INCIDENCE AND SEVERITY OF MAJOR POTATO VIRUSES IN SELECTED NORTHERN REGIONS OF BANGLADESH AND MOLECULAR DETECTION THROUGH RT-PCR

Abstract

In the survey study, incidence and severity of major potato viruses were demonstrated in the selected northern regions of Bangladesh. A lab experiment was also conducted for molecular detection of PLRV. The lab experiment was conducted in Molecular Biology and Plant Virology Laboratory under the Department of Plant Pathology, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka1207 during January-February

2020. The survey study was conducted in three selected districts of the northern region viz. Bogura, Jaipurhat and Gaibandha. During the survey study, diseased samples were collected randomly and nonrandomly.

In total 270 leaf samples of potato were collected from the selected districts. Among the diseased sample 131 samples were infected with virus and virus like symptoms where PLRV+ve 72 samples, PVY+ve 52 samples and PVX+ve 7 samples. From the disease incidence and severity study on the basis of visual observation, it was revealed that PLRV was the most observed, predominant and devastating potato virus in all the selected districts and PVY also came in concern. Bogura was found to be the most infected region with PLRV (disease incidence 30.67% and severity 25.67%). For molecular detection of PLRV, in total 27 samples were considered from each spot and total RNA was extracted from the samples. Total RNA was then being subjected to cDNA synthesis. PLRV was confirmed through RT-PCR at 346bp fragments. Farmers were interested to grow the hybrid varieties for better production in the selected districts. BADC, cold storage and home storage were used as a source of seed tuber. From the study, it may be concluded that PLRV, PVY and PVX are found in all the selected districts. Among the identified potato viruses PLRV was common and appeared with severe outbreak. For detection of PLRV, RT-PCR was the most reliable, highly specific and robust molecular technique.