Use of in vitro Cultures of Daphne cneorum L. for the Western Detection of Daphne Virus X
In vitro cultures of Daphne cneorum L. were successfully used as test samples for the detection of the viral coat protein of daphne virus X (DVX) by Western analysis. This powerful serological technique could thus be used where viral antigen concentrations may be very low, such as in the early screening of in vitro-cultured “heat therapy” tips from virus elimination programs. Western analysis was conducted on randomly selected D. cneorum plants from a commercial nursery and on in vitro cultures from a commercial micropropagation lab. All the plants and cultures tested were DVX-infected, supporting the view that this ornamental shrub may be universally infected with DVX.Abstract
Contributor Notes
This research was conducted at the request of the British Columbia Nursery Trades Association.
2Visiting Scholar from Xiamen Animal and Plant Quarantine Service, People's Republic of China.
3Tissue Culture/Virology Technician.
4Virology/Electron Microscopy Technician.
5Research Scientist. To whom correspondence should be addressed.