European Journal of Plant Pathology (2004) 110, 883-891

Judith Hübschen, Lilo Kling, Ulrike Ipach, Volker Zinkernagel, Derek Brown and Roy Neilson (2004)
Development and validation of species-specific primers that provide a molecular diagnostic for virus-vector longidorid nematodes and related species in German viticulture
European Journal of Plant Pathology 110 (9), 883-891
Abstract: The nematode species Longidorus attenuatus, L. elongatus, L. macrosoma and Paralongidorus maximus are economically important pests to the viticulture industry due to their ability to vector two nepoviruses (Raspberry Ringspot Virus and Tomato Black Ring Virus) to grapevines. In Germany, these species occur in vineyard soil with other non-vector but morphologically similar longidorid species, L. helveticus, L.[blank]profundorum and L. sturhani. Species-specific primers were designed from ribosomal DNA for all seven species to facilitate taxonomic identification for non-specialists. Primers were assessed for their reliability by screening, where possible, a number of populations of each species. Furthermore, their selectivity and sensitivity were determined when challenged with closely related longidorid species and general nematode communities typical of vineyard soil. A multiplex approach using a common forward primer combined with species-specific reverse primers enabled three target nematode species to be detected in the same PCR reaction. All primers were highly specific, detecting all nematode developmental forms from disparate populations and were sufficiently sensitive to detect a single target nematode within a whole nematode community typical of a vineyard soil comprising of a range of non-target species. Given their specificity, sensitivity and reliability, these diagnostic primers should be of great benefit to both phytosanitary/quarantine services related to the viticulture industry and also as a decision management tool for growers.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Derek J.F. Brown, Roy Neilson, Ulrike Ipach

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
identification/taxonomy
surveys/sampling/distribution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Longidorus elongatus	Grapevine (Vitis)	Germany
	Longidorus profundorum		Germany
	Longidorus macrosoma	Grapevine (Vitis)	Germany
	Paralongidorus maximus	Grapevine (Vitis)	Germany
	Longidorus sturhani		Germany
	Longidorus attenuatus	Grapevine (Vitis)	Germany