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Archives
January 1-15, 2000
Web
news: scientists fear spread of new potato virus
LIMA, Peru. To stem the spread of potato
yellow vein virus, which is causing lrge losses in th
epotato production areas of Northern Peru, CIP specialists
recommend that the transport of potato seed in infected
areas cease, and that farmers only use certified seed.
Filed tests indicate the area infected by the virus
now includes parts of Cajamarca; Chimbote, Chiquian,
and Huaylas in Ancash; the mountain areas of La Libertad
and Piura; and some parts of Chachapoyas in the Amazon.
The virus is suspected ot have entered
the country about five years ago in illegal potato imports.
While thepotato varieties Yungay and Chanchan are most
affected by this disease, infected native cultivar plants
have also been found. Although this virus does not affect
humans directly, it does cause serious economic losses
to farmers, since diseased plants can reduce productivity
by up to 50 percent.
Specialists fear that without sufficient
preventative measures, the virus may spread to areas
that are now disease-free. For example, two affected
plants, eliminated immediately, were found in Junin.
Although the flow of potato seed from the north, toward
Junin, is practically nonexistent, certain areas of
Pasco are at risk since many farmers there plant seeds
from Ancash, one of the affected areas.
Difficult
to detect
Potato yellow vein virus is transmitted by a white fly
species that disseminates it not only ot potato fields
but also to certain weeds, which act as a reservoir
for the pathogen but do not present symptoms. This hinders
detection o fthe virus. Once established in the potato
plant, the virus produces a yellowing of the veins.
In many cases, framers mistakenly attribute these symptoms
to another, much less harmful disease caused by the
mop-top virus. "Only at harvest time does the framer
discovers the effect of the actual virus, which reduces
the size amd amount of potato plant tubers, reducing
the commercial value of the crop. Crop damage is multiplied
by the fact that the majority of tubers form infected
plants continue to spread virus," explains virologist
Luis Salazar, Head of CIP's crop Protection Department.
At CIP, an international agricultural
research organization based in Lima, scientist are studying
the virus molecularly based on samples obtained in Cajamarca.
This has laed to the development of a laboratory detection
method known as Hybridization of Nucleic Acids or Nash.
CIP is currently working to devise a simpler, serological
detection method --- something more accessible to the
farmers, similar to detection methods developed for
other viruses of potato, sweet potato, and certain Andean
roots and tubers. In a joint effort with the National
Agricultural Health Service (SENASA), CIP is evaluating
potato seed in norhern Peru, and in collaboration with
other institutions in the affected areas, CIP is teaching
farmers how to stem the spread of this disease.
For more information, contact Christine
Graves at the International Potato Center at (51-1)349-6017
(Peru) or (1) 650-833-3365 (USA), or e-mail c.graves@cgiar.org
January 1-15 2000 Articles: ::
BAR
technical divisions hold simultaneous in-house planning
workshops
::
PIRD
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::
ABARE
elects new officers
::
Some
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::
Web
news: scientists fear spread of new potato virus
::: More January 2000 articles :::
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