Introduction to 2009 International Symposium on Potato Virus Y

Potato virus Y (PVY) is one of the most, if not the most, economically important viruses of potato. This virus occurs worldwide wherever the crop is grown. Infections with PVY reduce both yield and quality of the potato crop. The virus occurs as numerous biological strains that differ in pathogenicity on potato and tobacco and vary considerably in their serological and molecular genetic characteristics. The purpose of this symposium is to provide up-to-date information on the characteristics of this important virus, details of its genetic make-up and variability, research efforts in North America, and Europe, and an outline of the workings of a potato virus seed certification effort.