Potato tuber spindle disease

Definition

Potato tuber spindle disease is a plant disease caused by a viroid, which affects potatoes leading to spindle-shaped tubers. It results in significant yield loss and quality degradation in affected crops.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Potato tuber spindle disease is caused by the Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid (PSTVd).
2. Viroids are infectious agents composed solely of a short strand of circular RNA without any protein coat.
3. PSTVd can be transmitted through infected seeds, mechanical means, and vegetative propagation.
4. Symptoms include elongated, spindle-shaped tubers, stunted growth, and chlorosis in potato plants.
5. Control measures include using certified virus-free planting material and implementing strict sanitation practices.

Related terms

Viroid:

A small circular RNA molecule that infects plants and does not encode proteins.

Virusoid:

A subviral agent similar to viroids but requires a helper virus for replication.

Prion:

An infectious protein particle that lacks nucleic acids and causes neurodegenerative diseases.