PVY field demonstration plots

Rows of potato plants labeled with signs indicating virus types, observed by people at a demonstration farm under a clear sky.

PVY field demonstration plots

Industry field days occurred in Washington, Maine and Wisconsin and involved many researchers across the U.S. The field days included plots of 20 varieties, mostly region specific, with healthy, PVY^O, PVY^N-W and PVY^NTN infected plants. This demonstration plot design provides a real learning moment to compare how PVY strains visually affect individual varieties. The demonstration was especially helpful for certification inspectors and seed growers to visually see the response to aid in rogueing seed fields.

Varieties grown at all locations included Atlantic, Dark Red Norland, FL (FL A), FL (FL B), Norkotah 278, Ranger Russet, Russet Burbank and Yukon Gold.

A research plot of 20 varieties was planted at Aroostook Farm, University of Maine. Each variety was planted with three strains of Potato Virus Y (PVY), as well as healthy plants for comparison. The intent of the field trial was to demonstrate the variation of symptom expression between different varieties and strains for farmers and crop consultants.

View examples (pdf) of four different strains of PVY on multiple varieties at the Othello, Washington location.

View examples (pdf) of tuber quality on multiple varieties from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Potato virus Y (PVY) symptom gallery: University of Maine, developed by Ibrahim Kutay Ozturk, Ph.D., Extension potato pathologist.