Evaluation of some therapies and meristem culture to eliminate Potato Y potyvirus from infected potato plants

Meristems (length 100, 200, 300 mu m) were excised from infected Potato plants of Binella and Burren cultivars and cultured on solidified MS medium containing 30 gl(-1) sucrose, 5 mgl(-1) Ascorbic acid, 5 mgl(-1) Pyridoxine, 5 mgl(-1) Nicotinic acid, 5 mgl(-1) Thiamine, 200 mgl(-1) Inositole, 2 mgl(-1) GA3, and 0.2 mgl(-1) kinetin. Virus status of in vitro plantlets was determined by double antibody sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA). Results showed that the highest rate of virus-free plants was obtained by using explants 100 mu m in length. The rate of PVY elimination was improved after treatment by thermotherapy at approximately 37+/-1 degrees C for 40 days, (81%) in Binella and (75%) in Burren. Chemotherapy was undertaken with (10-20-30) mgl(-1) of ribavirin (RBV), The highest percentage of virus free plantlets 87% in Binella and 82% in Burren were obtained from the ribavirin's concentration (20 mgl(-1)) combined with meristem-tips (100 mu m) in length. Severe growth abnormalities were observed on medium containing high concentration of RBV (30 mgl(-1)). Finally, the highest percentage virus free plantlets of PVY (93% in Binella and 87% in Burren) were obtained from meristem-tips 100 mu m in length excised after electric treatments (15 mA/10 min).