Articles
DETECTION OF MYCOPLASMALIKE ORGANISMS IN GLADIOLUS USING MICROSCOPY AND DNA-PROBES
Article number
325_101
Pages
703 – 708
Language
Abstract
Mycoplasmalike organism (MLO) diseases present a serious problem for the production of some Gladiolus cultivars in Italy.
MLOs induce yellowing, axillary bud proliferation, stunting of the plant; virescence, malformation and twisting of the floral spike; necrosis of the roots.
In some cases, during storage, the infected corms start to sprout, producing 2–3 or more buds (‘germes fines’). The presence of MLOs in the phloem of infected gladiolus has been determined using electron microscopy and optical fluorescent microscopy with DAPI. Due to the increase in MLO-induced damage to gladiolus production over the past decade, it is important to have reliable diagnostic methods to control large quantities of samples in order to prevent further spreading of the disease.
To achieve rapid and sensitive diagnosis, biotechnological methods were applied.
Dot-hybridization, using a cloned-DNA probe in a nonradioactive system, was shown to be a sensitive and relatively rapid technique to determine MLO presence not only in the DNA extracts from plants but also from infected corms.
MLOs induce yellowing, axillary bud proliferation, stunting of the plant; virescence, malformation and twisting of the floral spike; necrosis of the roots.
In some cases, during storage, the infected corms start to sprout, producing 2–3 or more buds (‘germes fines’). The presence of MLOs in the phloem of infected gladiolus has been determined using electron microscopy and optical fluorescent microscopy with DAPI. Due to the increase in MLO-induced damage to gladiolus production over the past decade, it is important to have reliable diagnostic methods to control large quantities of samples in order to prevent further spreading of the disease.
To achieve rapid and sensitive diagnosis, biotechnological methods were applied.
Dot-hybridization, using a cloned-DNA probe in a nonradioactive system, was shown to be a sensitive and relatively rapid technique to determine MLO presence not only in the DNA extracts from plants but also from infected corms.
Publication
Authors
A. Bertaccini, M.G. Bellardi, M. Vibio, I.M. Lee, R.E. Davis
Keywords
Online Articles (132)