Characterization of cucumber mosaic virus isolate infecting Gladiolus cultivars and comparative evaluation of serological and molecular methods for sensitive diagnosis

Abstract

Severe mosaic, leaf stripe and colour-breaking symptoms were observed in five gladiolus cultivars. The causal agent of the disease was identified as an isolate of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) on the basis of aphid transmission in a non-persistent manner, presence of 28-29 nm isometric particles, 26 kDa coat protein subunits, four species of RNA and serological relationship with a CMV strain. The serological (ELISA, ISEM, WBA) and molecular (RT-PCR and Southern hybridization) methods were evaluated for the sensitive detection of CMV in gladiolus leaf and corms. Among them, RT-PCR followed by Southern hybridization test was found to be the most sensitive system for reliable detection of CMV from both the tissues of gladiolus.