First Report of Recombinant Potato virus Y Strains Infecting Potato in Jordan

Area of Science:

• Plant Pathology
• Virology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a key crop in Jordan, second only to olives.
• Potato virus Y (PVY) is a global threat, with recombinant strains causing tuber necrotic ringspot disease (PTNRD).
• PVY^NTN-NW, a recombinant PVY strain, has been identified in Syria, causing severe PTNRD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the occurrence of PVY strains in symptomatic potato plants in Jordan.
• To identify specific PVY recombinant strains, particularly PVY^NTN-NW, in the Jordanian potato crop.

Main Methods:

• Collection of symptomatic potato leaf samples from Wadi Rum, Jordan.
• Detection of PVY using DAS-ELISA.
• Confirmation and strain identification via uniplex RT-PCR with strain-specific primers.
• Sequencing of PCR amplicons for precise identification and comparison with existing databases.

Main Results:

• Twenty-nine out of 33 samples tested positive for PVY by ELISA.
• RT-PCR and sequencing identified PVY^NTN-NW (genotypes SYR-III and SYR-II), PVY^NTN (A and B), and mixed infections.
• This marks the first report of PVY recombinants in Jordan and PVY^NTN-NW outside Syria.
• Sequences showed high identity (99-100%) to Syrian PVY isolates.

Conclusions:

• PVY^NTN-NW and other recombinant strains are present in the Jordanian potato crop.
• The introduction of PVY^NTN-NW to the region may be linked to infected seed potato imports from Europe.
• This discovery presents new challenges for potato cultivation in Jordan and surrounding regions.