Foliar plant defense elicitors to reduce Potato virus Y in potato crops

Overview

This research investigates whether foliar applications of commercially available plant defense elicitors can reduce Potato virus Y (PVY) infection and disease severity in potato plants prior to inoculation by viruliferous aphids. PVY is one of the most economically damaging viruses affecting potato production worldwide, and current management relies heavily on insecticide-based aphid control. By activating the plant's own nonspecific defense responses, elicitor treatments may provide an additional, complementary tool to reduce virus incidence in commercial potato fields.

Technical specifications

• Target pathogen: Potato virus Y (PVY), an aphid-vectored virus of major economic importance in potato
• Approach: Foliar application of plant defense elicitors prior to inoculation with viruliferous aphids
• Tested elicitors: Commercially available products including Requiem and Aliette, compared against a non-treated check and an insecticide-treated standard
• Experimental design: Randomized complete block design in a greenhouse, with ten bird cherry-oat aphids (Rhopalosiphum padi) per plant used for inoculation seven days after foliar treatment
• Sample size: Ten test plants per treatment, with the full experiment conducted at least twice
• Assessment: PVY incidence measured by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and analyzed by Analysis of Variance
• Scientific basis: Plant defense responses to elicitors are generally nonspecific, so induction of general defenses may provide cross-protection against viral infection; crop oils have shown related efficacy in ongoing field studies

Technology readiness level

This work is at an early validation stage. Prior laboratory studies have shown that plant defense elicitors can protect potato from PVY, but the current project is the first known evaluation of currently available commercial formulations in this context. Greenhouse validation is underway, with future steps likely needed to confirm field efficacy, optimize application timing and rates, and integrate elicitor-based strategies with existing PVY and aphid management programs before commercial deployment.