New techniques for the detecton of harmful organisms and benefits from their use to assess the health condition of plant material
1999
Santos, M.S. | Louro, D. | Serra, C. | Cruz, L. | Duarte, T. | Gomes, M.J. | Amaro, P. | Corvo, L. | Henriques, L. (Direccao-Geral de Proteccao das Culturas, Lisboa (Portugal))
Until the begining of the present decade the Portuguese Plant Protection Services (DGPC) used 'classic' and immunological methods for the detection of phytopathogens in plant material. The former included isolation and morphologic characterisation on general or semi-selective media, physiologic and biochemical parameters and the use of bacteriophages and indicator plants. In the latter, methods included IF, ELISA, ODD and ISEM. More recently, protein electroforesis, tissue printing immunoassay and biomolecular techniques have beenstudied. All are useful tools but the biomolecular techniques have shown to be very sensitive, specific, reliable and rapid and easy to use. Techniques including molecular hybridization, PCR, RAPD, RFLP, IC-PCR and ICRT/PCR are now used routinely or are being introduced for the detection of phytopathogenic phytoplasmas, bacteria, fungi and viruses. The routine use of such techniques, when complemented by others, has proved very useful in evaluating health status of plant propagating materials produced in Portugal and in monitoring quarantine organisms. THey are used also to detect and identify harmful pathogens in plant material circulating within the European Union or from third countries, and prevent their introducion and/or dissemination in Portuguese territory
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