The Effects of Temperature on the Susceptibility of Potato Plants to Infection and Accumulation of Potato Leafroll Virus

Temperature both before and after aphid inoculation with potato leafroll virus (PLRV) greatly influenced the susceptibility of potato plants to infection and virus accumulation, as evaluated with ELISA using cultivars with different ratings for the resistance to PLRV. Pre-incubation at 15 compared to 27 °C increased the susceptibility of plants to infection and a subsequent PLRV accumulation. The virus was detected by ELISA in a greater proportion of plants and reached a higher concentration, when the plants were kept at 27 than at 15 °C after inoculation. The mean ELISA values obtained with PLRV-infected plants in the 15/27 combination of the pre-/post-inoculation temperatures over the period 1—6 wks after inoculation were significantly higher than those in the 27/27, 15/15 and 27/15 treatments, and the values obtained in the 27/27 treatment were significantly higher than those in the 15/15 and 27/15 ones. A hypersensitive-like intolerance reaction to PLRV occurred in the resistant cv. Irga only in the plants kept at 27 °C after inoculation.