Abstract
Virus survey was conducted in Syria during the period from 2002 to 2004. Samples were collected from potato fields and a market of table potatoes. Potato virus Y (PVY), Potato leafroll virus (PLRV), Potato virus S (PVS) and Potato virus X (PVX) were checked using several detection methods, such as reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and direct tissue blotting assay (DTBA) . Among these viruses, only PVY was detected in all the samples. These results reveal that PVY is widely occurred on potato in Syria. Therefore, it can be the causal pathogen of the rapid degeneration or “running out” of seed potatoes in Syria.
