After optimization of the membrane-engineering process, the virus detection limit for TMV

and CLRV with the bacteria-based biosensor system was 1 pg/ml, representing a 1000-fold improvement over currently available methods. Although the novel biosensor is still in its proof-of-concept stage of development, its sensitivity and speed (assay time: 60–100 s) could make it a very promising tool for high throughput, field-based virus screening. “
“To clarify the phytoplasma associated with Huanglongbing (HLB), a detection survey of phytoplasma in field citrus trees was performed using the standardized nested PCR assay with primer set P1/16S-Sr and R16F2n/R16R2. The HLB-diseased learn more citrus trees with typical www.selleckchem.com/products/NVP-AUY922.html HLB symptoms showed a high detection of 89.7% (322/359) of HLB-Las, while a low detection of phytoplasma at 1.1% (4/359) was examined in an HLB-affected Wentan pummelo (Citrus grandis) tree (1/63) and Tahiti lime (C. latifolia) trees (3/53) that were co-infected with HLB-Las. The phytoplasma alone was also detected

in a healthy Wentan pummelo tree (1/60) at a low incidence total of 0.3% (1/347). Healthy citrus plants were inoculated with the citrus phytoplasma (WP-DL) by graft inoculation with phytoplasma-infected pummelo scions. Positive detections of phytoplasma were monitored only in the Wentan pummelo plant 4 months and 3.5 years after inoculation, and no symptoms developed. The citrus phytoplasma infected and persistently

survived in a low titre and at a very uneven distribution in citrus plants. Peanut witches’ broom (PnWB) phytoplasma (16SrII-A) and periwinkle leaf yellowing (PLY) phytoplasma belonging to the aster yellows group (16SrI-B) maintained in periwinkle plants were inoculated into healthy citrus plants by dodder transmission. The PnWB phytoplasma showed infection through positive detection of the nested PCR assay in citrus click here plants and persistently survived without symptom expression up to 4 years after inoculation. Positive detections of the phytoplasma were found in a low titre and several incidences in the other inoculated citrus plants including Ponkan mandarin, Liucheng sweet orange, Eureka lemon and Hirami lemon. None of the phytoplasma-infected citrus plants developed symptoms. Furthermore, artificial inoculation of PLY phytoplasma (16SrI-B) into the healthy citrus plants demonstrated no infection. The citrus symptomless phytoplasma was identified to belong to the PnWB phytoplasma group (16SrII-A). “
“This study investigated whether foliar sprays of potassium silicate (KSi), sodium molybdate (NaMo) or a combination of both (KSi + NaMo), with or without the fungicide azoxystrobin (Azox), could reduce anthracnose symptoms, improve photosynthesis and increase yield.