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Detection of Seedborne Plant Viruses Using Serologically Specific Electron Microscopy. R. H. Brlansky, Plant pathologist, Department of Plant Pathology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, Present address of senior author: Department of Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717; K. S. Derrick, associate professor, Department of Plant Pathology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. Phytopathology 69:96-100. Accepted for publication 24 July 1978. Copyright 1979 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-69-96.

Serologically specific electron microscopy (SSEM) was used to detect and identify virus particles in crude extracts of seeds infected with tobacco ringspot virus (TRSV), barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV), lettuce mosaic virus (LMV), and soybean mosaic virus (SMV). The seeds were halves and one half was assayed for virus using SSEM. The remaining seed halves were combined with healthy seed material in mixtures of 1:10, 1:100, 1:1,000, and 1:10,000 (w/w) and also were assayed using SSEM. Virus particles were detected in half seeds in assays using specific antiserum. Particles of TRSV, BSMV, and SMV were detected in one part of infected seed extract per 1,000 parts of healthy seed extract; LMV was detected in one part of infected seed extract per 100 parts of healthy seed extract.