Elimination by chemotherapy of potato virus S from potato plants grown in vitro

Potato virus S was eliminated from systemically infected stem cuttings of five potato cultivars after three passages in nutrient media containing 0.003 % of the synthetic riboside ribavirin (Virazole). Treatment effects could be detected after only two passages which also revealed differences in cultivar response. Treated plants transferred to ribavirin-free culture media and to soil remained PVS-free. This simple method is less time-consuming than the usual meristem (axillary) tip culture procedures combined with chemotherapy or heat treatment.