IMPROVEMENT OF APPROACHES TO ELIMINATION OF VIRUSES IN POTATOES USING IN VITRO CULTURE

Abstract

Background. Potatoes are considered to be easily susceptible to infections, including viral diseases, which is one of the reasons for the decrease in yield. To date, the only ways to obtain and reproduce healthy potato material are technologies based on meristem-tissue cultures. Purpose. The aim of this study was to improve approaches to the release of potato from viral infection using in vitro culture. Materials and methods. The objects were tubers, microplants and microtubers of six cultivars of potato affected by PVS, PVA, PVM, PVX and PVY viruses in various combinations. Viruses were eliminated from plant material by thermotherapy at a temperature of 38.0±0.5°C. Depending on the cultivar and object, the exposure was 10-25 days. Results. The study showed that the use of potato microtubers as an object for thermotherapy makes it possible to release plant material from viruses in 25.0-50.0% of cases, depending on the pathogen. The advantage of this virus eradication scheme is, firstly, in the increase in the regenerative capacity of explants up to 32.9% due to the exclusion of the sterilization stage after thermotherapy and the absence of apical meristem culture as an additional method of sanitation. Secondly, the efficiency of the release of plant material from viruses increases due to a longer exposure to high temperature up to 25 days. Conclusion. The use of this approach made it possible to eliminate not only individual viruses, but also their complex, for example, PVA + PVX, PVM + PVX, PVX + PVS, PVM + PVX + PVS.

Keywords

• potato
• solanum tuberosum l.
• in vitro
• phytopathogens
• potato viruses
• health improvement
• thermotherapy
• potato microtubers
• virus-free plants