Abstract:
The ability of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect and serotype prunus necrotic ringspot virus in various tissues and at various times through the growing season was assessed for several rosaceous hosts of this virus.
In all the hosts studied (apple, cherry, plum and rose) flowers and flower parts, except rose sepals, were good sources of antigen.
Strains of the ‘C’ (cherry) serotype were generally more readily detectable in leaf samples in spring than later and in autumn more readily than in midsummer, though some isolates were most easily detected in autumn.
Strains of the ‘A’ (apple mosaic) serotype were best detected in spring and many were undetectable later in the season.
Dormant buds were also good sources but results with fruit, seed and bark were too variable to be of value in routine testing.
|