Development of an anti-Imp serological assay for the detection of “flavescence dorée” phytoplasmas in grapevine, insect vectors and host plants Filippin Luisa1, Trivellone Valeria1,2, Galetto Luciana3, Marzachí Cristina3, Elicio Vito4, Angelini Elisa1,* 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 *Corresponding author e-mail: Elisa Angelini (elisa.angelini@crea.gov.it)
Online published on 25 July, 2019. Abstract 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. Top Keywords ELISA, grapevine yellows, phytoplasma, serology, leafhopper. Top |