First report of sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus in Hungary
The NPPO of Hungary recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first finding of sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (Crinivirus, SPCSV, EU Annexes) on its territory. The virus was identified during a scientific survey (Kiemo et al., 2022a). In summer 2020, 62 symptomatic and 38 asymptomatic sweet potato vines (Ipomoea batatas) were randomly collected in farmers’ fields in the south (Ásotthalom, Szeged) and central (Galgahévíz) parts of Hungary and transplanted into an insect-proof greenhouse. Six of the plants expressed SPCSV-like symptoms, including stunting, vein clearing and leaf purpling. The presence of SPCSV was confirmed in four plants in July 2020 and reported to the NPPO in November 2021. The plants had been sampled in a field in Ásotthalom. The identification could not be confirmed by the NPPO as all the sweet potatoes grown in the infested field had been destroyed (by feeding to animals) before the virus was reported to the NPPO. Investigations are conducted to identify the source of the outbreak.
The pest status of sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus in Hungary is officially declared as: Present.
It may be noted that in another article, Kiemo et al. (2022b) report the presence of the following viruses from sweet potatoes grown in Hungary (often in mixed infections): SPCSV, sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV), sweet potato virus 2 (SPV2), sweet potato virus C (SPVC), sweet potato virus G (SPVG), sweet potato leaf curl virus (SPLCV), and sweet potato pakakuy virus (SPPV). They note that 30% to 80% of sweet potato plants in the fields showed viral symptoms and support the implementation of a certification scheme for virus-free propagation material.
Sources
NPPO of Hungary (2022-01).
Kiemo FW, Tóth Z, Salamon P, Szabó Z (2022a) First report of sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus infecting sweet potatoes in Hungary. Plant Disease (early view). https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-05-21-0944-PDN
Kiemo FW, Salamon P, Jewehan A, Tóth Z, Szabó Z (2022b) Detection and elimination of viruses infecting sweet potatoes in Hungary. Plant Pathology (early view). https://doi.org/10.1111/ppa.13519