Advances in Molecular Diagnostics and Biosensor Technologies for Potato Virus Y (PVY): Strategic Integration into U.S. Seed Certification and Precision Agriculture Systems

Abstract

Potato virus Y (PVY) is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus in the Potyvirus genus (family Potyviridae). It is still one of the most important viral factors that limit potato production and is one of the main reasons why seed lots are downgraded or rejected in modern certification systems [1,2,3]. Over the last thirty years, the study of PVY epidemiology has changed from the traditional "ordinary" PVYo populations toward genetically complex recombinant lineages (e.g., PVYN-Wi, PVYNTNa, PVYN:O) that are often linked to tuber necrosis phenotypes and are harder to figure out using only old serological typing [1,2,3,4]. This change is happening because PVY has a strong ability to evolve. This is especially true in vegetatively propagated seed systems, where infection can build up over generations and recombinants can spread quickly once they are established [1,2,4]. Even though ELISA and RT-qPCR are still the most important tests for regulatory purposes, they are becoming harder to use because of the need for (i) higher analytical sensitivity in dormant tuber matrices, (ii) better differentiation of recombinant strain groups, and (iii) decentralized testing to speed up the time it takes to make a decision about seed lot certification. New nucleic acid platforms like RT-LAMP, RT-RPA, CRISPR-Cas assays, digital PCR, and high-throughput sequencing (HTS) are making it possible to achieve higher levels of sensitivity, portability, and sequence resolution [6,7,8,9,10,11,12]. At the same time, biosensor technologies like surface plasmon resonance, quartz crystal microbalance, electrochemical nano/graphene sensors, and aptamer-enabled devices are coming together with molecular recognition chemistry to make "sample-to-answer" formats that can be used in the field [13,14,15,16,17]. Adding these diagnostic outputs to precision agriculture tools like IoT dashboards, remote sensing, vector forecasting, and disease risk modeling can help contain problems sooner and make certification actions more defensible [18,19]. This review brings together information about PVY molecular evolution and recombination biology, focusing on what it means for seed certification in the U.S. It then looks at next-generation diagnostic methods through a translational lens, focusing on analytical performance, deployment feasibility, strain resolution, and standardization requirements. It also suggests an integrated surveillance framework that connects advanced detection to certification policy, agricultural biosecurity, and national food system resilience.