Incursion of Potato spindle tuber viroid in potato breeding material in the Netherlands
The NPPO of the Netherlands recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of a finding of Potato spindle tuber viroid (Pospiviroid, PSTVd – EPPO A2 List) in breeding material of potato (Solanum tuberosum) at an in vitro propagation company. In March 2014, the presence of PSTVd was confirmed in in vitro plantlets of one potato accession line. This breeding company was subjected to systematic official controls which are part of the official surveillance system of the Netherlands for safeguarding the entire potato production chain against PSTVd. The possible origin of this finding remains unclear and thus far, no direct links have been identified with any commercially available potato cultivar. It is the first time since more than 30 years that PSTVd has been detected in potato in the Netherlands. During the 1970s and 1980s, several accession lines had been found positive in potato collections throughout the world (see EPPO RS no.381 of 1974). Following these findings, measures were taken and successfully eradicated PSTVd. Since the beginning of the 1980s, an official annual PSTVd testing scheme has been put into place for all candidate potato material in the Netherlands (as well as all pre-basic nuclear stock over a 3 year-period). For this purpose, more than 3 000 tests are performed every year. In addition, each parent plant of in vitro propagated potato material is tested for PSTVd. In order to prevent any further spread, phytosanitary measures have been applied to all potato breeding material at the company concerned.
The pest status of Potato spindle tuber viroid (on potato) in the Netherlands is officially declared as: Incidental finding in potato (Solanum tuberosum) at a breeding company. Under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of the Netherlands (2014-03).