Use of non-radioactive probes to detect viruses transmitted by insects
1) A dot blot hybridization system using digoxigenin-labelled probes and colorimetric visualization has been developed in USA for the detection of several viruses transmitted by insects. The following viruses could be detected with this method: squash leaf curl geminivirus (EU Annex I/A1), beet curly top geminivirus (EPPO A2 quarantine pest), zucchini yellow mosaic potyvirus, lettuce infectious yellows closterovirus (EU Annex I/A1) and beet yellows closterovirus. Although this method is less sensitive than radioactive dot blot hybridization, the authors felt that it could be used for routine testing in small diagnostic laboratories.
2) In Lebanon, a non-radioactive DNA probe (digoxigenin-labelled) has been developed for the detection of tomato yellow leaf curl geminivirus (EPPO A2 quarantine pest). This method is sensitive and reliable and can be used either in dot blots or tissue blots.
Sources
Harper, K.; Creamer, R. (1995) Hybridization detection of insect-transmitted plant viruses with digoxigenin-labelled probes.
Plant Disease, 79(6), 563-567.
Abou Jawdah, Y.; Shebaro W.A.; Soubra, K.H. (1995) Detection of tomato yellow leaf curl geminivirus (TYLCV) by a digoxigenin-labelled DNA probe.
Phytopathologia mediterranea, 34(1), 52-57.