The Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid (PSTVd) was the first viroid to be identified, and the natural hosts for this viroid are potatoes and tomatoes. Potato spindle tuber disease has been found in the United States, Canada, Russia and South Africa, and it is one of the most destructive diseases of potatoes. PSTVd is a small (359 nucleotide), circular, single-stranded RNA molecule closely related to the Chrysanthemum stunt viroid. The viroid attacks all varieties of potato, is known to spread rapidly and often occurs in combination with virus diseases. Symptoms of PSTVd infection range from mild to severe, with severe infections resulting in colour change in the foliage, smaller leaves, spindle like elongation, and a slower rate of sprouting.

There are 2 kits available for the detection of PSTVd:

For research use only and NOT intended for in vitro diagnostics.