Use of a Monoclonal Antibody to Detect the Stolbur Mycoplasmalike Organism in Plants and Insects and to Identify a Vector in France. A. Fos, Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique et Université de Bordeaux II, Domaine de la Grande Ferrade, B.P. 81–33883 Villenave d’Ornon, France. J. L. Danet, L. Zreik, M. Garnier, and J. M. Bove. Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique et Université de Bordeaux II, Domaine de la Grande Ferrade, B.P. 81–33883 Villenave d’Ornon, France. Plant Dis. 76:1092-1096. Accepted for publication 31 October 1991. This article is in the public domain and not copyrightable. It may be freely reprinted with customary crediting of the source. The American Phytopathological Society, 1992. DOI: 10.1094/PD-76-1092.

A monoclonal antibody (MA 2A10), specific for the mycoplasmalike organism (MLO) associated with tomato stolbur, was used to detect the MLO in plants and insects by double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) and/or immunofluorescence. All solanaceous plants showing stolbur symptoms reacted with the monoclonal antibody; some nonsolanaceous plants, such as celery, strawberry, bindweed, and periwinkle, that were naturally infected with MLOs also reacted with MA 2A10. Eleven hopper species tested positive by DAS-ELISA with MA 2A10. One of these, Hyalesthes obsoletus, reacted frequently and produced high ELISA values; this species transmitted the MLO to periwinkle, tomato, eggplant, and tobacco plants in experimental studies.