Can Cryopreservation Eliminate the Potato Virus X (PVX) and Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid (PSTVd) ?

Abstract

Virus diseases seriously endanger the potato production, which are the major factor causing yield loss and quality decline of potato. The potato virus X (PVX) and potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) are the most important of potato virus against the potato production. This research attempted to remove the PSTVd and PVX in potato plantlets by using to cryopreservation method and conventional methods (apical meristem culture, thermotherapy and thermotherapy combined with apical meristem culture). The results showed that the survival rate and regeneration rate of potato shoot tips were 83.64% and 72.04%, respectively, treated by cryopreservation approach, being higher than that treated by the apical meristem culture (46.67% and 31.49%), thermotherapy (72.22% and 44.44%) and thermotherapy combined with apical meristem culture (50.54% and 30.38%). Using four methods could remove the PVX, the detoxification effect of the cryopreservation method had the highest rate of 59.13%, followed by thermotherapy combined with apical meristem culture with the rate of 56.02%, and then thermotherapy and apical meristem culture with the rates of 42.61% and 35.83%, respectively, whereas the using four methods to remove the PSTVd were in failure, it suggested that the best controlling PSTVd would be effective through strict quarantine.