Virus elimination in promising potato varieties with the use of a combined therapy <i>in vitro</i>

Abstract

Relevance. Viral infection is detected in most of the territories in the Russian Far East due to specific weather conditions and the abundance of insect-vectors. Eliminating viruses in seed potatoes and preserving the reproductive qualities of potato varieties can be achieved by the system of modern seed production, which consists of several essential steps. In FSBSI «FSC of Agricultural Biotechnology of the Far East named after A.K. Chaikа» creates new potato genotypes and eliminates viral infection in already existing ones. An anti-viral thermochemotherapy was developed in 2022–2023 to increase the efficacy of virus elimination and obtain virus-free material of a new promising potato variety Poseidon.Methods. New promising potato variety Poseidon (Rucheyok × Gala) created at FSBSI «FSC of Agricultural Biotechnology of the Far East named after A.K. Chaiki» was used as the research object. Leaves of the breeding accession from the nursery of comparative variety testing were tested for potato viruses PVX, PVY, PVA, PVS, PVM, and PLRV by enzyme immunoassay. Sprouts of initial tubers and plantlets were tested for latent infection by the PCR method.Results. The combined thermochemotherapy was utilized for 150 days, including three consecutive cycles of plant growth in vitro on MS media with ribavirin (30 mg/l) at 38º С for 14 days. The performed PCR analysis of potato plants with a mixed viral infection (PVY, PVS, PVM, and PLRV) established that this method for virus elimination was effective.