VIEW ARTICLE

Techniques

Immunosorbent Electron Microscopy for Detecting Apple Chlorotic Leaf Spot and Plum Pox Viruses. C. Kerlan, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Centre de Recherches de Bordeaux, Station de Pathologie végétale, 33140 Pont de la Maye, France; B. Mille(2) and J. Dunez(3). (2)(3)Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Centre de Recherches de Bordeaux, Station de Pathologie végétale, 33140 Pont de la Maye, France. Phytopathology 71:400-404. Accepted for publication 10 September 1980. Copyright 1981 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-71-400.

Plum pox virus (PPV) and apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (CLSV) were detected in extracts of leaves of infected trees by immunosorbent electron microscopy (ISEM). Attachment of virus particles to antiserum-coated electron microscope grids provided a test as sensitive as the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Confirmation of the identity of the bound particles was obtained by coating further with homologous antibody followed by sheep antirabbit immunoglobulins which increases the sensitivity and facilitates the interpretation of the test. These results confirm the usefulness of ISEM for detecting several viruses and indicate its potential as a rapid and reliable alternative to ELISA for the detection of PPV and CLSV.