Potato virus Y (PVY) and potato leafroll virus (PLRV) are among the most damaging potato viruses and prevalent in most potato growing areas. In this study, cryopreservation was used to eradicate PVY and PLRV using two cryogenic methods. Potato shoot tips proliferated in vitro were cryopreserved through droplet-vitrification and encapsulation-vitrification using plant vitrification solution 2 (PVS2; 30% glycerol + 15% dimethyl sulfoxide + 15.0% ethylene glycol + 13.7% sucrose) and modified PVS2. Both cryogenic procedures produced similar rates of survival and regrowth, which were lower than those from shoot tip culture alone. The health status of plantlets regenerated from shoot tip culture alone and cryopreservation was checked by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The frequency of virus-free plants regenerated directly from highly proliferating shoot tips reached 42.3% and 48.6% for PVY and PLRV, respectively. In comparison, the frequency of PVY and PLRV eradication after cryopreservation was 91.3~99.7% following shoot-tip culture. The highest cryopreserved shoot tip regeneration rate was observed when shoot tips were 1.0~1.5 mm in length, but virus eradication rates were very similar (96.4~99.7%), regardless of shoot tip size. This efficient cryotherapy protocol developed to eliminate viruses can also be used to prepare potato material for safe long-term preservation and the production of virus-free plants.

A series of experiment was carried out to study on the production of disease-free seed potatoes at the Alpine Experiment Station from 1960 to 1968, which initiated a study of comparison on degeneration of plain warm region and high altitude products and the effect of latent potato virus X (PVX) and potato leaf roll virus(PLRV) on degeneration. Particular observations were made on some aspect of the nature of potato virus disease and its control such as concentrations of PVX, range of host plants, physical properties such as concentrations of PYX, range of host plants, physical properties and carrying effect of insects, by investigating 9 different areas of the main potato producing regions (Kimhae, Taegu, Choongju, Taejoen, Suwon, Kwangju, Chonju, Cheju and Chinju). Highly purified anti-serum was separated and tested for control of the virus disease and also various method of prevention and control of PLRV were observed, using cultivation of sprouted seed tubers, early harvesting method, and systemic chemicals. The results obtained are summarized as follows; 1. Potato yield in the plain region decreased by 32.8~66.3% in the first year cultivation of seed potatoes from colder region, and the rate of virus infection was 92.9 to 95.4%. 2. Plants of three families including, 20 species were susceptible to the PVX, and among the plants Salvia officinalis of a habits only was the carrier while the symptom of Digitalis purpurea of Screphulariaceae was masked. Necrosis and ring spot was occurred in most pJants of the Solanaceae and ring spot symptom also was observed in Nicotiana tabacum L. var. White Burley and in N. glutinosa. 3. The 8C2 strain of virus had the following physical properties; thermal inactivation point, 68-72~circC : dilution inactivation point, above 1, 000, 000 dilution: ageing in vitro, 240-360 days: and ageing in dry plant tissue, 30 days. 4. Myzus persicae and Oxya spp. did not transmit the 8C2 strain of potato virus. 5. Virus was purified through the ammonium sulphate isolating method, and higher titer value, 1/2048 was obtained through anti-serum test. 6. Inhibition Chenopodiacae on the virus infection of potato was remarkable, and inhibition of local lesion host also was observed. 7, By earlier planting of sprouted seed tubers, growth period could be prolonged by 10 to 12 days. 8. Earlier harvest decreased much the rate of virus infection of seed potatoes. 9. According to the results of aphid control trial using systemic soil insecticides at Kangnung and Taekwanlyung, PSP 204, Disyston and Thimet was effective to aphid control. In particular, control effect of twice treatments of PSP 204 was great. 10. Treatmental effect of those chemicals lasted about 60-70 days. However, single foliar application of emulsified chemicals was not effective to potato virus control. 11. The effect of PSP 204, Disyston, and Thimet on the control of potato leaf roll virus was great, particularly in the case of two treatments of PSP 204, at Kangnung as well as at Taekwanlyung. Higher negative correlationship between the control effect of potato leaf roll virus and potato yield was observed showing the value r=-0.85 at Kangnung, and r=-0.87 at Taekwanlyung. 12. Differences in the control effects among PSP 204, Disyston, and Thimet was not noticed.