ISHS Acta Horticulturae 193: XIII International Symposium on Fruit Tree Virus Diseases
SEROLOGICAL COMPARISONS AMONG MYCOPLASMA-ASSOCIATED ANTIGENS FROM EXPERIMENTALLY-INFECTED PLANTS |
| Authors: | M.F. Clark, D.L. Davies, D.J. Barbara, P.G. Markham |
| Abstract:
Among the plant mollicutes only the spiroplasmas have successfully been cultured in vitro, enabling the production of highly specific antisera for their serological detection and identification. For the non-cultivable mycoplasma-like organisms (MLO) detection and identification is usually dependent on comparisons of host range and of symptom expression and, where possible, by determining vector relations. However, recent reports have described the production of antisera to plant-derived, mycoplasma-associated antigens (MLO-antigens) for several of the non-cultivable mycoplasmas (Sinha, 1979; Clark et al, 1983; Sinha, 1983; Sinha and Benhamou, 1983; Sinha and Chiykowski, 1984). We have attempted to partially purify MLO-antigens from Vinca rosea plants infected with various MLOs, and to use these preparations to develop specific antisera suitable for use in F(ab')2-based ELISA tests (Barbara and Clark, 1982). Several of the MLOs proved amenable to this approach and specific antisera were successfully produced against, and used to differentiate among, MLO-antigens of clover phyllody (strawberry green petal), European aster yellows, solanum big bud and primula yellows, as well as of plant-derived Spiroplasma citri. Attempts to produce antisera to other MLO-antigens have not yet been successful, e.g. several isolates of American aster yellows MLO and tomato big bud MLO. We describe the preparation of antisera to MLO-antigens partially purified from experimentally-infected plants, and some aspects of their use in F(ab')2-based indirect ELISA tests. These antisera have enabled an assessment of the feasibility of identifying and discriminating among MLOs or groups of MLOs by immunoassay. | |
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