Salicylic Acid-Cryotherapy Treatment for Elimination of Potato Virus S from Solanum Tuberosum

Abstract

Potato virus S (PVS) is one of the most difficult viruses to eliminate by thermotherapy due to its thermal deactivation point. Pre-treatment methods involving salicylic acid (SA) have been successfully carried in conjugation with cryogenic methods to reduce oxidative damage and eliminate viruses. In the present investigation, the effect of SA to protect Solanum tuberosum plants infected with PVS from oxidative damage from subsequent cryotherapy was studied. Vulnerable genotypes to cryogenic protocol were selected, with two SA treatments examined. Potato clones were pretreated with SA (0, 10−5, and 10−6 M), plant development was evaluated and then exposed to cryotherapy. This was followed up by a plant development evaluation and virus testing. After the initial treatment with SA, the plants exhibited an increase in the variables evaluated before cryotherapy. After cryotherapy, between 66.6% and 100% of the treated plants were found to be virus-free compared to control plants which exhibited 0% survival. Thus, the SA-cryotherapy treatment combination described appears to enhance plant survival and eliminate PVS from potato plants.