Detection and identification of sweetpotato viruses in North Carolina
C. V. ALMEYDA (1), J. A. Abad (2), Z. Pesic-VanEsbroeck (1). (1) North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, U.S.A.; (2) USDA, APHIS PPQ FO PGQP, Beltsville, MD, U.S.A.
Sweetpotato (<i>Ipomoea batatas</i>) is prone to virus infections due to its vegetative propagation that may result in cultivar decline. The goal of this study was to identify the most prevalent viruses affecting sweetpotato through a preliminary field survey in North Carolina (NC) using biological, serological and molecular detection and identification methods. Susceptible indicator plants (<i>Ipomoea setosa</i>) were evenly distributed in sweetpotato experimental plots at two different locations in NC during the summer of 2012. Naturally infected indicator plants showing virus-like symptoms (n=129) were collected and tested by NCM-ELISA, multiplex PCR, multiplex and quantitative RT-PCR. Single and mixed viral infections were found in 34% and 66% of the samples, respectively; with potyviruses mixed infections being the most common. <i>Sweetpotato feathery mottle virus</i> (SPFMV) was the most frequent followed by <i>Sweetpotato virus G</i> (SPVG), <i>Sweetpotato virus C</i> (SPVC), <i>Sweetpotato leaf curl virus</i> (SPLCV), <i>Sweetpotato chlorotic stunt virus</i> (SPCSV) and <i>Sweetpotato virus 2</i> (SPV2). Sequence analyses of the samples at nucleotide level showed 97 to 100% similarities, suggesting the presence of different strains amongst the detected viruses. This study showed evidence of the wide occurrence of potyviruses and a begomovirus affecting sweetpotatoes in NC. This is the first report of SPVG, SPV2 and SPLCV in NC.
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