Sweetpotato, (Ipomoea batatas L.), is a vegetatively propagated crop. Due to the cycles of propagation, viruses are accumulated, which contributes to the decline of sweetpotato yield and quality. Stem cuttings of Abees cultivar were collected from several locations in Egypt and kept under controlled greenhouse conditions. Samples were tested for the presence of sweetpotato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV) infection using dot-ELISA. Infected plants were subjected to thermotherapy by incubation at 42°C/ day and 39°C/ night for 3 weeks followed by meristem tip culturing, then they were allowed to grow in vitro. RT-PCR was carried out to confirm the success of SPFMV elimination. Tissue culture formed plants were tested routinely for successive 2 years using dot-ELISA. 0% infection was reported in the in vitro propagated plants.
Authors: Mervat Ahmed, Mervat Ahmed
Contributors: Administrator, Administrator
Subjects: Virus cleaning and elimination
Pages: 5
Publisher: International Potato Center
Publication Date: 2009
HOW TO CITE
EL FAR, M.M.M. and ASHOUB, A. Biotechnology Applications for Improving Sweetpotato Production.