Dwyer speaks with BDN about insect, virus affecting potato industry
Jim Dwyer, a crops specialist with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, was quoted in the Bangor Daily News article, “Insect, virus harangue potato industry, stymie scientists.” Dwyer spoke about aphids and the diseases they carry, including potato virus Y. Over the last decade in Europe, the traditional strain of potato virus Y (PVY-O) “has been completely displaced” with mutated variants, Dwyer said. “It’s all been taken over by the necrotic strains, PVY-NTN and PVY-NO,” which are “more vigorous and more fit.” These strains don’t show symptoms in the potato plant leaves, which is how field scientists traditionally have identified infections, according to the article. “If you can’t see it, how do you manage it?” Dwyer asked. With the new strains, he said there is a movement in the state to go toward laboratory tests for seed potato certification to have a more accurate view of the viruses present, the article states.