RT-PCR test to detect tomato spotted wilt tospovirus
A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test has been developed in United Kingdom to detect tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (potential EPPO A2 quarantine pest) and improved by the use of an immunocapture stage (for the initial extraction process of the viral RNA) and a colorimetric estimation (by using digoxigenin-labelled nucleotide). Authors felt that this colorimetric assay offers a new, convenient and sensitive test for the detection of tomato spotted wilt tospovirus in infected plant tissues. It can be used on large numbers of samples and the results can be read and recorded with the same equipment as for ELISA. Although it is slightly more laborious and costly than ELISA, it can constitute a very useful complement. Finally, by using 'universal primers' this method can be adapted to detect tospoviruses in general.
Sources
Weekes, R.; Barker, I.; Wood, K.R. (1996) An RT-PCR test for the detection of tomato spotted wilt tospovirus incorporating immunocapture and colorimetric estimation.
Journal of Phytopathology, 144(11-12), 575-580.