Comparative Immunoassays of Bean Common Mosaic Virus in Individual Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Seed and Bulked Bean Seed Samples. R. E. Klein, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-6430. S. D. Wyatt, W. J. Kaiser, and G. I. Mink. Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-6430; Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Regional Plant Introduction Station, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-6402; and Irrigated Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Washington State University, Prosser 99350. Plant Dis. 76:57-59. Accepted for publication 19 July 1991. Copyright 1992 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-76-0057.

Indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a monoclonal antibody (MAb) or polyclonal antiserum (PC) and dot immunoassay using a MAb were compared for the detection of bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) in seed of Phaseolus from the U.S. Department of Agriculture germ plasm collection. A small portion of seed coat, testa, and cotyledon was removed from each of 270 seeds and tested for BCMV in each of the three assays. The seeds were then planted and the resultant seedlings were tested for BCMV by ELISA:MAb. ELISA:MAb proved to be the most accurate technique for BCMV detection in individual seed. Further tests by ELISA:MAb on 1,350 seeds indicated that an effective ELISA threshold could not be established because of erratic virus distribution in the individual seed parts. An indirect ELISA using six samples of flour prepared from eight seeds each per seed lot was developed to predictively estimate the incidence of BCMV-infected seedlings in germ plasm accessions.