Journal of General Plant Pathology (2014) 80, 176-183

Kensaku Maejima, Misako Himeno, Osamu Netsu, Kazuya Ishikawa, Tetsuya Yoshida, Naoko Fujita, Masayoshi Hashimoto, Ken Komatsu, Yasuyuki Yamaji and Shigetou Namba (2014)
Development of an on-site Plum pox virus detection kit based on immunochromatography
Journal of General Plant Pathology 80 (2), 176-183
Abstract: Sharka disease, caused by plum pox virus (PPV), is the most serious viral disease of stone fruit trees. Among the eight known strains of the virus, PPV-D is the most important due to its recent global spread. Although enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is the most common approach for diagnosing sharka, it involves time-consuming steps and requires expensive equipment and trained technicians. In this study, an on-site PPV detection kit based on immunochromatography was developed using polyclonal antibodies against the coat protein (CP) of a PPV-D isolate. The immunochromatographic (IC) assay kit was as sensitive as a commercial ELISA system for detecting Japanese PPV-D isolates. Moreover, it was easy to use (a one-step procedure), and results could be obtained on-site within 15 min without special laboratory equipment. The IC assay kit detected the virus from every aerial part of symptomatic Japanese apricot trees. In a detailed study of viral localization in leaves, the most suitable plant parts for use in the IC assay were symptomatic mesophyll tissues and the region from the petiole to the main vein. A positive reaction was also observed using the CP of other major (PPV-M and PPV-Rec) and minor (PPV-EA, PPV-W, and PPV-T) strains.
(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): Shigetou Namba

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.
	Plum pox virus	Apricot (Prunus armeniaca)	Japan