The Krasnoyarsk branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Rosselkhozcenter” was approached by the seed farm for the production of seed potatoes of the SHP “Dary Malinovki” with a request to conduct PCR diagnostics of the original potato. In the source material and categories of the original seed potatoes, the presence of plants and tubers affected by a viral and / or bacterial infection is controlled. Control is carried out on the basis of indicators of laboratory testing of leaf and tuber samples by ELISA or PCR in accordance with the requirements established by the GOST 33996-2016 standard. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the most sensitive, accurate and rapid method of molecular diagnostics of phytopathogens, which is based on multiple cyclic doubling of a strictly specific DNA region, limited by short DNA fragments - primers. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis is used to detect potato spindle tuber veroid (PSTV), as well as YVS and PLV viruses, and bacteriosis pathogens (black leg and ring rot) of potatoes in the source material before propagation and at subsequent propagation steps.
In the Krasnoyarsk Territory, there are three seed-growing farms for the production of seed potatoes; accordingly, there is a demand for PCR diagnostics of original potatoes. This method was included in the scope of accreditation by the branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution Rosselkhozcenter in the Krasnoyarsk Territory in August 2022, having successfully demonstrated the analysis of potato minitubers live via videoconferencing. The branch purchased special equipment for PCR diagnostics: these are two laminar boxes "Laminar-S", an ANK-M cycler and other auxiliary equipment manufactured by the Institute for Analytical Instrumentation of the Russian Academy of Sciences. This equipment is included in the state register of measuring instruments FSIS "Arshin" and is fully suitable for accreditation of the testing laboratory. In the future, this equipment is planned to be used for testing for the presence of GMOs. The specialists of the branch have undergone special training in working with new equipment and are ready to accept applications for PCR diagnostics of seed potatoes.