Phytopathology (1996) 86, p. S63 (Evans et al.)

T.A. Evans, S.L. Soria, S.L. Kitto, R. Rojas and V.D. Damsteegt (1996)
The effect of virus infection on growth, vigor and productivity of marshua (Tropaeolum tuberosum)
Phytopathology 86 (11 suppl.), S63-S63
Abstract: Mashua (Tropaeolum tuberosum) is an Andean tuber important to native peoples as a food crop and for medicinal purposes. It has been vegetatively propagated for hundreds of years and is widely infected by at least one virus, tentatively named Tropaeolum mosaic virus (TropMV), with incidence as high as 90%. The effect of infection by TropMV was tested in vitro and in the field. In in vitro studies, virus-free mashua plants developed significantly greater numbers of shoots and had larger fresh weights than virus-infected explants of the same accession. No differences were detected in the ability of explants to root in vitro, however, plants derived from virus-infected explants grown on rooting media had significantly longer internodes. In the field, virus-free clones sprouted sooner and produced a significantly larger number of sprouts than virus-infected clones. Virus-free clones produced a 3.9 times greater yield than virus-infected clones which often produced distorted tubers. Tissue culture methods have been developed to eliminate virus from mashua and only virus-free material should be used to establish plantings.
Database assignments for author(s): Vernon D. Damsteegt

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
damage/losses/economics

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Tropaeolum mosaic virus	Tropaeolum (genus)