New way to detect geminiviruses in sweetpotatoes

Several viruses cause important diseases in sweetpotato, and one of them is Sweet potato leaf curl virus (SPLCV), a geminivirus. To prevent introduction of viral pathogens during the importation of germplasm, sweetpotato materials imported into the United States have to be tested by the Plant Germplasm Quarantine Office of the United States Department of Agriculture — Agricultural Research Service.

A new method is sensitive and reliable, and is completed in 2 days instead of 3 months. The method has a broad detection range, and can detect not only SPLCV but also other geminiviruses. Moreover, it could be used year round.