1-5 IAN Potato virus

 Potato virus Y (PVY) is a plant pathogenic virus and one of the most important plant viruses affecting potato production.

PVY infection of potato plants results in a variety of symptoms depending on the viral strain. The mildest of these symptoms is production loss, but the most detrimental is 'potato tuber necrotic ringspot disease' (PTNRD). Necrotic ringspots render potatoes unmarketable and can therefore result in a significant loss of income. PVY is transmissible by aphid vectors but may also remain dormant in seed potatoes. This means that using the same line of potato for production of seed potatoes for several consecutive generations will lead to a progressive increase in viral load and subsequent loss of crop. An increase in potato plant infection with viruses over the past few years has led to considerable losses to the international potato industry.

That’s Dr. Phil Nolte, University of Idaho Extension seed potato specialist at Idaho Falls who is co-chairman of this year's University of Idaho Extension Potato Conference Jan. 19-20 at Pocatello. It will include a PVY symposium that will help growers learn how to better manage this virus.