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Preservation of Plant Virus Antigens by Freeze-Drying. D. E. Purcifull, Plant Virus Laboratory, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611; S. R. Christie(2), and D. L. Batchelor(3). (2)(3)Plant Virus Laboratory, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611. Phytopathology 65:1202-1205. Accepted for publication 13 May 1975. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-65-1202.

Serological activities of 13 plant viruses were retained for extended periods in freeze-dried crude extracts from infected plants. Prior to use in immunodiffusion tests, the extracts containing rod-shaped viruses were suspended either in 1.5% sodium dodecyl sulfate or other degrading agents, and the isometric viruses were suspended in water. Nine of the viruses were antigenically active after storage for at least 1 year, and the others were active for the longest storage period tested (at least 1 month). The viruses used included six in the potato Y group, three in the potato X group, tobacco mosaic virus, and three isometric viruses (brome mosaic virus and two strains of southern bean mosaic virus). Immunochemical specificities of the freeze-dried antigens of a particular virus were comparable to those of the corresponding virus in freshly prepared extracts, based on tests with pepper mottle, potato X, potato Y, southern bean mosaic, and tobacco etch viruses. The freeze-drying technique has proved convenient for maintaining a collection of plant virus antigens for immunodiffusion tests.