Molecular Determination of Some Important Viruses Causing Infection in Potato Fields in Turkey

Potato is one of the most important agricultural crops worldwide and known to be susceptible to more than 40 viruses in nature. In this research, 298 leaf samples collected from potato fields in Afyon, Nevşehir and Bolu provinces in the previous study were used to determine viruses affecting potato production in the region. The leaves of potato plants showing virus symptoms were subjected to RT-PCR using virus-specific primers, in order to detect the presence of Potato leafroll virus (PLRV), Potato virus A (PVA), Potato virus X (PVX) and Potato virus M (PVM). As a result of the study,one or more viruses were detected in 46 (15.43%) of the 298 leaf samples tested. A total of 43 samples infected with PLRV (14.42%) and 3 sample infected with PVX (1.%). It was determined that the most common virus in plant samples collected from Afyon, Nevşehir and Bolu Central regions was PLRV followed by PVX. PVA and PVM were not detected in the samples. The sequences of some positive isolates of PLRV were obtained and used along with the isolates registered in the GenBank to reveal phylogenetic relationships among them. PLRV isolates from Turkey were classified in Group 2 along with isolates from Serbia, Canada, and Pakistan based on phylogenetic analyses.