Eradication of Potato virus Y and Potato leafroll virus by chemotherapy of infected potato stem cuttings

Abstract

Eradication of Potato virus Y (PVY) and Potato leafroll virus (PLRV) by in vitro chemotherapy (50 mg l-1 of ribavirin+100 mg l-1 of DHT) of small potato stem cuttings (0.15 0.5 cm) of some potato cultivars is reported., Successful eradication seemed to depend on the duration of treatment and type of cultivar rather than on the virus. The best results were obtained with a 8-week treatment of cv. Monnalisa, Kennebec, and Désirée, i.e. 43 to 50% of PVY-free plants and 39 to 42% of PLRV-free plants. With the same type of treatment cv. Spunta, Primura and Liseta yielded only 14 to 21% of PVY-free plants and 15 to 27% of PLRV-free plants. Possible advantages over chemotherapy of the meristem tips are discussed.