Potato Tuber Necrotic Ringspot Disease (PTNRD)

caused by virus PVY^NTN or PVY^{N Tuber Necrosis}

• Causal agent and transmission

Potato tuber necrotic ringspot disease or PTNRD is mainly caused by particular isolates of PVY, named PVY^NTN, belonging to the PVY^N strain group.

PVY^NTN isolates can be transmitted in the same way as the other PVY strains, by the seed tubers and by numerous aphid species. PTNRD is present in most European countries and is very widespread in areas with warm climates such as Central Europe and the Mediterranean Basin.

• Significance

The economic importance of PTNRD is mainly related to the presence of necrotic symptoms on tubers which may lead to the downgrading or the rejection of the affected lots.

• Determinants of tuber necrosis

Extensive work on the characterization of PVY isolates (PVY^NTN or others) able to cause potato tuber necrosis is being carried out at an international level (PVY wide network ), chiefly for the prupose of identifying the molecular determinants of the necrosis.