Eradication of potato viruses and
evaluation of different soil mixtures on minitubers production
Samah A. Mokbel
Department of Virus and Phytoplasma Research, Plant Pathology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center., Egypt. Dr.SamahMokbel@gmail.com
ABSTRACT:
Recently production of virus-free potato
minitubers is critical. For this purpose, infected tubers with Potato
leafroll virus (PLRV) or Potato virus x (PVX) from two cultivars
Spunta or Lady Rosette as demonstrated by serological detection were used as a
source for virus-free minitubers production. This achived by subjecting tubers
directly to thermotherapy treatment at 36ºC, 37ºC or 38ºC for three weeks which
resulting in 50%, 70% or 80% of PLRV-free tubers and 0%, 16.6% or 33.3% of
PVX-free tubers, respectively. Moreover, no effect on the survival rate of
tubers was detected. High percentage of PLRV- or PVX-free plantlets (93.1% or 76%),
respectively was achieved with meristem tip excision (0.1-0.2mm) from
thermo-treated tubers at (38ºC) with survival rate 96.6% or 83.3%,
respectively. DAS-ELISA method was applied to the tubers directly, in
vitro cultures and young acclimatized plantlets to detect these viruses, after
direct transplant of in vitro virus-free plantlets in greenhouse.
The statistical
analysis showed that cultivars and ratio of bed components and their
interaction had insignificant (P>0.05)
effects
on minituber number and minituber weight. However,
ratio of bed components and interaction with cultivars were significantly
(P<0.05) affected on minituber
diameter. Maximum minituber diameter (13.64
mm) was recorded for Lady Rosette cultivar,
followed by Spunta cultivar (13.53 mm)
applied with Vermiculite + Sand (4:1). Pots
received Vermiculite + Sand (4:1), produced
highest minituber
diameter, while the least minituber was
recorded for pots having Peat moss + Sand (4:1).
Key Words: Potato, PLRV,
PVX,
thermotherapy, meristem culture, minitubers, soil mixture.
How to cite this article:
Mokbel, A.S., and
Abd El-Mohsen, A.A. (2014). Eradication of potato viruses and evaluation of
different soil mixtures on minitubers production. Egyptian J. of Virology,
11(2):46-57.
