Temperature and CO Level Influence Infection in .

We determined the effects of atmospheric temperature (10-30 ± 2°C in 5°C increments) and carbon dioxide (CO) levels (400 ± 50 ppm, 540 ± 50 ppm, and 940 ± 50 ppm) on the infection of cv. Chubaek by (PLRV). Below CO levels of 400 ± 50 ppm, the PLRV infection rate and RNA content in plant tissues increased as the temperature increased to 20 ± 2°C, but declined at higher temperatures. At high CO levels (940 ± 50 ppm), more plants were infected by PLRV at 30 ± 2°C than at 20 or 25 ± 2°C, whereas PLRV RNA content was unchanged in the 20-30 ± 2°C temperature range. The effects of atmospheric CO concentration on the acquisition of PLRV by and accumulation of PLRV RNA in plant tissues were investigated using a growth chamber at 20 ± 2°C. The PLRV RNA content slightly increased at elevated CO levels (940 ± 50 ppm), but this increase was not statistically significant. Transmission rates of PLRV by increased as CO concentration increased. More PLRV RNA accumulated in potato plants maintained at 540 or 940 ± 50 ppm CO, than in plants maintained at 400 ± 50 ppm. This is the first evidence of greater PLRV RNA accumulation and larger numbers of plants infected by PLRV under conditions of combined high CO levels (940 ± 50 ppm) and high temperature (30 ± 2°C).