Determination of PVY Distribution in Section of Seed Potato Tubers Tohumluk Patates Yumru Kesitlerinde Patates Y Virüsü Dağılımının Belirlenmesi

Potato virus Y (PVY) (species Potyvirus yituberosi, genus Potyvirus, family Potyviridae) is a plant pathogenic virus that seriously affects potato production. PVY is one of the mandatory plant pathogenic viruses that are tested in the seed potato tuber certification scheme. The primary method of managing PVY is to produce or provide virus-free seed tubers. However, reliably detecting the virus in tubers remains rather challenging and is an important subject of field research. An investigation was conducted to explore the localization of PVY within infected tubers of the highly susceptible cultivar, Desire, to determine its distribution across different tuber sections. Samples were taken from the apical bud, stem bud, lateral eyes, and pith sections of the dormant tubers, and tested using a double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) and Immunocapture reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (IC-RT-PCR). The DAS-ELISA detected PVY in 50% of samples (5/10), with positive results only in apical buds. However, IC-RT-PCR achieved higher sensitivity for detecting PVY in all the apical buds (10/10; 100%). Specifically, in stem buds tested positive in 80% of cases (8/10), while lateral buds yielded detection rates of 80% (8/10) and 50% (5/10). IC-RT-PCR consistently identified PVY in all examined tubers, demonstrating its effectiveness for virus detection. The results indicate that sampling only the apical bud is sufficient for PVY detection using either DAS-ELISA or IC-RT-PCR. The pith and deep tissue below the bark of the potato tuber were unsuitable for PVY detection. For personnel with less experience, who may struggle to distinguish between apical and stem buds, these two sections can be combined, provided the apical bud is included. In future investigations, it is crucial to acknowledge that the virus titer may vary with potato variety and PVY strain. This study's applicability extends to diverse potato varieties and virus strains for comprehensive exploration.