Poster: Diseases of Plants: Disease Detection & Diagnosis
533-P
Development of conventional and Real-time RT-PCR assays for Strawberry necrotic shock virus
T. THEKKE VEETIL (1), T. Ho (2), V. Whitaker (3), I. Tzanetakis (2) (1) Uniersity of Arkansas, U.S.A.; (2) University of Arkansas, U.S.A.; (3) University of Florida, U.S.A.
Strawberry necrotic shock virus (SNSV) is one of the several viruses reported in strawberry and Rubus as a component of viral complexes that cause plant decline. Highly sensitive conventional and real-time RT-PCR detection assays were developed; able to detect all sequenced isolates of the virus. Primers and probes were designed from conserved regions of the virus coat protein gene and reactions were optimized to ensure both specificity and sensitivity. Comparison between the two assays revealed an at-least 100-fold higher sensitivity for the latter. Both tests were successfully validated using samples collected from several areas in the United States as well as a collection of isolates from around the world. These assays could be integrated into virus screening programs in certification, nursery or commercial field settings in both strawberry and Rubus.