Advanced Strategies for Detection and Diagnosis of Potato Viruses: Harnessing Molecular Innovations and Digital Tools for Precision Agriculture
Advanced Strategies for Detection and Diagnosis of Potato Viruses: Harnessing Molecular Innovations and Digital Tools for Precision Agriculture
Mohsin Raza1, Zeshan Hussain2, Fazil Abbas2, Muhammad Atiq Ashraf3, Hadj Henni Imene4 and Talha Riaz5
ABSTRACT
Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) rank fifth in global human consumption and fourth among food crops, surpassing cereals in yield and calorie production. However, potato production faces growing threats from various abiotic factors, pests, and pathogens, including bacteria, nematodes, viruses, viroids, fungi, and phytoplasmas. In Pakistan, significant viral infections, particularly PVY, PMTV, PLRV, PVM, PVS, PVA, and PVX, are of serious concern, with alarmingly high prevalence of PLRV, PVX, and PVY in key potato-growing regions. Effective management of these viral threats is challenging due to the lack of direct chemical controls, underscoring the importance of prevention as the primary strategy. Rapid and precise detection methods are essential for controlling the onset, spread, and progression of potato viruses, which are host-specific and detectable only through transmission electron microscopy. This review highlights various diagnostic techniques for potato viruses, with a focus on emerging molecular diagnostic tools. While traditional methods such as biological indexing, serological testing, and electron microscopy remain crucial for epidemiological research, molecular techniques provide a promising approach to producing virus-free seed potatoes. Implementing robust viral detection strategies will significantly contribute to sustainable agriculture, improve potato health monitoring, and equip researchers with vital tools to combat viral infections. This knowledge is critical for facilitating the safe transfer of potato germplasm globally, in response to increasing concerns from national quarantine agencies.
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