Weed Hosts of Paratrichodorus allius and Tobacco Rattle Virus in the Pacific Northwest

The ability of several weed species to serve as hosts for tobacco rattle virus (TKV), the causal agent of corky ringspot disease of potato (CRS), and its nematode vector,Paratrichodorus allius, was investigated in greenhouse studies. ViruliferousP. allius multiplied on 24 out of 37 weed species tested, indicating they were suitable hosts of the vector. However, only 11 of these weeds were infected with TRV, as determined by ELISA. The nonhost status of a given weed species was not changed whether the viruliferous vector population originated from CRS problem fields in WA, OR, or ID. Several weeds served as hosts for the vector and virus including kochia, prickly lettuce, henbit, nightshade species (black, hairy, and cutleaf), common chickweed, and annual sowthistle. Virus-freeP. allius acquired TRV from the three nightshade species, volunteer potato grown from TRV-infected tubers, and prickly lettuce, and subsequently transmitted the virus to ‘Samsun NN’ tobacco indicator plants. Thus, some weeds may play a role in the epidemiology of CRS by perpetuating TRV and its vector in a problem field.