range of resistance, expressed as a decrease in virus concentration to both viruses was found amongst fusion hybrids, four of which were especially resistant. The practicality of introducing virus resistance from S. brevidens into cultivated potatoes by somatic hybridisation is discussed.     

Field studies of potato leaf roll virus spread in south-eastern Scotland, 1962–1969, in relation to aphid populations and other factors

Between 1962 and 1967 spread of potato leaf roll virus (PLRV) and the pattern of potato crop infestation by common potato aphids was investigated at sites in the counties of East Lothian, West Lothian, Midlothian and Berwickshire. Within this area aphid activity and the extent of PLRV spread varied considerably both within years and between years.
Macrosiphum euphorbiae activity as measured by the angle of colonization method was as well correlated with PLRV spread as that for Myzus persicae , and in certain years Aulacorthum solani and Aphis fabae may become common enough to have an effect. Spread was not well correlated with site altitude or with distance from the market garden area of Musselburgh, previously thought to be the main regional overwintering centre for aphids. Evidence is presented of the more general distribution of market gardening in the area which may account for these variations. Results from infector units of different sizes and bulk samples suggest, as do earlier findings, that in southern Scotland PLRV spread is mainly from sources within the crop. The practical implications for potato certification in the region are discussed.     

An efficient diagnostic method for the identification of potato viral pathogens

Potato is commonly affected by various pathogens of viral, bacterial, and fungal origin; therefore, simple and accurate diagnostic and identification techniques are of key importance both for the production of virus free planting material and for the monitoring of the phytosanitary state of planting areas. The newly developed test systems based on qualitative fluorescent amplification-based specific hybridization (FLASH-PCR) enable fast and accurate diagnostics of the major potato pathogens, i.e. potato viruses A, Y, X, M, and S, potato leaf roll virus, potato mop top virus, as well as potato spindle tuber viroid, while minimizing the risk of the working zone contamination.     

Studies on the spread of certain plant viruses in the field

Studies on the spread of potato viruses X and Y and cucumber mosaic virus in the field are described: tobacco was used as the experimental plant. The plants were set out in the form of a cross, one series with the leaves in contact and one with the leaves not touching. No spread of potato virus X was observed, but there was extremely rapid permeation of virus Y throughout the plots. The spread of cucumber mosaic virus was much slower than that of virus Y.     

SEROLOGICALLY RELATED STRAINS OF POTATO VIRUS Y THAT ARE NOT MUTUALLY ANTAGONISTIC IN PLANTS

Tobacco veinal necrosis virus is serologically related to potato viruses Y and C. It does not protect tobacco, Nicotiana glutinosa , or potato plants from infection by them, and tobacco and N. glutinosa plants infected with either virus Y or C are still susceptible to it. There is some evidence that it does not multiply normally in potato plants infected with virus Y and that it is sometimes suppressed in such plants.
The possession of antigenic groups in common with viruses Y and C is considered to justify identifying tobacco veinal necrosis virus as a strain of virus Y , and to be of greater taxonomic significance than failure to protect plants against other strains. A further difference from other strains is that it is more virulent towards tobacco than towards potato.