Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection (2008) 115, 97-101

L. Seigner, M. Kappen, C. Huber, M. Kistler and D. Köhler (2008)
First trials for transmission of Potato spindle tuber viroid from ornamental Solanaceae to tomato using RT-PCR and an mRNA based internal positive control for detection
Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection 115 (3), 97-101
Abstract: In 2006 Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd), a quarantine pathogen, was detected in the production of ornamental Solanaceae for the first time. PSTVd does not give rise to symptom development in ornamentals as opposed to tomato and potato where it can cause massive damage and severe economical losses. The major concern is that PSTVd might be spread from solanaceous ornamentals to tomato or potato cultures. To assess the risk of mechanical PSTVd transmission to tomato first trials were carried out under greenhouse conditions using Solanum jasminoides as an infector plant. Moreover the possibility of soil-borne infections was investigated. PSTVd specific RT-PCR was applied as detection method in order to detect even low level infections. To exclude false negative results an nad5 mRNA based internal positive control (IPC), originally developed to improve reliability of virus indexing of apple trees, was successfully incorporated in testing Solanaceae. This IPC not only allows for the control of RNA extraction but also enables to check dependably the performance of the RNA extracted in RT-PCR and the functioning of the RT-PCR itself. In the PSTVd transmission experiments a high danger of spreading PSTVd mechanically from S. jasminoides to tomato plants was found whereas soil-borne infections could not be detected.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Luitgardis Seigner

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
transmission/dispersal of plant diseases
transmission/dispersal of plant diseases

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Potato spindle tuber viroid	Solanum (crop)