Characterization of a new virus infecting potatoes in China
During surveys on viruses of potato (Solanum tuberosum) conducted from August 2009 to November 2012 in 6 Chinese provinces, a new virus species was fortuitously discovered in a potato leaf sample from Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (Neimenggu). This new carlavirus was tentatively called Potato virus H (PVH). The analysis of additional potato leaf samples have showed that PVH could be detected in several samples from Hebei, Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Neimenggu, Xinjiang, and Yunnan; often in mixed infections with other potato viruses (Potato virus X, Potato virus Y, Potato leaf roll virus). These results suggest that PVH is probably widespread in China. Transmission studies have also indicated that PVH is readily transmitted mechanically and occurs in seed tubers. It is noted that when only PVH was present, the expressed symptoms were often latent, or corresponded to a mild leaf curl and mottling on S. tuberosum cv. ‘Shepody’ and on the herbaceous indicator Nicotiana glutinosa. In subsequent studies, the presence of PVH was also detected in symptomless plantlets of Solanum muricatum (pepino) in Beijing. It is concluded that the origin of this new virus, its geographical distribution, epidemiology and impact on potato crops, in particular when occurring with other potato viruses such as PVX and PLRV, still need to be clarified.
Sources
Abouelnasr H, Li YY, ;Zhang ZY, Liu JY, Li SF, Li DW, Yu JL, McBeath JH, Han CG (2014) First report of Potato virus H on Solanum muricatum in China. Plant Disease 98(7), 1016-1016.
Li YY, Zhang RN, Xiang HY, Abouelnasr H, Li DW, Yu JL, McBeath JH, Han CG (2013) Discovery and characterization of a novel Carlavirus infecting potatoes in China. PLoS ONE 8(6), e69255. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0069255