Potato spindle tuber viroid is not present in the Aegean region of Turkey
Approximately 10 % of the total potato production in Turkey (estimated as 200.000 ha) is located in the Aegean Region. The presence of potato spindle tuber viroid (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) has previously been reported by EPPO in Turkey (based on answers given to questionnaires sent in 1986 and 1988 on the geographical distribution of quarantine pests), but it is now stressed that no scientific report of its presence in commercial potato crops in Turkey has been published. A survey was carried out in seed potato fields in the Aegean region. 150 samples of seed tubers (with 2/3 tubers per sample) were collected at random from the following provinces: Balikesir, Izmir, Ktahya, Manisa, Mugla, Usak. Detection was performed by using a biotinylated DNA probe specific to PSTVd, developed by CIP in Peru, which is much more sensitive than electrophoresis. All tested samples were found free from PSTVd. EPPO is currently trying to obtain more information on the status of this disease in Turkey.
Sources
€i‡ek, Y.; Querci, M. (1994) Studies on the incidence of the potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) in the seed potato production areas in Aegean region of Trkiye.
Paper presented at the 9th Congress of the Mediterranean Phytopathological Union.