The research was carried out, in the period 2002-2004 in order to determine
the presence and distribution of potato viruses at 12 different locations and
on 9 different potato varieties grown in Montenegro. The research included
collecting of samples in seed potato crops and testing of six economically
important potato viruses: Potato leaf roll virus (PLRV), Potato virus Y
(PVY), Potato virus X (PVX), Potato virus S (PVS), Potato virus A (PVA) i
Potato virus M (PVM). Using the direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
(DAS-ELISA) and commercial antisera specific for six potato viruses, it was
found that PVY was the most frequent virus during the three-year research
period. The second frequent virus was PVS, followed by PVA, PLRV, PVM and
PVX. Single and mixed infections were detected, and the most prevalent were
the single infections of PVY. Also, in the period 2002-2004, PVY had the
highest distribution and the number of present viruses was different at
different localities and on different potato varieties. Further
investigations were related to detailed characterization of the most
prevalent virus (PVY), which is at the same time economically the most
important one. Serological characterization of PVY was performed utilizing
DAS-ELISA kit with commercial monoclonal antibodies specific for detection of
the three strain groups of PVY, and the two strain groups - necrotic
(PVYN/PVYNTN) and common (PVYO), were identified. Necrotic strains were
prevalent in 2002 and 2004, while in 2003 PVYO was the most frequent strain
in virus population. The presence of stipple streak strain (PVYC) was not
detected in any of the tested samples.