Detection of potato virus Y infecting potato leaves in Tanah Karo, North Sumatera, Indonesia using Reverse Transcriptase–Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)

Abstract

Accurate identification of plant pathogens is crucial towards developing sustainable control strategies to ensure sustainable economic in agricultural production. The aim of this study was to detect Potato virus Y (PVY) infecting potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in the Tanah Karo district, province of North Sumatera, Indonesia. Potato leaf samples exhibiting virus-like symptoms were collected from twenty different areas in the district. Initial detection of PVY in the leaf samples was done using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction ( RT-PCR) by primers specific to the coat protein gene of PVY. Virus-like symptoms were collected from tewenty samples consisted of vein clearing, faint mosaic patterns, and the vein necrosis. All of potato leaf samples were detected to be infected by PVY. The widespread presence of PVY in Tanah Karo needs serious implications on the management of PVY diseases by small-scale farmers growing potato for a livelihood.