Deteccion molecular del agente causal del sindrome 'bola de hilo' de la papa en semillas infectadas y asintomaticas

Economic losses due to the potato diseases caused by phytoplasmas are of considerable value in Mexico (up to 100% in some cases). 'Punta morada' and 'bola de hilo' (local names meaning 'purple top' and 'ball of twine', respectively) are the main syndromes observed in the field. The latter is one of particular interest among potato seed producers because it affects tuber germination when infected tubers are used as seed. Because phytoplasmas cannot be cultured in vitro and their detection by visual inspection, by serological methods or by electron microscopy is inefficient and performed late during disease development, disease eradication is an impossible task. In this report, PCR was used as a new tool to detect early or latent phytoplasma infections in symptomless potato 'seeds', which will eventually produce 'hair sprouts'.