Articles
TOWARDS A RELIABLE DETECTION OF ALSTROEMERIA MOSAIC VIRUS
Of these, Alstroemeria mosaic virus (AIMV) is the most frequently occurring.
A double antibody sandwich (DAS)-ELISA with a polyclonal antiserum has been used in the Netherlands for several years to detect AIMV. An erratic distribution of the virus in the plant could lead to false-negative results.
In this study we have tried to establish whether such results occurred and whether the DAS-ELISA needed improvement.
Immunosorbent electron microscopy (ISEM) was compared with ELISA to examine its threshold absorbance and reliability.
It appeared that the virus distribution in plants can be erratic, and therefore samples for large-scale testing should comprise leaves from different shoots of a plant although lower leaves should not be used.
ISEM-studies revealed the presence of other potyviruses in Alstroemeria plants with or without flower colour breaking.
In all investigated plants with these symptoms a potyvirus was present, which was usually accompanied by AIMV.
In the course of the investigations, AIMV could easily be transferred with sap of diseased plants and – although somewhat slower – through contaminated razor blades to four of the five cultivars tested.
The four susceptible cultivars varied in their reaction upon inoculation regarding infection rate, incubation time and symptom expression.
Leaves of infected plants often showed mosaic and striping.
Seed transmission was not observed.
Transmission trials with aphids were not conclusive.
Pruning and cutting of plants most probably is the main cause of virus transmission.