The experiment was conducted to detect the effect of PVY and PLRV on growth and yield of four different potato varieties namely Asterix, Cardinal, Diamant and Granula resulting the rate of degeneration of potato varieties at three successive cropping seasons viz. 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13. Three different generations namely 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd generation were used. Positive significant correlation was found between aphid population and spread of PVY and PLRV. The percent infection of PVY was ranged from 10.8-16.7%, 19.2- 37.5% and 39.2-61.7% in 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd generations, respectively depending on the varieties. Whereas, PLRV infection varied from 5.0-10.0%, 27.5-30.8% and 37.5-52.5% in 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd generations, respectively depending on the varieties. Asterix and Diamant are more tolerant than that of Cardinal and Granule. 1^st generation was produced maximum number of tubers per hill, yield per hill and seed yield per plot compared to 2^nd and 3^rd generations all the four potato varieties. Diamant showed less degeneration effect on number than the other varieties. Asterix and Diamant performed better than that of Cardinal and Granule in all the cases. PVY causes more severe reduction of yield per hill than that of PLRV.

Keywords: potato, varieties, degeneration, virus

PVY, potato virus Y; PLRV, potato leaf roll virus; BADC, Bangladesh agricultural development corporation; BSMRAU, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman agricultural university

Seed potato degeneration is the buildup of diseases in potatoes over seasons, as a result of replanting tubers infected with viruses or other seed borne diseases. The degeneration of potato is appeared either due to physiological causes or due to infection of tuber-borne viruses specially PVY and PLRV.¹ PVY and PLRV are the two tuber-borne viruses causing tremendous damage to the potato crop also caused degeneration on seed potato production.² It has been recognized that the poor yield of potato is attributed due to use of virus infected seed potato specially infected by PVY and PLRV.^3,4 Seed potato infected with PVY and PLRV seem to be degenerated following the successive generation,⁵ is an acute problem of seed potato production in Bangladesh.⁶ So it is highly important to evaluate the denegation behavior of potato due to infection of PVY and PLRV. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to detect the effect of PVY and PLRV on growth and yield of four different potato varieties resulting the rate of degeneration of potato varieties at three successive seasons.

The experiment was conducted at Tissue Culture Laboratory of BADC, Kashimpur and Plant Pathology Laboratory of BSMRAU, Gazipur-1706, Dhaka, Bangladesh during winter 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 cropping seasons. Seed potatoes of the variety Asterix, Cardinal, Diamant and Granula representing three different generations namely 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd generation were used for the experiments conducting in 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13, respectively. The seed potato obtained from 2010-11 experiments was used for the subsequent years. Four Moericke yellow water traps (Figure 1) were set up in four locations of the experimental field of BSMRAU Research Farm. The counting of aphids was initiated from third week of November 2011. Half of the yellow trap was filled with tap water where few drops of liquid soap were added so that the aphids could not fly after falling on to the traps. The trapped aphids were collected from the trays twice in a week at 11 a.m. and it was continued up to the date of haulm pulling. The water of the traps was changed after aphid collection. The collected aphids were preserved in plastic bottles containing 70% alcohol to identify the vector aphid. Relationship of aphid populations as well as correlation and regression between population of aphid vector and incidence of PVY and PLRV were employed to interpret the data. During the crop seasons of 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13, tuber samples preserved in the cold stored were planted in the field respectively on November 22, 2010, November 22, 2011 and November 22, 2012. The crop was harvested on, March 4 for every seasons of 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13.

Figure 1 Aphid population beneath the leaves (A and B) and trapped on morrick yellow tray (C)

Spread of PVY and PLRV in the field in relation to aphid population

It was found that incidence of both PVY and PLRV infection increased with the increased of aphid population and there was a positive significant correlation between aphid population and spread of the viruses (Figure 2). The relationship between two variables was linear and could be described by linear regression equations of y=0.0109x+1.0992 (R²=0.921). The R² values indicate that the change in disease incidence might be attributed to aphid population by 92%. Since the PVY and PLRV are transmitted by aphids in the field, it is scientifically logical that high spread of virus would be dependent upon the aphid population in the field. The results of present study are of agreement with the study of the previous workers.^7–11

Figure 2 (A) Spread of PVY and PLRV infection in healthy plants in relation with aphid population buildup in seed potato field and (B) Relationship between number of infected plants and aphid population buildup in seed potato field.

Incidence of PVY and PLRV

Incidence of PVY and PLRV were identified based on characteristic symptoms of the viruses appeared on plants. Initially infection of PVY was recognized as mild mosaic symptom. Gradually dead tissue appeared on the leaves near the veins. At advanced stage of infection partly or whole leaflets become dead. The primary symptoms of PLRV appeared in young leaves in the top of the plants. Such leaves stand upright, are pale yellow. In later stage, upward rolling of the leaf margins is to be visible. Secondary symptoms are always more serious for the whole plant. The basal leaves are stiff and may show a marked upward rolling of the leaf margins (Figure 3). Disease incidence varied depending on seed potato generations, varieties as well as between the two viruses. Virus prevalence is increased with increase of generation and PVY is more prevalent than PLRV. Asterix and Diamant are more tolerant than that of Cardinal and Granula. The percent infection of PVY was ranged from 10.8-16.7 %, 19.2- 37.5% and 39.2-61.7% in 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd generations, respectively depending on the varieties. Whereas, PLRV infection varied from 5.0-10.0%, 27.5-30.8% and 37.5-52.5% in 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd generations, respectively depending on the varieties (Figure 4). The incidence of PVY and PLRV in seed potato crop had also been studied by several investigators.^5–16

Figure 3 Characteristic symptoms of the viruses appeared on Potato plants of Diamant variety (A) healthy, (B) PVY infected and (C) PLRV infected.

Figure 4 (A) Incidence of PVY, PLRV viruses and (B) reduction of plant height due to the infection of PVY and PLRV in different generations of four seed potato varieties.

Plant height

In case of PVY infected seed tubers 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd generation produced plant height of 48.1, 42.8 and 38.5 cm respectively, where plant height of PLRV infected tubers was 56.2, 48.9 and 46.9 cm in 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd generation respectively (Table 1). It was found that height was reduced in plants raised from PVY and PLRV infected tubers. In case of all the variety and generations, plant height reduction found higher in PVY infected plants than that of PLRV infected plants. However the rate of reduction increased with the increase of generation. The reduction was noted among the varieties as 23.2-34.3%, 30.7-35.8% and 34.3-38.3% for PVY infection in 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd generation, respectively compared to healthy. Whereas, the height reduction for PLRV infection was 15.0-19.5%, 20.1-28.2% and 18.9-26.6% in 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd generation, respectively, compared to healthy (Figure 4).

Number of stem per hill

It was found that in all generations the number of stem per hill was higher in the plants grown from healthy tubers compared to PVY and PLRV infected tubers. In case of PVY infected seed tubers 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd generation seed potato produced average stem number of 2.9, 2.9 and 2.1 respectively among the four varieties (Table 2). Whereas the numbers of stems per hill in PLRV infected plants were recorded as 3.8, 3.2, and 2.6 in 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd generation, respectively depending on varieties. The highest number of stem was found in 1^st generation in each case which differed significantly among the other generations (Table 2). It was observed that the number of stem was reduced in plants raised from PVY and PLRV infected tubers compared to healthy ones. The rate of stems reduction increased with the increase of generation and effect of PVY was more severe than that of PLRV. The reduction was recorded among the varieties as 31.5-44.6%, 14.9-39.6% and 24.9-54.0% for PVY infection in 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd generation respectively compared to healthy ones. Whereas, reduction in stem number for PLRV infection among the varieties was recorded as 12.1-44.6%, 12.3-27.1% and 27.1-38.7% in 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd generation, respectively, compared to healthy plants (Figure 5). Production of reduced number of stem in PVY and PLRV infected plants.^17–19

Number of tuber

Potato tubers infected with either PVY or PLRV in different generations of potato reduced the numbers of tubers per plant compared to healthy. Maximum number of tubers per hill was produced in all the four potato varieties of 1^st generation compared to 2^nd and 3^rd generations (Table 3). In case of PVY infected plants of all the four varieties, the highest number of tubers (7.6/hill) was obtained from 1^st generation followed by 2^nd (6.8/hill) and 3^rd (5.7/hill) generation (Table 3). The average tuber number of PLRV infected plants of four varieties was 9.2, 8.6 and 7.6 in 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd generation, respectively and these were also differed statistically among one another (Table 3). Reduced number of tubers was produced from PVY and PLRV infected tubers in all generations and reduction rate was lower in 1^st generation which was gradually increased with the increase of generations also the effect of PVY was more severe than that of PLRV. Diamant was found to be good in respect of less degeneration effect on tuber numbers. The reduction was recorded among varieties as 22.2-36.9%, 25.3-38.3% and 37.7 -46.8% for PVY infection in 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd generation respectively compared to healthy. Similar trend was observed in case of PLRV infection where the reduction were noted as 9.2-22.7%, 0.6-20.4% and 9.6-29.5% in 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd generations respectively (Figure 5). Cellular changes in potato by virus ultimately affected the quality as well as quantity of seed potato production.^20,21

Figure 5 Reduction of (A) stems per hill and (B) tubers per hill due to the infection of PVY and PLRV in different generations of four seed potato varieties.

Yield of seed potato

The results of the study revealed that in all the cases the yield per hill (g) of all the four varieties was significantly higher in 1^st generation compared to 2^nd and 3^rd generation and significantly higher yield was obtained from healthy plants compared to PVY and PLRV infected plants in all the four varieties. Moreover, the PVY infected plants yielded significantly less amount of tubers than that of PLRV infected plants of all the four potato varieties (Table 4). In case of 1^st generation, on an average the highest yield was recorded from Asterix (298.8g) and the lowest from Granula (253.8g). In case of 2^nd and 3^rd generation, the highest yield was obtained from Diamant (271.7g and 254.8g respectively) (Table 4). PVY causes more severe reduction of yield per hill than that of PLRV and this rate was increased with the increase of generation. Asterix and Diamant performed better than that of Cardinal and Granula in all the cases (Figure 6). Similar trends also observed in case of seed yield (kg/plot) of four potato varieties in three subsequent generations. In all the cases, significantly highest yield was obtained from healthy plants of all the four potato varieties compared to PVY and PLRV infected plants. However, the yield was varied depending on varieties and seed potato generations (Table 5) (Figure 6). Significantly the highest seed yield was obtained in case of 1^st generation seed potatoes compared to 2^nd and 3^rd generation. In case of 1^st generation, the highest yield was obtained from Diamant and Asterix and the lowest from Cardinal.

Figure 6 Reduction of (A) yield per hill and (B) seed yield per plot due to the infection of PVY and PLRV in different generations of four seed potato varieties.

Similar trends also observed in case of 2^nd and 3^rd generations (Table 5). The percent reduction of seed yield was less in second generation but it was significantly increased in the next subsequent generations. Variety Diamant performed better than that of others as less degeneration observed in respect of seed yield (Figure 6). It was observed that non-seed yield was significantly increased with generations of all varieties (Table 6). Non-seed yield of healthy plants was insignificant among three generations but non-seed production increased with the increase of generations for PVY and PLRV infected plants. While no significant difference among the varieties but highest non-seed yield were recorded from Cardinal followed by Granula, Asterix and Diamant in all three generations (Table 6). Highest increase of non-seed yield was observed in case of 3^rd generation PVY infected plants of Granula followed by 1^st generation PLRV infected Asterix and 2^nd generation PVY infected Granula. However, the increase of non-seed yield ranged from 7.2-34.7%, 12.0-37.3% & 12.4-57.2% for PVY and 1.83-39.1%, 1.2-10.7% & 1.7-28.0% for PLRV in 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd generations, respectively (Figure 7). The reduction of total yield of potato was found to be varied from 12.8 to 43.6% depending on varieties and generations. Variety Diamant performed better than that of others as less degeneration observed in respect of total yield. Moreover, the PVY causes higher yield reduction than that of PLRV in all the varieties and generations (Figure 7). Considering the per hectare yield (ton) of four potato varieties grown in three different generations from healthy, PVY and PLRV infected tubers degeneration effects of the two tenacious virus were distinctly envisioned.

Figure 7 (A) Increase of non-seed yield per plot and (B) reduction of total yield per plot due to the infection of PVY and PLRV in different generations of four seed potato varieties

Healthy plants of all the four different varieties gave almost static yield that not significantly differed among the generations and within the varieties also except the variety Granula of 3^rd generation. Whereas, that will differed significantly in case of PVY and PLRV infected plants of all the four varieties. However, in overall consideration the variety Diamant and Asterix were found to be performed better against the degeneration effect of the two viruses (Table 4). Yield reduction was found to be a common phenomenon due to PVY and PLRV infection which have been studied by many investigators. However, some other factors like physiological degeneration may also be involved with the extent of yield reduction in potato. Among the two viruses PVY was reported to be more damaging compared to PLRV.^22–25 The results of the present study followed the same trend as described by the authors mentioned earlier. Results of the present investigation have clearly shown that 1^st generation crop gave the best performance in respect of growth and yield contributing characters against PVY and PLRV. The reduction in tuber yield after 2^nd generation seemed to be due to incidence of virus diseases. It was supported by the findings that the incidence PVY and PLRV increased whereas tuber yield decreased with the progress of generations. Therefore, it indicated that in yield performance test of newly introduced potato varieties might be continued at least for two successive generations to record their actual yield potential, and usefulness of introduced varieties decreased with the increased of generations of cultivations.

Grade-wise tubers proportion

The results indicated that in all the cases the higher amount of Over and B grade as well as lower amount of A and under grade tubers were obtained from healthy plants as compared to PVY and PLRV infected plants of all seed potato generations (Figure 8) (Figure 9). In case of under size grades the percent amount of healthy, PVY and PLRV infected tubers varied from 1.9-2.3%, 3.5-6.3% & 2.8-4.2% in 1^st generation, 3.1-3.8%, 5.2-8.0% & 4.7-7.1% in 2^nd generation and 3.7-4.3%, 7.8-10.9% & 6.9-9.7% in 3^rd generation respectively (Figure 8). PVY infected plants produced higher proportion of A-grade seed than that of PLRV infected plants of all the four varieties (Figure 8). Whereas, the healthy plants yielded higher proportion of B-grade tuber than that of PVY and PLRV infected plants of all the four potato varieties and this proportions were decreased with the increase of generation (Figure 9). Healthy plants yielded lower proportion of over grade tuber than that of infected plants of all the four seed potato varieties and these proportions were increased with the increase of generation (Figure 9). Most of the cases, PVY infected plants produced lower proportion of over grade seed than that of PLRV infected plants. However, the production of the increased number of under grade (<28mm size) contributed to a great extent to the yield reduction of potato crops through the degeneration effects of the two viruses. The results of the present study are of an agreement with the previous workers.^20,21,26

Figure 8 Degeneration effect of PVY & PLRV on the percent yield of (A) under grade (<28mm) and (B) A-grade (28-40mm) seed potatoes compared to healthy.

Figure 9 Degeneration effect of PVY & PLRV on the percent yield of (A) B-grade (41-55 mm) and (B) over grade (>55 mm) seed potatoes compared to healthy.

From result of the current study it was clear that degeneration of seed potato was occurred by PLV and PVRY. PVY was more hazardous than PVRY. Asterix and Diamant are more resistant to PVY and PLRV than that of Cardinal and Granula. Seed tuber performed very well in 1^st generation than 2^nd and 3^rd generation.

None.

The author declares no conflict of interest.

1. Chandla VK, Shiv K, Singh MN, et al. Role of aphids in degeneration of seed stocks in the higher hills. Journal of the Indian Potato Association. 2001;28(1):117–118.
2. Hooker WJ. Les viroses de la pomme de terre. Inc: Bulletin information technique. 1987;19:129–136.
3. Sawicka B. Degeneration of potato varieties in the south West part of Biala podlasua region. Fragmenta Agronomica. 1994;2(2):58–65.
4. Khurana SMP, Pandey SK, Bhale U, et al. Degeneration of potato varieties in northern and central India. Indian J of Virol. 1998;14(2):111–119.
5. Bari MA, Rahman ML, Hoque M. Degeneration in the yield of potato varieties during successive generation. Bangladesh Journal of Plant Pathology. 1998;14(1–2):41–43.
6. Khan AL, Ali MS, Bari MA. A review of the viral diseases of potato in Bangladesh. Proceedings of First National Workshop on Tuber Crops, Bangladesh; 1991. p. 28–30.
7. Tamada T, Harison BD. Quantitative studies on the uptake and retention of potato leaf roll virus by aphids in laboratory and field conditions. Annals of Applied Biology. 1981;98(2):261–276.
8. Khan AL, Bari MA, Dash GP. Monitoring alate potato aphids in some locations of Bangladesh during 1980–81. Bangladesh J Agri Res. 1984;9:64–67.
9. Singh MN, Nagaich BB, Agrawal H. Spread of viruses Y and leaf roll by aphids in potato fields. Indian Phytopathol. 1984;37:241–251.
10. Halim MA. Serological detection of PLRV and PVY from certified potato seeds and their impact on yield. Thesis of MS in Plant Path. Bangladesh: BSMRAU; 1999. p. 1–80.
11. Hossain MH. Studies of different aspects of seed tuber infection by PLRV and PVY contributing degeneration of potato. Thesis of MS in Plant Path. Bangladesh: BSMRAU; 1999. 128 p.
12. Hossain M, Ali MS, Rashid MM. Effect of inoculum levels of Potato virus Y (PVY) on yield and subsequent spread of the disease under insecticide spray and unsprayed condition. Bangladesh J of Bot. 1994;23:1–87.
13. Yardimci N, Bostan H. Research on detection of viruses in potato plants tested by ELISA in Erzurum province. Journal of Turkish Phytopathology. 1999;28(3):99–100.
14. Wolf I, Horvath S. The occurrence of potato Y (PVY) potyvirus strains in potato fields in Hungary. Novenyvedelem. 2000;36(9):449–455.
15. Amitava K, Basu A, Mukhopadhyay SK, et al. Population build up of aphids on potato in Burdwan District of West Bengal. Journal of the Indian Potato Association. 2001;28(1):123–124.
16. Choueiri E, Zammar SEI, Jreijiri F, et al. Phytosanitary status of potato in the Bekaa valley in Lebanon. Bulletin OEPP. 2004;34(1):117–121.
17. Hooker WJ. Compendium of potato diseases. USA: American Phytopath Soc; 1981. 125 p.
18. Rashid MM, Khan AL, Ali MS. Seed Potato Production. Potato Research Centre, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh: BARI; 1986. 156 p.
19. Hossain MD, Ali MS, Khan AL, et al. Effect of PLRV on the growth and yield of potato. Bangladesh J of Bot. 1989;18(1):15–21.
20. de Bokx JA, van der Want JPH. Viruses of potatoes and seed potato production. 2nd ed. Inc: Pudoc, et al. editors. Netherlands; 1987. 259 p.
21. Sangar RBS, Agrawal HO, Nagaich BB. Studies on extent of primary infection of PVX and PVY among tubers of potatoes. Indian J of Virol. 1994;10(1):22–32.
22. Singh MN, Khurana SMP. Isolation and identification of virus strains and studies on losses in commercial varieties. Ann Sci Rept. India; 1980. 89 p.
23. Gupta BM, Sing BP, Varma HN, et al. Perspective, in Plant Virology. Printer House India. 1985;1:1–132.
24. Hoa VD, Rasco FT, Zaag PV. Effect of primary infection of PVY on potato. Asian pot J. 1991;2(1):31–35.
25. Hossain M, Ali MS. Effect of Potato virus Y severities on virus concentration, dilution end point and potato yield. Bangladesh. J Plant Pathol. 1992;8(1–2):27–29.
26. Rahman MS. Studies on the performance of seed potato produced by BADC against PVY and PLRV. Thesis of PhD in Plant Path. Bangladesh: BSMRAU; 2007. 0242 p.