Photosynthetic pigments in potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L.) cv. Igor after primary infection with potato virus Y-NTN

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of potato virus Y-NTN On photosynthetic pigments of the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cv. Igor grow n in soil. Photosynthetic pigments were analysed in the shoots of infected, mock-inoculated, and healthy (PVYNTN-free) control potato plants. The comp osition and amounts of photosynthetic pigments were studied 24 hours and 5 days after inoculation, before visible symptoms appeared. Pigments were sep arated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and identified by t heir light absorbance characteristics, hypsochromic shifts and retention ti mes. Compared to the control, a decrease of photosynthetic pigments was det ected 5 days after inoculation. The changes were more pronounced in infecte d than in mock-inoculated plants.