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Detection of Plant Pathogen Spores of Economic Significance on Pollen Trap Slides
Author(s) -
Brittain Ian,
Selby Katherine,
Taylor Moray,
Mumford Rick
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of phytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.53
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1439-0434
pISSN - 0931-1785
DOI - 10.1111/jph.12129
Subject(s) - biology , spore , pathogen , pollen , polymerase chain reaction , real time polymerase chain reaction , trap (plumbing) , veterinary medicine , botany , horticulture , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , medicine , environmental engineering , gene , engineering
Real‐time polymerase chain reaction ( PCR ) assays were used to evaluate a small number of samples from a volumetric spore trap normally used for counting pollen grains. Samples from a total of 6 days during J uly and A ugust 2011 were screened. Pathogen DNA was detected from three of four groups of economically significant plant pathogens for which real‐time PCR assays were available. These were T illetia spp. on 1 day, P uccinia spp. on 2 days and F usarium spp. on all 6 days. No amplification of real‐time PCR assays was detected for P hytophthora infestans or P . ramorum . The results indicate that plant pathogens can be detected in air sampling networks, which are remote from arable cropping and deployed for other purposes. This has implications for rapidly identifying periods of pathogen dispersal and improving the accuracy of information on pathogen spore load in the atmosphere.