1Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA), Research Centre for Viticulture and Enology, Conegliano, Treviso, Italy
2Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois, Champaign, United States of America
3Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council, Turin, Italy
4Agritest, Valenzano, Bari, Italy
At present serological assays for the detection of “flavescence dorée” (FD), a quarantine disease of grapevine, are not available. The aim of this study was to produce polyclonal antibodies targeting a surface abundant protein of FD and related phytoplasmas, Imp (immunodominant membrane protein), and to verify its use for the detection of FD phytoplasmas in grapevine, other host plant species, and insect vectors. Two antisera were obtained using recombinant Imp proteins from two FD strains. Preliminary results confirmed the specificity and good ELISA performance in the detection of the target in grapevine, clematis and insect vectors tissues.
ELISA, grapevine yellows, phytoplasma, serology, leafhopper
