Abstract—Plant viruses can cause loss of yield and quality in a lot of important crops. Symptoms of pathogens are variable depending on the cultivars and virus strain. Selection of resistant potato varieties would reduce the risk of virus transmission and significant economic impact. Other way to avoid reduced harvest yields is regular potato seed production sampling and testing for viral infection. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence and distribution of viral diseases according potato cultivars for further selection of virus-free material in Georgia. During the summer 2015- 2016, 5 potato cultivars (Sante, Laura, Jelly, Red Sonia, Anushka) at 5 different farms located in Akhalkalaki were tested for 6 different potato viruses: Potato virus A (PVA), Potato virus M (PVM), Potato virus S (PVS), Potato virus X (PVX), Potato virus Y (PVY) and potato leaf roll virus (PLRV). A serological method, Double Antibody Sandwich-Enzyme linked Immunosorbent Assay (DAS- ELISA) was used at the laboratory to analyze the results. The result showed that PVY (21.4%) and PLRV (19.7%) virus presence in collected samples was relatively high compared to others. Researched potato cultivars except Jelly and Laura were infected by PVY with different concentrations. PLRV was found only in three potato cultivars (Sante, Jelly, Red Sonia) and PVM virus (3.12%) was characterized with low prevalence. PVX, PVA and PVS virus infection was not reported. It would be noted that 7.9% of samples were containing PVY/PLRV mix infection. Based on the results it can be concluded that PVY and PLRV infections are dominant in all research cultivars. Therefore significant yield losses are expected. Systematic, long-term control of potato viral infection, especially seed-potatoes, must be regarded as the most important factor to increase seed productivity. Keywords—Diseases, infection, potato, virus. I. INTRODUCTION OTATO is one of the demanded cultivars in Georgia. The mountain regions (Akhalkalaki and Tsalka) of Georgia have the best climatic conditions for potato seed production [1]. High quality seed is directly associated with virus free potato materials. Viral contamination is considered as the main problem in seed potato production system [2]. Potato viruses: PVA, PVM, PVS, PVX, PVY and PLRV are widely spread and can cause significant economic losses (50-80%) [3]. Plant virus transmission can be mechanical through wounds, by a biological intermediary or both depending on the variety [4] Potato virus are transmitted most quickly from mixed-strain infection sources [5]. M. Kukhaleishvili is with the Georgian Technical University, Biotechnology Center, Tbilisi, 0175, Georgia (corresponding author, phone: +995577796542 e-mail: maia.kukh@gmail.com). E. Bulauri, I. Megrelishvili, T. Chipashvili and T. Shamatava are with the Georgian Technical University, Biotechnology Center, Tbilisi, 0175, Georgia (e-mail: eka.bulauri@yahoo.com; ivetameg@yahoo.com, Tamarsha_12@yahoo.com). PVY is the most severe infection compared to others [6]. PVY can infected family Solanaceae with include wide range of cultivars (tomato, tobacco and etc.), 70 aphids species can transmit PVY infection [7]. PVY is distributed almost in all potato production regions: Iran [8], Spain [9], South Africa [10] etc. virus strain [11], [12]. PLRV/PVY mixed viral infection negatively affect yield depending on the potato variety [13]. Distribution of PVX virus is associated with potato cultivation [14]. PVX is a mechanically transmitted virus [15]. It is considered that harvest losses caused by PVX is the third place after PLRV and PVY and depend on potato cultivars, degree of symptom expression, and environmental conditions etc. [16]. Viral diseases increase during each reproduction because of infected seed material. Also, healthy potato can be infected by several viruses in open filed during a growing season [17]. Production of disease free planting materials has been recognized as the major priority to increase potato production in Georgia. Potato seed imported from abroad are infected in some cases. Absence of certified system of healthy seed production technology in Georgia influenced potato productivity negatively. The main goal of the research was to study the distribution potato viral infection (PVY, PLRV, PVX, PVM, PVS, and PVA) in Georgian region Akhalkalaki for further selection of virus-free propagated material in Georgia. II. MATERIALS AND METHODS A survey was carried out in the potato growing areas in Georgia. 963 symptomatic and asymptomatic leaves and tubers were collected during summer and early autumn in 2015 and 2016 from Georgian region Akhalkalaki. During the same season adult tubers were collected from 186 samples of ‘Sante’, 204 samples of ‘Laura’, 191 of ‘Jelly’, 208 ‘Red Sonia’, 174 ‘Anushka’. The studied varieties have various country of origin: 'Sante ' is Netherlands variety, ‘Laura” is from Austria, country of origin of ‘Jelly’; ‘Red Sonia’ (originated between the selections designated '546/89 L' and 'E 93/477') and ‘Anushka’ (cross-breeding between ‘Leila’ and “Marabel’) are Germany. All varieties were analyzed by DAS- ELISA as reported by Clark and Adams for virus detection [18]. The 6 leaflets in the 3 directions at the height of 2 m above the ground from each sample were collected. The ELISA test was performed by using extracts from young leaves of the collected samples, also tubers and the serological commercial kits purchased from BIOREBA AG (Switzerland) according to Maia Kukhaleishvili, Ekaterine Bulauri, Iveta Megrelishvili, Tamar Shamatava, Tamar Chipashvili Survey of Potato Viral Infection Using Das-Elisa Method in Georgia P World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Bioengineering and Life Sciences Vol:12, No:12, 2018 458 International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 12(12) 2018 Digital Open Science Index, Bioengineering and Life Sciences Vol:12, No:12, 2018 waset.org/Publication/10009850