Summary
Latent mosaic caused by virus X is harbored more generally than any other virus disease by most of the old and some of the new potato varieties. This disease is harbored by some varieties without producing symptoms, whereas in other varieties it appears as a typical mosaic.
Latent mosaic is caused by several strains of virus X, which are distinguished by the severity of the host reaction. In addition to causing more severe foliage symptoms, the stronger virus X strains depress the yield more than the weak strain.
It is shown that latent mosaic reduces the yield by 9 to 22 per cent, that the yield is depressed more in some varieties than in others, and that annual losses amounting to millions of bushels result from this disease.
Control measures are indicated involving propagation of seed potatoes on isolated fields, protective inoculation with a weak strain of the virus and the development of varieties immune from latent mosaic.
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Bald, J. G., and Norris, D. O. 1940. The effect of the latent virus (virus X) on the yield of potatoes. Jour. Coun. Sci. Indus. Res. Aust. 8(4): 252–254.
Bonde, Reiner, Schultz, E. S., and Raleigh, W. P. 1943. Rate of spread and effect on yield of potato virus diseases. Maine Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 421.
Folsom, Donald, Schultz, E. S., and Bonde, Reiner. 1926. Potato degeneration diseases: Natural spread and effect upon yield. Maine Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 331.
Schultz, E. S., Clark, C. F., Stevenson, F. J., and Raleigh, W. P. 1937. Resistance of potato to latent mosaic. Amer. Potato Jour. 14(4): 124–127.
Scott, R. J. 1941. The effects of mosaic diseases on potatoes. Scot. Jour. Agr. 23(3): 258–264.
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Schultz, E.S., Bonde, R. The effect of latent mosaic (virus x) on yield of potatoes in maine. American Potato Journal 21, 278–283 (1944). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02855903
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02855903