7th ICPP: new detection and identification methods
During the 7th International Congress of Plant Pathology (Edinburgh, GB, 1998-08-09/16) several papers were presented on new detection and identification methods, a selection of these is presented below. References only mention the names of the authors and the number of the abstract in the proceedings.
Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus. Several methods have been developed to improve the detection of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) in potato tubers: 1) Bio-PCR combined with an automated fluorescence detection system (Schaad, N.W.; Berthier-Schaad, Y.; Sechler, A.; Knorr, D. - ;3.3.40); 2) Multiplex PCR-based immunodetection system (Mills, D.; Russell, B.W. - ;3.3.42);3) another PCR method has been found suitable for routine analysis of C. michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus in seed potatoes (Karjalainen, R.; Kangasniemi, A.; Heith, M.; Tegel, J.; Kervinen, T. - ;6.117).
Colletotrichum acutatum. A rapid and reliable method (PCR with specific primers) has been developed to detect latent infections of Colletotrichum acutatum (EU Annex II/A2) in strawberry plants. With this method, isolation of the pathogen in pure culture is no longer needed (Grondona, I.; Suarez, M.B.; Martinez-Culebras, P.; Querol, A; Garcia, M.D.; Monte, E. - 3.3.22).
Monilinia laxa, M. fructigena and M. fructicola. A method using total protein profiles has been developed to distinguish between Monilinia laxa, M. fructigena and M. fructicola (EPPO A1 quarantine pest) (Belisario, A.; Corazza, L.; Luongo, L. - ;3.3.71).
Another study has shown that simple and unambiguously defined quantitative characters, such as colony growth rate and mean length of the germ tube can help in differentiating Monilinia laxa, M. fructigena and M. fructicola (van Leeuwen, G.C.M.; van Kesteren, H.A. - ;3.7.56).
Preliminary studies have also demonstrated a good potential of ELISA testing with monoclonal antibodies to detect specifically Monilina fructicola (Hughes, K.J.D.; Banks, J.N.; Rizvi, R.H.; McNaughton, J.; Lane, C.R.; Stevenson, L.; Cook R.T.A. - 6.70).
Phytophthora sojae. A sensitive and reliable detection method for Phytophthora sojae (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) has been developed. This method uses soybean leaf-disc baiting and can be applied routinely for quarantine purposes (Peng, J.; Anderson, T. - 3.3.5).
Tilletia indica. A diagnostic test using improved PCR primers has been developed and can now differentiate between Tilletia indica (EPPO A1 quarantine pest) and the smut isolated from ryegrass in USA. This also supports the view that T. indica and the ryegrass smut are two genetically distinct pathogens (Frederick, R.D.; Tooley, P.W.; Berthier-Schaad, Y.; Peterson, G.L.; Bonde, M.R.; Schaad, N.W. - ;3.3.28).
Sources
Abstracts of papers presented at the 7th International Congress of Plant Pathology, Edinburgh, GB, 1998-08-09/16.