Testing of Imported Potato Genotypes for Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid with a Tomato-intermediate /Electrophoresis Combined Method

The polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) test of Morris & Smith (1977) was evaluated for detection of potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTV) in breeding material. Number, density and mobility of nucleic acid bands in the electropherograms were influenced by genotype and growing temperature. So direct testing of genotypes was not reliable. After an intermediate viroid multiplication in tomato host plants at about 30oC and high irradiance, PSTV was reliably detectable with PAGE in inocula of potato samples of diverse origin. A 4-week incubation period proved to be suitable for inocula with low and high concentrations of a mild strain of PSTV (m-PSTV) as well as a severe strain of PSTV (s-PSTV). If incidence of PSTV is expected to be low, testing can be speeded up by bulking samples. With the combined tomato-intermediate/ PAGE assay, one m-PSTV or one s-PSTV infected leaf disk in 200 healthy ones was consistently detectable. Occasionally gels with a nucleic acid band of about the same relative mobility as the viroid band were found. Evidence that these bands were not caused by viroid is presented. A procedure to resolve such questionable test results is described. Infectivity of s-PSTV was higher than that of m-PSTV. Concentration of viroids in the inoculum influenced appearance of mild or severe symptoms and the rate of symptom production.     

Exclusion of viroids from potato resources and the modified use of a cDNA probe1

Threats from potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTV) to potato breeding and centralized elite seed-tuber production have been identified in world potato genetic resources. In the UK effective diagnostic testing has proved essential in preventing acquisition. Inoculation of potato nucleic acids to tomato and subsequent viroid detection by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) has proved a sensitive, but cumbersome, test over 8 years. Additionally, over 2 years, ³²P-labelled PSTV cDNA was used to probe denatured sap and nucleic acid extracts: 10^-4 of peak viroid concentrations in tissue could be detected. Spurious positives were seen in particular circumstances, but could be avoided. Probing of non-denatured samples was not as sensitive. Tubers became infected and PSTV was readily detected by PAGE in leaves of potato experimentally inoculated and maintained below 20°C, but the cDNA probe could not detect infection in tuber sprouts growing at 8–10°C in darkness. Otherwise similar green-leaved sprouts were faintly positive. Detection for all sprouts was unproblematic after movement to 25°C and light for 10 days.     

Detection and eradication of chrysanthemum stunt viroid in Spain

Chrysanthemum stunt disease has been detected in Spain. An imprint-hybridization method using digoxigenin-labelled probes has been evaluated for quick detection of chrysanthemum stunt viroid (CSVd). The sensitivity of the method has been evaluated with several cultivars grown under different environmental conditions. The method has been successfully used in the eradication of CSVd.     

An epidemiological survey of Chrysanthemum chlorotic mottle viroid in Akita Prefecture as a model region in Japan

In epidemiological surveys on Chrysanthemum chlorotic mottle viroid (CChMVd) in various chrysanthemums cultivated in Akita Prefecture, Japan, in 2002–2005, approximately 20% of cultivars harbored CChMVd, including more symptomatic types than nonsymptomatic. Large-flowered cultivars were less frequently infected than small-flowered and spray types. The number of CChMVd-infected chrysanthemums is increasing, and the disease is found throughout major chrysanthemum-producing districts. Chrysanthemums infected only with CChMVd, in general, had no noticeable symptoms of disease. Most of those dually infected with known viruses and/or viroid also had no symptoms characteristic of chlorotic mottle disease. The lack of noticeable symptoms in major Japanese cultivars may have resulted in the unnoticed spread of the viroid.     

Peach red marbling and peach sooty ringspot, two new virus-like degenerative diseases of Prunus

More than 600 Prunus samples were examined by using a nonradioactive digoxigenin-labelled RNA probe specific for hop stunt viroid (HSVd). Prunus salicina and Prunus armeniaca appeared to be better hosts than Prunus persica . The weak viroid concentration in flowers and young leaves of peach trees growing in the field did not permit its detection in such samples. The diagnosis was more reliable (about 85%) with bark and leaves aged 4 months and more, from regrowths of GF 305 peach seedlings inoculated and kept in the greenhouse. Detection of HSVd in leaves and bark of apricot and Japanese plum plants aged 3 months or more also proved reliable (about 80% and 90%, respectively). HSVd could be transmitted in apricot, peach and plum nucleic acid preparations to GF 305 peach seedlings by repeated stem slashing, and to cherries ( Prunus avium and Prunus serrulata ) by approach grafting with an infected P. salicina source. The viroid was eliminated from 18% of the clones obtained after thermotherapy.
In the course of this study, 25 selected Prunus accessions suspected to be infected by unusual diseases were analysed by hybridization with a HSVd-specific probe and by indexing on GF 305 peach seedlings in the greenhouse. Fifteen of these accessions were found to be infected by HSVd, 19 induced reddish marbling, and four induced small blackish spots on the leaves aged about 4 months. Repeated assays showed that these foliar symptoms were not caused by the viroid. Peach red marbling (PRMa) has not been associated with any known virus and seems to be caused by an infectious agent not yet described. That could also be the case with the agent of peach sooty ringspot (PSRS). PRMa and PSRS symptoms were reproduced by grafting and indexing, and their causal agents eliminated by thermotherapy in a significant fraction of the treated plants. They behave like viral agents and can infect the different Prunus species studied.     

Naturally occurring variants of citrus exocortis viroid in vegetable crops

Four viroids were isolated in crops of tomato, eggplant, carrot and turnip. They were detected only after inoculation of 'Rutgers' tomato with nucleic acid extracts from field plants and were characterized as variants of citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd). The size of the variants ranged from 371 to 374 nucleotides and they contained nucleotide exchanges and insertions affecting all structural domains. Symptoms were induced in tomato and carrot whereas eggplant and turnip responded as symptomless carriers. As the samples came from an area where no citrus is grown, it appears that these viroids have a reproductive cycle independent of this crop, and perhaps involving wild plants or other vegetables.     

Host Effect on the Molecular and Biological Properties of a Citrus exocortis viroid Isolate from Vicia faba

ABSTRACT Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd) is the casual agent of citrus exocortis disease, and has been found in naturally infected citrus and noncitrus hosts. Field isolates of CEVd may infect susceptible hosts as a complex of genetically related sequence variants (haplotypes). In the present work, a CEVd isolate recovered from a symptomless broad bean plant was characterized as a heterogeneous population with a nucleotide diversity of 0.026, which did not contain a predominant haplotype. When nucleic acid extracts of this infected broad bean were used to inoculate tomato, the plants displayed symptoms and the CEVd population was more homogeneous, with a nucleotide diversity of 0.007. However, when nucleic acid extracts from this tomato isolate were back inoculated to new broad bean plants, this isolate did not revert to the original population, because it showed low nucleotide diversity (0.001) and induced symptoms in the broad bean plants. Symptomless broad bean plants may act as reservoirs of highly heterogeneous populations of CEVd variants, providing an excellent inoculum source in terms of its potential to infect a broad range of putative hosts. The epidemiological implications are discussed.     

Transmission of the coconut cadang-cadang viroid to six species of palm by inoculation with nucleic acid extracts

Seedlings of Areca catechu (betel nut palm), Corypha elata (buri palm), Adonidia merrillii (manila palm), Elaeis guineensis (oil palm), Chrysalidocarpus lutescens (palmera) and Oreodoxa regia (royal palm) were inoculated with nucleic acid extracts from coconut palms with cadang-cadang disease. Within 2 years of inoculation, analysis using a ³²P-labelled DNA probe complementary to the coconut cadang-cadang viroid (CCCV) showed that RNA sequences identical to CCCV were present in the inoculated seedlings. Electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels showed that these palms also contained an RNA with mobility identical to CCCV. Four to five years after inoculation, the infected palms of four species were usually stunted compared with uninoculated palms, while betel nut and palmera were not stunted. Yellowing of leaflets was observed with defined spots or mottling of the older fronds in all except betel nut palms. All infected palms showed mild or severe yellow-leaf spotting. These results widen the known host range and. hence, the potential number of viroid reservoir species in the field.     

A rapid one-step multiplex RT-PCR assay for the simultaneous detection of five citrus viroids in China

Citrus plants are natural hosts of five viroid species and large numbers of sequence variants. In this paper a simple and sensitive one step multiplex RT-PCR protocol with an internal control was utilised to simultaneously detect and differentiate five citrus viroids: Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd), Citrus bent leaf viroid (CBLVd), Hop stunt viroid (HSVd), Citrus viroid-III (CVd-III) and Citrus viroid-IV (CVd-IV). In addition, a micro and rapid total nucleic acid extraction method was developed and the protocol applied to evaluate the occurrence and distribution of citrus viroids in China.     

Simplified application of return gel electrophoresis for the routine detection of potato spindle tuber viroid

The return gel electrophoresis method for the detection of potato spindle tuber viroid has been modified to simplify its use for large-scale testing. The quantities of dissolvents for the extraction of nucleic acids were reduced and adapted to the use of disposable plastic tubes. The vertical electrophoresis system was replaced by a horizontal one, which was easier to handle. Migration distance for the separation of PSTV bands was shortened, saving time for the electrophoretic run. A single-buffer system was used. The detection limit was estimated as 0.3 ng per slot. It was possible to detect both mild and severe strains of PSTV.     

Diagnostic techniques for viroids

The fast growth of the human population forces us to produce more food, but higher crop production also leads to the fast spread of diseases. Plant pathology deploys a wide range of methods that do not provide an adequate solution to all disease losses. In the case of viroids, therapeutic means of control are not available; therefore control strategies are more focused on the development of reliable detection methods to quickly exclude the infected plant material. Although viroids are the smallest and simplest plant pathogens, their identification and detection is not straightforward. Each viroid–host combination is specific, and for reliable identification, all steps from sampling to final detection must be performed accurately. In this review, several methods for viroid detection in various host plants are discussed, including their advantages and disadvantages. Even though relatively new molecular methods enable fast and sensitive detection of viroids, a combination of different methods gives the most reliable identification. Techniques based on nucleic acids may be the future for viroid detection but they still cannot replace biological indexing, which is usually essential in epidemiological and aetiological studies.     

Symptoms and molecular characterization of apple dimple fruit viroid isolates from apples in Japan

Apple dimple fruit viroid was detected from an apple tree (‘Jonagold’) bearing apples with mild dapple apple symptom. The isolates in Japan were distinct from those in apples in Italy and China and in fig in Italy. Graft-inoculation experiments showed that the symptoms were variable depending on the cultivar, and the symptom on ‘Starking Delicious’ was virtually similar to those reported in Italy. Symptoms induced by apple dimple fruit viroid were similar in part to those by apple fruit crinkle viroid or apple scar skin viroid, indicating that they cannot be discriminated by symptoms on any specific variety.     

Studies on the diagnosis of hop stunt viroid in fruit trees: Identification of new hosts and application of a nucleic acid extraction procedure based on non-organic solvents

A non-radioactive digoxigenin-labelled RNA probe specific for hop stunt viroid (HSVd) diagnosis has been developed. The high sensitivity and specificity of this RNA probe in dot blot hybridizations to nucleic acids from field samples, allowed the confirmation of the presence of HSVd in apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) and its detection in two fruit tree species not previously described as hosts of this pathogen, almond (Prunus dulcis Miller) and pomegranate (Punica granatum L.). This result supports and extends the notion of the world wide distribution of HSVd, infecting cultivated fruit trees. HSVd was also found to accumulate to much higher levels in mature apricot fruits than in leaves. Additionally, a sample processing procedure which does not involve the use of organic solvents was demonstrated to render faithful results when used for viroid detection. The combined reliability and facility of use of both this extraction procedure and the non-radioactive probe will benefit agronomic investigations addressing the detection and eradication of HSVd. Other applications of the work described here, as the study of possible causal relations between specific disorders and HSVd infection, are also discussed.     

啤酒花矮化类病毒属属级寡核苷酸芯片筛查方法的建立

啤酒花矮化类病毒属是重要的植物类病毒属,目前尚无有效的筛查方法。通过对该属类病毒的核苷酸序列进行分析筛选,设计了8条用于该属类病毒筛查的属级特异性探针并制备了寡核苷酸芯片。应用啤酒花矮化类病毒标准样品对该芯片进行验证,结果表明所建立的属级芯片可以特异性检测啤酒花矮化类病毒,可检测到2ng/μL的总RNA。该芯片可用于啤酒花矮化类病毒属类病毒的筛查,为该属类病毒的检疫与防控提供技术支撑。     

Suspension depletion approach for exemption of infected Solanum jasminoides cells from pospiviroids

Despite numerous studies, viroid elimination from infected plants remains a very challenging task. This study introduces for the first time a novel ‘suspension depletion’ approach for exemption of Solanum jasminoides plants from viroids. The proposed method implies initial establishment of suspension cultures of the infected plant cells. The suspended cells were then physically treated (mild thermotherapy, 33 °C), which presumably delayed the replication of the viroid. The viroid concentration in the treated biomass was monitored weekly using pospiviroid‐specific PCR. After 10–12 weeks of continuous treatment, a sufficient decrease in viroid concentration was observed such that the infection became undetectable by PCR. The treated single cells then gave rise to microcolonies on a solid culture medium and the obtained viroid‐negative clones were further promoted to regenerate into viroid‐free plants. Three years of accumulated experimental data suggests feasibility, broad applicability, and good efficacy of the proposed approach.     

A new disease of greenhouse tomatoes in Israel caused by a distinct strain ofTomato apical stunt viroid (TASVd)

Using the sequential PAGE method for detection of small circular RNA molecules we isolated a viroid from greenhouse-grown tomato plants exhibiting severe stunting in Israel. The viroid was transmitted to tomato and to several other solanaceous plants by graft and mechanical inoculation, but only tomato plants showed symptoms of disease. Cloning and sequencing revealed that the viroid RNA is composed of 363 nucleotides, has 92% identity with the type strain (Ivory Coast strain) ofTomato apical stunt viroid (TASVd) and 99% identity with the Indonesian strain of this viroid. The experimental host range of TASVd-Is differs significantly from that of the type strain of TASVd. The possible epidemiological consequences leading to TASVd spread in geographically distant areas are discussed. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Sept. 18, 2002. Corresponding author