Articles
ELIMINATION OF RASPBERRY BUSHY DWARF VIRUS
Article number
385_8
Pages
70 – 75
Language
Abstract
For almost 20 years various attempts have been made to eliminate raspberry bushy dwarf virus (RBDV) from infected Rubus material.
Up to now there are only few reports on successful elimination by heat therapy.
Our own trials have failed so far.
Therefore, meristem culture was applied to Rubus cultivars from which other Rubus viruses had been eliminated by heat treatment.
For meristem culture usually apical meristems with 2-4 leaf primordia (0.2 to 0.4 mm) were excised.
But even from material of this small size RBDV could not be eliminated.
Addition of antiviral substances to the culture media resulted in severe damage of the plant tissue.
Therefore, we applied in vitro culture techniques to very small apical meristems (0.1 mm). These were established and propagated in vitro. Meristems (0.1 to 0.2 mm) were excised from these plantlets, established and propagated.
This procedure was repeated three times.
Finally there were only two shoots which were free from RBDV according to serological tests (ELISA). These two shoots were propagated, rooted and eventually planted in the field.
First fruit set was low, no crumbly fruits could be observed.
Also RBDV could not be detected by ELISA. These experiments are being continued.
Up to now there are only few reports on successful elimination by heat therapy.
Our own trials have failed so far.
Therefore, meristem culture was applied to Rubus cultivars from which other Rubus viruses had been eliminated by heat treatment.
For meristem culture usually apical meristems with 2-4 leaf primordia (0.2 to 0.4 mm) were excised.
But even from material of this small size RBDV could not be eliminated.
Addition of antiviral substances to the culture media resulted in severe damage of the plant tissue.
Therefore, we applied in vitro culture techniques to very small apical meristems (0.1 mm). These were established and propagated in vitro. Meristems (0.1 to 0.2 mm) were excised from these plantlets, established and propagated.
This procedure was repeated three times.
Finally there were only two shoots which were free from RBDV according to serological tests (ELISA). These two shoots were propagated, rooted and eventually planted in the field.
First fruit set was low, no crumbly fruits could be observed.
Also RBDV could not be detected by ELISA. These experiments are being continued.
Authors
C. Lankes
Keywords
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