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The electron microscope as a diagnostic tool in plant virology 1
Author(s) -
BALEN E.,
BOUWEN I.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
eppo bulletin
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.327
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1365-2338
pISSN - 0250-8052
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2338.1995.tb01463.x
Subject(s) - immunogold labelling , potyvirus , biology , virology , plant virus , cytopathology , virus , antiserum , serology , cytoplasmic inclusion , electron microscope , zucchini yellow mosaic virus , cytoplasm , ultrastructure , botany , antigen , antibody , microbiology and biotechnology , cytology , physics , genetics , optics , immunology
In plant virology, the electron microscope is often used to determine whether or not a plant is infected by viruses. The morphological data obtained may help to identify the virus. With the help of serological techniques, e.g. decoration, serological relationships between viruses can also be found. All this can be done with specimens prepared by simple suspension techniques. By making ultrathin sections of infected material, the cytopathology can be revealed and, with the aid of immunogold labelling on ultrathin sections, virus proteins can specifically be detected in the cytoplasm of plant cells. Using the above‐mentioned techniques, we have, for example, found a potyvirus in kalanchoë, which showed a close serological relationship with zucchini yellow mosaic potyvirus (ZYMV). Although the viruses were identical in morphology and serologically closely related, the ultrastructure of diseased plant cells showed large morphological differences. However, good labelling of the virus‐like structures with ZYMV antiserum coupled to gold particles was obtained for both viruses.