Identification of potivirus present in lulo (Solanum quitoense Lam)

Vaca J.*, Torres I.*, Peñaranda J.**, Aristizábal F.*,***

ABSTRACT

The Solanaceous fruit Sokinum quitoense Lam, is originally from Andean region of South America. This fruit has commercial prospective. The Leaf Yellowing Disease in Lulo (Solanum quitoense Lam) was first described by Zuluaga in 1991. It causes economically losses and has been associated with a virus attack. The disease’s symptoms included stunting, yellow streaking or mosaic patterns in leaves, often with a curling of the leaf margins. In order to diagnostic the presence of virus, we applied two different strategies. The first one consisted of a modified technique of RNA double strand isolation (Monis and Dodds, 1979). The second one consisted on applying RT-PCR system using specific “primers” designed to amplify cDNA fragments spaning the 3’-terminal part of the NIb cistron and the 5’-terminal part of the potivirus CP cistron (Langeveld et al 1991). By applying the modified method of Monis and Dodds, it was possible to observe characteristic bands of double strand RNA. Amplification with “primers” POT1 andPOT2 yielded a fragment of about 1 Kpb, whose length was in agreement with the known sequences of potivirus. Here we report by the first time a potivirus presence in Lulo plants affected with leaf yellowing disease, identified by dsRNA analysis and RT-PCR procedure.

Keywords: Potyivirus, Solanum quitoense Lam, phytopathology, dsRNA, RT-PCR

*Centro Internacional de Física, **, *** 23 Universidad Nacional de Colombia

** Facultad de Medicina y *** Dpto. Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias.