Detection and molecular characterization of potato virus B (PVB) in Solanum phureja in Antioquia

Papa criolla is one of the most important agricultural products in the Colombian Andean region. Viral diseases, mostly caused by PYVV, PVS, PLRV and PVV, are one of the most limiting factors that constraint the productivity of this crop. In order to gain new knowledge of the S. phureja virome in Colombia, in this study using high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) we present the first report of a natural infection with Potato virus B (PVB) in this country. PVB was detected in leaf samples from different S. phureja plots in Antioquia. Using bioinformatics analysis, it was possible to get the genome assembly of PVB, which comprised two segments of 7.126 nt (RNA1) and 4.298 nt (RNA2) coding for polyproteins P1 and P2. Genome sequences were used to design PVB-specific primers for RT-PCR and RT-qPCR. PVB was found in 35 % of S. phureja samples but was not detected in 20 samples of S. tuberosum var. Diacol-Capiro. The methodology used in this study could be useful in a PVB epidemiology surveillance program in Colombia and other Andean countries.