Induction of gene silencing of NIb gene region of Potato virus Y by dsRNAs and siRNAs and reduction of infection in potato plants cultivar Djeli

Potato virus Y (PVY) is the reason for significant losses in the potato crop yearly. The recent technologies in molecular biology have given insights on possibilities for control of viral infections at epigenetic level. In the present study, we obtained a DNA template complementary to a key sequence at the NIb genetic region of PVY. Potato leaves were inoculated with dsRNAs and siRNAs complementary to NIb 48 h before inoculation with PVY strain N/NTN. The treated plants did not develop any signs of disease. Double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) of the plants treated with Nib-dsRNAs showed optical density values commensurate to the cut-off value. The Nib-siRNAs obtained in this study were twice as effective, with DAS-ELISA values which were below the cut-off and similar to the values of the healthy plants. Inducing posttranscriptional gene silencing in crops presents a promising utility for control of virus diseases and for prevention of crop losses, being non-inheritable, non-toxic and adaptable to a specific crop.