Research highlights

Check out the latest research discussing potato viruses knowledge, management strategies, breeding tactics and more.

Assessing the frequency of Spongospora subterranea f. sp. subterranea and potato mop-top virus occurrence in seed potato lots entering Oregon

By Daniella M. Echeverria, Victoria Skillman, Cassandra Funke, Hannah Rivedal and Kenneth Frost | American Journal of Potato Research

“From 2016 to 2025, we surveyed seed lots entering Oregon for the presence of Spongospora subterranea f. sp. Subterranea (Sss), the causal agent of powdery scab and potato mop-top virus (PMTV).”

Pursuit of resistant germplasm

By Kylie Swisher Grimm and Max Feldman | Spudman

“As part of the USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative Potato Virus Initiative Project, we designed, validated and implemented a high-throughput greenhouse assay to screen potato germplasm for resistance to potato mop-top virus.”

Breeding for broad resistance to PVY

By Alexander Karasev and Nora Olsen | Potato Country

Research at the University of Idaho is helping potato breeders make progress in their efforts to breed potatoes with resistance to all strains of Potato Virus Y (PVY).

Methods to induce sprouting in dormant potato tubers for direct tuber testing of potato virus Y

By Nathan Gelles, Nora Olsen, Mike Thornton, Alex Karasev | American Journal of Potato Research

“This study identified a novel dormancy breaking treatment to promote earlier and accurate PVY detection by direct tuber testing using ELISA and provided data to support direct tuber testing for post-harvest evaluation of PVY in seed certification.”

A potential new source of extreme resistance to potato virus Y in the potato variety Bistra

By Gregory L. Elison, Jaebum Park, Richard G. Novy, Jonathan L. Whitworth | American Journal of Potato Research

“Sante and its progeny Bistra are examples of two varieties with extreme resistance to PVY and yet have no amplification of Ry associated molecular markers.”

Screening three potato cultivars for resistance to potato virus Y strains: Broad and strain-specific sources of resistance

By Cassandra N. Funke, Lisa T. Tran, Alexander V. Karasev | American Journal of Potato Research

“None of the 18 isolates of the virus was found able to replicate in the inoculated or upper non-inoculated leaves of Payette Russet, confirming the broad specificity of the Rysto gene present in the Payette Russet genome.”

A genome wide association study (GWAS) identifies SNPs associated with resistance to tobacco rattle virus (TRV) and potato mop-top virus (PMTV) in a tetraploid mapping population of potato

By Noelle Anglin, Shashi Yelarreddygari, Neil Gudmestad, Vidyasagar Sathuvalli, Charles Brown, Max Feldman, Walter De Jong, David Douches, Rich Novy, Joseph Coombs | American Journal of Potato Research

“This data can guide the development of molecular markers to select genotypes resistant to PMTV and TRV in potato breeding programs.”

Maine’s battle with PVY: Aroostook farms field day highlights virus strains, control challenges

By Lukie Pieterse | Potato News Today

“The field day was an opportunity for agricultural professionals to observe firsthand the impact of PVY on potatoes.”

Brassica cover crops and natural Spongospora subterranea infestation of peat-based potting mix may increase powdery scab risk on potato

By Maryam Alaryan, Yuan Zeng, Ana Cristina Fulladolsa, Amy O. Charkowski | Plant Disease

“The results suggest that buckwheat, legumes, and barley pose the least risk as cover crops in S. subterranea infested fields and show that peat-based potting mix should not be used in seed potato production.”

Battling potato viruses: Innovations for a healthier harvest

By Potatoes USA | The Potatoes USA Pulse Industry Updates

“The primary objectives of this project are to improve disease diagnosis, virus detection and strain typing.”

Unraveling a genome of Spongospora subterranea

By Augustina K. Arjarquah, Jatinder Singh, Kimberly Zitnick-Anderson, Binod Pandey, Ipsita Mallik, Upinder Gill and Julie S. Pasche | American Journal of Potato Research

“This improved genome resource advances our understanding of the poorly characterized S. subterranea, providing critical tools for deciphering its biology and pathogenesis.”