New molecular diagnostic methods for detection of Chrysanthemum stem necrosis virus (CSNV)

Abstract

Chrysanthemum stem necrosis virus (CSNV), an RNA virus, belongs to the genus Tospovirus and family Bunyaviridae. The disease symptoms on host plants can not be distinguished from those caused by closely related viruses of the same genus, such as Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). The disease symptoms may vary between host plants and can be quite severe. Diagnostics of tospoviruses is of great importance in prevention of greater economic and environmental damage. Viruses within the genus show serological similarity and therefore make the detection of the viruses by serological methods unreliable. To avoid false positive results other methods can be used for detection of RNA viruses such as RT-PCR or RT real-time PCR. CSNV was first found in Slovenia in 2001. Different methods were used to confirm the identity of the isolate. Development of disease symptoms was observed on 15 different test plants and was compared to the symptoms caused by closely related TSWV. Since serological cross-reac- tivity was observed, molecular tests were developed (RT-PCR and real-time PCR) that further confirmed the identity of the isolate and also increased sensitivity of the assays. CSNV can now be reliably detected and distinguished from related tospoviruses.

Keywords

• CSNV
• diagnostics
• distinguishing
• ELISA
• real-time PCR
• test plants