A Streamlined and Cost-Effective Sample Preparation Method for Efficient PSTVd Screening in Potato

Abstract

Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) represents a significant threat to global potato production, necessitating robust and scalable detection methods for effective disease management in breeding programs and seed production. While quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) offers high sensitivity and throughput for PSTVd detection, the associated nucleic acid extraction procedures are often costly and labor-intensive, creating barriers to widespread, routine screening. This study describes the adaptation and validation of a rapid and cost-effective nucleic acid extraction protocol for efficient PSTVd detection in potato leaf tissue. When integrated with an RT-qPCR and melt curve assay, this simplified extraction method enables efficient and accurate viroid detection. This optimized workflow significantly reduces the financial and logistical hurdles of molecular diagnostics, thereby facilitating higher-throughput screening and more accessible surveillance of PSTVd. This advancement supports improved disease control strategies and contributes to the long-term security and sustainability of potato cultivation.