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WPC is pleased to continue its webinar series and is extremely pleased to have Dr. Alex Karasev present “Potato Viruses: An Update”.

ABSTRACT

Viruses affect potato in two ways, by reducing yield of marketable tubers, and sometimes also by reducing the quality of tubers. Because potato is cultivated as a vegetatively propagated crop, viruses represent a serious threat to a profitable potato production, in constant need of attention and control. In this presentation, an overview of main viruses affecting potato will be presented, with an overall emphasis on some viruses associated with tuber damage.

Alexander V. Karasev, Ph.D., Professor, Plant Virology, University of Idaho

Dr. Karasev received his Ph.D. in Virology from Moscow State University, Russia. After moving to the U.S. in 1992, he worked on plant virus problems in California, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Since joining the University of Idaho in 2006, Dr. Karasev has developed a research program in plant virology focused on viruses of potato in the Pacific Northwest. A major emphasis of this research is on potato virus Y (PVY), a main virus affecting the potato industry. Dr. Karasev’s research over the past 14 years focused on understanding interactions between plant viruses and their hosts, and how resistance genes are driving virus evolution. His current efforts are focused on identification of new sources of resistance to PVY and other potato viruses. He teaches the Plant Virology course at the University of Idaho, and is active in the American Phytopathological Society where he is currently an Editor-in-Chief of the largest society’s journal, Plant Disease.

The host for the webinar series will be WPC Director, Dr. Nora Olsen (norao@uidaho.edu). To register in advance for this webinar on April 14, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time go to:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gGUg3QghSBKquhKdUnWIIA

Following registration, you will receive a confirmation email which contains information about joining the webinar.