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Potato Virus Y


Potato Virus Y (PVY) is in the Potyviridae family and is one of the most damaging potato viruses. Different strains of PVY can cause a range of symptoms, from a mild mosaic to severe foliar necrosis. The most virulent strain PVY-NTN causes inter-veinal mosaic on the foliage and distinctive ringed necrotic areas on the tuber. PVY can be transmitted both mechanically (foliar contact or tuber-to-tuber contact) and via aphids.

The NIAB tests for PVY can be performed on either foliage or tubers.
One uses the ELISA technique (Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) and takes either 3 days (foliage) or 28-42 days (tuber). For customers requiring a rapid service on tubers we have a molecular diagnostic test, which uses Real-time PCR (Polymerase Chain reaction) and takes 5 days. The rapid service also tests for the presence of PLRV.