Potato plants are liable to PVY infection without efficient control. Therefore, they were cultivated under greenhouse and open field conditions, artificially infected with PVY and then treated after 15 days of infection with native lactoferrin (LF) and native β-lactoglobulin (BL) and their esterified forms, MLF (methylated lactoferrin) and BLM (methylated β-lactoglobulin) to test the efficiency of this approach. Viral replication was inhibited by the applied substances, particularly the methylated forms, in a concentration-dependent manner, where the concentration of 500 μg·mL−1 was sufficient for plant protection against the PVY infection. An open field experiment showed that one single application of the antiviral substance was enough for maximum inhibitory action against PVY. The modified milk proteins induced higher inhibitory action on PVY virus replication in the plants, compared to their native forms, which was reflected by potato growth and yield. Using the dot blot hybridization and RT-PCR techniques to detect PVY in the experimental plants showed the supremacy of native and esterified LF in inhibiting the targeted virus. The generally observed scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) structural deformations and irregular appearance in PVY particles when treated with MLF and BLM revealed their direct action. BLM, MLF and LF are efficient antiviral agents against PVY. They can not only abolish the observed PVY-induced reduction in potato growth and tuber yield, but also further increase them to higher levels than negative control.
Potato is one of the most important food crops after wheat and rice. The effectiveness of lactoferrin against Potato virus x (PVX) in vitro and in vivo have been evaluated. Four concentrations of lactoferrin 100, 250, 500 and 1000 mg LG 1 were examined either in vitro culture medium or in vivo (greenhouse). The presence of the virus was evaluated by ELISA technique. Data demonstrated that application of 1000 mg LG 1 lactoferrin by spraying or combined with tissue culture proved to be an effective method for PVX-inhibition as compared with other concentrations. Also, results of antiviral activity of lactoferrin at concentration 1000 mg LG 1 showed great potential as phytotherapeutic source to produce quality and health plantlets for rapid and large scale in vitro production. Lactoferrin seemed to be very successful and inexpensive in controlling viral infection through in vitro technique or by spraying the infected and/or healthy plant under greenhouse condition.
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