Potato Virus Initiative

Potato Virus Initiative

The Potato Virus Initiative: Developing Solutions is a federally funded research and Extension-based program with the mission to develop potato virus management strategies and decisions aids, specifically for potato mop top virus (PMTV) and for potato virus Y (PVY), by improving detection and strain typing methods, breeding for resistance, and developing in-season management solutions for use by the potato industry to produce a healthy and high-quality potato crop.

About the SCRI grant

The SCRI project, Development of Sustainable System-based Management Strategies for Two Vector-borne, Tuber Necrotic Viruses in potato, brings together researchers, Extension professionals and seed certification programs from across the country to address the most important disease problem currently faced by the potato industry — vector borne tuber necrotic viruses. PMTV and some strains of PVY elicit necrotic response in tubers, reducing crop value or rendering it unmarketable. For the past decade we have been working under the guidance of a national advisory board, comprised of leading seed growers, affected ware potato growers and representatives of large potato processing companies to prioritize our research activities, and the current SCRI project will continue to address those important concerns.

Objectives for project

• Objective 1 — To improve high throughput detection of PVY and PMTV in dormant potato tubers, in their vectors and for PMTV, in soil, and to train seed certification agencies in these methods.
• Objective 2 — To improve virus-vector management through development of epidemiological models and through research-based recommendations for potato production.
• Objective 3 — To develop molecular markers for resistance genes against PVY and PMTV and Ss; to clone at least one PVY resistance gene; and to understand virus impacts on the physiology of stored potatoes.
• Objective 4 — To identify economic or incentive barriers to effective disease management and to use this information to aid in industry adoption of improved management strategies and harmonized regulations.

USDA-NIFA-SCRI award #2020-51181-32136.

PVY

Potato virus Y is a virus of the family Potyviridae, genus Potyvirus. It affects potatoes in two ways, reducing yield of the tubers and also compromising tuber quality.

PMTV

PMTV is a virus of the family Virgaviridae, genus Pomovirus. It affects tuber quality by inducing necrotic spots, rings and arches in the flesh of the potato tuber; these necrotic lesions sometimes reach the surface of the tuber, but often can be visible only when the tuber is cut.  

Powdery scab

• Powdery scab of potatoes, Bulletin 2436 (pdf)
  The appearance of the disease is variable from year to year, being dependent upon a conducive environment.
• Powdery scab of potatoes, Bulletin PP1891
  Spongospora subterranea f. sp. subterranea (referred to as S. subterranea), the causal agent of powdery scab and root gall formation in potato, is a soil- and tuber-borne fungus like pathogen

Seed certification

Resources and educational material related to the U.S. seed certification process.

PVY demonstration plots

Learn more about demonstration plots and field days related to the project.

Research and events

Read articles related to the project.

Newsletter

The annual newsletter that informs readers about all the research that has been conducted to date from all researchers, Extension professionals and seed certification programs across the country in an easy-to-read format.

Contacts

Over 25 researchers across the nation are leading collaboration efforts on the Potato Virus Initiative: Developing Solutions.

University of Idaho

• Project Director: Alex Karasev, akarasev@uidaho.edu
• Co-Project Investigator: Chris McIntosh
• Co-Project Investigator: Nora Olsen
• Collaborator: Kasia Duellman
• Collaborator: Joseph Kuhl
• Collaborator: Erik Wenninger

Colorado State University

• Co-Project Director: Amy Charkowski, Colorado State University, amy.charkowski@colostate.edu
• Co-Project Investigator: Vamsi Nalam

Cornell University

• Co-Project Director: Walter De Jong, Cornell University, wsd2@cornell.edu 

Michigan State University

• Co-Project Investigator: Dave Douches
• Collaborator: Jaime Willbur

Montana State University

• Co-Project Investigator: Nina Zidack

North Dakota State University

• Co-Project Investigator: Julie Pasche

Oregon State University

• Co-Project Director: Kenneth Frost, Oregon State University, kenneth.frost@oregonstate.edu
• Co-Project Investigator: Sagar Sathuvalli

University of Maine

• Co-Project Investigator: Alicyn Smart
• Collaborator: James Dill

University of Wisconsin

• Co-Project Investigator: Russ Groves
• Collaborator: Brooke Babler

USDA-ARS

• Co-Project Investigator: Kylie Swisher Grimm
• Co-Project Investigator: Jonathan Whitworth
• Collaborator: Max Feldman

Washington State University

• Collaborator: Mark Pavek