SAES-422 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report
Sections
Status: Approved
Basic Information
- Project No. and Title: WERA89 : Potato Virus and Virus-Like Disease Management
- Period Covered: 03/13/2025 to 03/20/2026
- Date of Report: 04/28/2026
- Annual Meeting Dates: 03/10/2026 to 03/11/2026
Participants
First name Last name Affiliation Chakradhar Mattupalli Washington State University Jaime Wilbur Michigan State University Mohamad Chikh-Ali Colorado State University Brooke Babler Wisconsin Seed Potato Certification Program Josie Spurgeon Wisconsin Seed Potato Certification Program Kevin Gallenberg Wisconsin Seed Potato Certification Program Alexander Karasev University of Idaho Jonathan Whitworth USDA-ARS Debi Groth-Helms Agdia Inc. Heidi Falzon Agdia Inc. Andrew Houser Colorado Potato Certification Service Michelle Leckler Colorado Potato Certification Service Teresa Almeida Colorado Potato Certification Service Jenn Dillinger Potato Certification Association of Nebraska Mark Pavek Washington State University Hannah Johnson Washington State University Jacob Meeuwsen Washington State University Shashi Yellareddygari Washington State Potato Commission Rachel Johnston Montana Seed Potato Certification Program Aritra Roy Choudhury Montana Seed Potato Certification Program Jacob Schow Montana Seed Potato Certification Program Kasia Duellman University of Idaho Robert Alvarez-Quinto University of Minnesota Kylie Swisher Grimm USDA-ARS Cahya Prihatna Montana State University Alan Westra Idaho Crop Improvement Association Julie Pasche North Dakota State University Lisa Piche North Dakota State University Nora Olsen University of Idaho Max Feldman USDA-ARS Walter De Jong Cornell University Erik Wenninger University of Idaho Zoom attendees: Adam Winchester, Ana Cristina Fulladolsa, Benita Matheson, Clarie Schloemer, Cole Lubinski, Damen Kurzer, Eric Byre, Hanu Pappu, Joseph Coombs, Ken Frost, Kutay Ozturk, Melanie Filiatrault, Paul Collins, Presley Mosher, Russell Groves, Sagar Sathuvalli, Jaebum Park, Mio Sato-Cruz, Kiwamu Tanaka, Maria Isabel Vales, Caroline Gray, Claire Schloemer, Vamsi Nalam, Gina Angelella, Dallas Dominguez, Chris McIntosh, Ronald French, Meihua Cui
Accomplishments
Accomplishments
- WERA89 provided a platform to discuss ongoing research needs for planning a new multistate specialty crop research initiative that is focused on the management of potato virus Y, potato mop top virus, and tobacco rattle virus.
- There is growing support from the industry to integrate direct tuber testing into seed potato certification programs for detection of PVY. This change in practice was based on the research conducted by state certification agencies from different states including Wisconsin, Maine, North Dakota, and Colorado.
- Over the years, several potato breeding programs in the U.S. have incorporated parental lines with R genes to increase PVY resistance in the progeny. Both Castle Russet and Eva were found resistant to several PVY strains.
- Potato mop top virus and tobacco rattle virus continue to challenge growers’ operations, but promising research is ongoing to identify management strategies both from cultural and plant breeding perspectives.
Impacts
- WERA89 continues to provide a strong multistate regional framework for university researchers from multiple disciplines including plant pathologists, breeders, economists, entomologists, diagnosticians, USDA-ARS scientists, state seed certification agencies, industry partners, and stakeholders to meet and exchange new research-based knowledge on necrotic viruses, brainstorm on current virus issues of concern to the potato industry, and generate novel ideas for developing grant proposals and multistate collaborations to further strengthen the U.S. potato industry.
Grants, Contracts & Other Resources Obtained
Publications
Peer reviewed publications:
Arjarquah, A. K., Singh, J., Zitnick-Anderson, K., Pandey, B., Mallik, I., Gill, U., and Pasche, J. S. 2025. Unraveling a genome of Spongospora subterranea from North America. American Journal of Potato Research 102:220-231. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-025-09988-4
Chikh-Ali, M., Daniel, J., Usman Aslam, H.M., Agindotan, B. and Charkowski, A., 2025. Development of a duplex immunocapture reverse-transcription quantitative PCR for large-scale detection of potato mop-top virus in dormant potato tubers. Plant Disease 109:1354-1358. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-11-24-2288-RE
Cooper, W. R., Ohler, B., Wenninger, E. J., Dahan, J., Karasev, A. V., Jensen, A. S., Wohleb, C. H., Waters, T., Kenney, J. R., Mauck, K. E., and Horton, D. R. 2025. Bactericera aculipennis (Hemiptera: Triozidae) is a vector of “Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum” to species within the Convolvulaceae (Solanales). Environmental Entomology 54:1271–1281. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvaf088
Gelles, N. A., Olsen, N., Thornton, M. K., Hendricks, R. L., and Karasev, A. V. 2025. Influence of mother seed tuber size on yield and incidence of seedborne potato virus Y. American Journal of Potato Research 102:609-616. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-025-10019-5
Hu, S., Graebner, R., Quick, R., Anglin, N. L., Swisher Grimm, K. D., Feldman, M., Hofferbert, H.-R., and Sathuvalli, V. 2025. Developing molecular markers linked to corky ringspot resistance in Solanum tuberosum. Potato Research 68:4931-4949.
Ingram, J. T., Mudrak, E. L., Tran, L., Curtis, M., Mattupalli, C., Gudmestad, N. C., Charkowski, A. O., Groves, R. L., Babler, B. N., Whitworth, J. L., Frost, K. E., Brown, C. R., Karasev, A. V., Gray, S. M., and Filiatrault, M. J. 2026. A robust potato tuber tissue collection method to investigate potato virus Y, potato mop-top virus, and tobacco rattle virus localization patterns. Plant Disease 110:174-186. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-11-24-2453-RE
Ingram, J. T., Mattupalli, C., Mudrak, E. L., Curtis, M., O’Neill, P., Davenport, B., Gudmestad, N. C., Charkowski, A. O., Groves, R. L., Babler, B. N., Whitworth, J. L., Frost, K. E., Karasev, A. V., Gray, S. M., and Filiatrault, M. J. 2025. Multi-year evaluations of an FTA card-based detection protocol for four vector borne viruses affecting potato. Plant Disease 109:2362-2373. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-11-24-2454-RE
Khan, M. A. U., Gnanasekaran, P., Sathuvalli, V., and Pappu, H. R. 2025. Replication and movement of in vitro-generated infectious RNAs of potato mop-top virus RNAs in two mechanically inoculated potato cultivars. Phytofrontiers 6:199-203. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-07-25-0067-SC
Extension bulletin:
Whitworth, J., Lent. M., Olsen, N., Karasev, A., and Duellman, K. 2025. Necrotic potato tuber symptoms caused by strains of Potato virus Y. University of Idaho Extension, BUL 1086.
Trade publications:
Pasche, J, Karasev, A., and Olsen, N. 2025. Potato virus initiative zeroes in on PMTV, potato virus Y. Potato Grower Magazine. September 2025. 54(9):34-35.
Karasev, A. and N. Olsen. 2025. Breeding for broad resistance to PVY. Potato Country Magazine. May/June 2025 41:8-9.
Abstracts
Olsen, N. and J. Miller. 2025. Navigating the disease landscape of russet potato variety susceptibility. American Journal of Potato Research. 102:536.
Yadav, S., Zitnick-Anderson, K., and Pasche, J.S. 2026. Towards a streamlined approach to whole genome sequencing of Spongospora subterranea f. sp. subterranea. (Abstr.) American Journal of Potato Research. In press
Zitnick-Anderson, K. Mallik, I. Selstedt, R.A. Pandey, B. Gudmestad, N.C. Pasche, J.S. 2026. Unraveling the intricate spatial distribution and association between Spongospora subterranea f. sp. subterranea and Potato mop-top virus in potato fields. (Abstr.) American Journal of Potato Research. In press.
Presentations:
Duellman, K. 2026. Is there a place for biologicals in potato disease management programs? Western Washington Potato Workshop, Mount Vernon WA, 20 February 2026.
Duellman, K. 2026. Southeast Idaho aphid monitoring network. (In: Pest Monitoring) Idaho Potato Conference, Pocatello Idaho, 22 January 2026.
Duellman, Wharton, Miller. 2026. Biologicals: Promise and risk. Idaho Potato Conference, Pocatello Idaho, 22 January 2026.
Wharton et al. 2026. Powdery scab and PMTV: Where next? – Panel member. Idaho Potato Conference, Pocatello Idaho, 21 January 2026.
Duellman, K. 2026. Does cutting seed increase PVY incidence? (In: Mythbusting) Idaho Potato Conference, Pocatello Idaho, 21 January 2026.
Duellman, Westra, Olsen. 2026. Seed Certification: what do the numbers mean? Idaho Potato Conference, Pocatello Idaho, 21 January 2026.
Duellman, K. and Karki, D. 2026. In-Season movement of Potato virus Y and other updates from the seed potato extension and research program. Idaho Crop Improvement Association Seed Potato Seminar, Pocatello Idaho, 20 January 2026.
Duellman, K., and Lent, M. 2025. Seed potato extension and research. Potato Pest Advisory Meeting, Twin Falls Idaho, 5 November 2025.
Duellman, K., Wharton, P., Woodhall, J., Karki, D., Beutler, B., Bertram, M., Mwatuwa, R., Jackson, C., Liang, X., Spackman, J., Hafiz, A., and Hendricks, R. 2025. Aberdeen Potato IPM Field Day. University of Idaho – Aberdeen Research and Extension Center, August 21, 2025.
Duellman, K., Lent, M., Karki, D., Sims, A. 2025. Seed Potato Quality and Pathology Research & Extension program booth. Parma Field Day. University of Idaho - Parma Research and Extension Center, August 14, 2025
Duellman, K. 2025. Research and extension programs from the seed potato team, focusing on timing of in-season potato virus y movement by aphids. University of Idaho Snake River Weed Tour. Aberdeen, Idaho, 24 June2025.
Gnanasekaran, P., Zhai, Y., and Pappu, H. R. 2025. Potato virus Y interferes with carbohydrate metabolism to promote disease development. APS annual meeting, Honolulu, HI. August 2-6, 2025.
Karasev, A., Whitworth, J. 2026. PVY Workshop. Idaho Potato Conference, Pocatello, ID. Jan. 22, 2026.
Olsen, N., Duellman, K., and Westra, A. 2026. Seed potato certification and sampling- what do the numbers mean for Potato Virus Y? Idaho Potato Conference. Pocatello, ID, January 21, 2026.
Olsen, N. 2026. Our recent research experience with PVY. Idaho Seed Potato Grower’s Seminar. Pocatello, ID, January 20, 2026.
Olsen, N. 2025. A Discussion on Potato Mop Top Virus. Montana Seed Potato Seminar. Missoula, MT. November 12, 2025.
Olsen, N. 2025. Potato Mop Top Virus: a US experience. Field to Storage Forum. Ulverstone, Australia. August 20, 2025.
Olsen, N. and J. Miller. 2025. Navigating the disease landscape of russet Potato Variety Susceptibility. Potato Association of America 109th Annual Meeting. Madison, WI. July 28, 2025.
Pappu, H.R. 2025. A Tale of Two Viruses: Potato virus Y and Potato mop-top virus. Invited seminar delivered in Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID. September 8, 2025.
Swisher Grimm, K.D. 2026. Improving our understanding of Tobacco rattle virus. AgriNorthwest Research Meeting. Plymouth, WA. February 2026.
Swisher Grimm, K.D. 2025. Improving our understanding of Tobacco rattle virus. Hermiston Farm Fair. Hermiston, OR. December 2025.
Swisher Grimm, K.D., Quick, R., Pettit, S., Castaneda, R., and Cimrhakl, L. 2025. Tobacco rattle virus and stubby root nematode research at USDA, Prosser. Washington State University Potato Field Day. Othello, WA. June 2025.
Wharton, P., Duellman, K., Miller, J., Woodhall, J., Karasev, A., and Whitworth, J. Powdery scab and PMTV, panel with. Idaho Potato Conference, Pocatello, ID. Jan. 21, 2026
Whitworth, J. 2026. Aberdeen Breeding Program and Planned Variety Releases. Washington/Oregon Potato Conference, Kennewick, WA. Feb 27, 2026.
Whitworth. J. 2026. Understanding PVY in potato. International Crop Expo, Grand Forks, ND. Feb. 18, 2026.
Whitworth, J. 2026. Tuber necrotic viruses. International Crop Expo, Grand Forks, ND. Feb. 18, 2026.
Whitworth, J. L. The rise of Ry markers in potato breeding programs. Potato Assoc. of America annual meeting, Madison, WI. July 29, 2025.