[Detection of ten viruses by the tissue-blot immunoassay (TBIA)]

Abstract

Sensitive detection of ten legume viruses was obtained by using the tissue-bolt immunoassay (TBIA). Phloem limited viruses such as bean leaf roll luteovirus (BLRV) and faba bean necrotic yellows virus (FBNYV); and viruses which generally invade systemically all plant tissues such as alfalfa mosaic alfamovirus (AMV), cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (CMV), broad bean mottle bromovirus (BBMV), broad bean wilt fabavirus (BBWV), pea seed-borne mosaic potyvirus (PSbMV), bean yellow mosaic potyvirus (BYMV), broad bean stain comovirus (BBSV) and broad bean true mosaic comovirus (BBTMV) were all easily detected by this method. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies were used in the tests and both proved useful in producing visible reaction. TBIA was sensitive enough to detect the virus in all parts of the plant and at all growth stages. The test proved to be practical for testing groups of seedlings (5-25) after wrapping them together as one sample. These results suggest that this test can easily employed for the detection of seed-borne viruses after germinating the seeds, and is more practical than regular ELISA. It can be completed in less than four hours without sacrificing sensitivity. It is cheaper and does not require sophisticated facilities.