Potato virus Y induced changes in the gene expression of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

The tuber necrotic strain of Potato virus Y (PVYNTN) causes potato tuber necrotic ringspot disease in sensitive potato cultivars. Gene expression in the disease response of the susceptible potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivar Igor was investigated at different times after infection, using subtractive hybridization, cDNA microarrays and real-time PCR. The most pronounced change in the expression pattern of functionally diverse groups of genes was detected in systemically infected leaves 14 days after inoculation, and in leaves of plants grown from infected tubers. The expression of several stress-related genes during the infection process, including those for heat shock proteins, catalase 1, β-1,3-glucanase, wound inducing gene, and genes involved in photosynthesis, suggests their role in the susceptible potato–PVYNTN interaction.