Review on the Occurrence and Studies of Potato Viral Diseases in Korea

The occurrence of potato(Sotanum tuberosum) viral diseases caused by Potato virus X(PVX), Potato virus Y (PVY), Potato leafroll virus(PLRV), Potato vims S(PVS), Potato virus M(PVM), Potato virus A(PVA), Potato virus T(PVT), Alfalfa mosic virus(AIMV), Tobacco mosic virus(TMV), Potato mop top virus(PMTV) Tobacco rattle virus(TRV) and Potato spindle tuber viroid(PSTVd), potato witches' broom phytoplasma, have been identified so far in Korea. Major viral diseases such as PVX, PVY and PLRV had been studied more deeply, however, the others are just identified and only partially characterized since the first study on the relation between PVX nucleic acid and virus protein by Kim in 1961. The most studies on potato viral diseases are mainly focused on the problems of seed potato production. The National Alpine Agricultural Experiment Station(NAAES), since it began its activities in 1961, has given special attention to this problem by doing studies to identify, characterize and control potato virus diseases. This effort resulted in the development of new potato virus detection methods as a basis for elaborating new method of control, such as the production of seed potato free of virus and the selection of new virus-resistant transgenic potatoes. The further studies of potato viral diseases required would be fallowings: the continuous monitoring for the occurrence of identified or not identified potato viruses in Korea, the isolation of resistant viral genes, the development of control method for the non-persistently transmitted viruses like PVY, special vectors such as nematode and fungus transmitted viruses, TRV and PMTV and the development of control methods against potato viral diseases by viral cross protection, therapy, transgenic plant, and the use of the agents or molecules, such as virus inhibitors and antiviral proteins, etc., blocking viral replication.