DETECTION OF CHRYSANTHEMUM STUNT AND POTATO SPINDLE TUBER VIROIDS BY POLYACRYLAMIDE GELELECTROPHORESIS

Stunt viroid can be detected in chrysanthemums with the polyacrylamide gelectrophoresis (PAGE) method developed by Morris and Smith (1977) for potato spindle tuber viroid. The time of sample preparation can even be shortened considerably. The reliability of the short and the complete PAGE method proved to be similar to that of the biological 'Mistletoe' test in a parallel experiment. Combined samples can be tested in the complete PAGE method easily permitting the detection of one diseased chrysanthemum top in a total of ten. Although potato spindle tuber viroid is not known to occur in the Netherlands we searched for methods to detect possible infections. Artificial infections of tomato and potato plants and of sprouts of potato tubers could readily be detected by Morris and Smith's method. Using this method it was possible to demonstrate infections by severe and weak isolates even when not yet producing symptoms. In tomato plants the viroid could be detected four to eight days before symptoms appeared. © 1978 Koninklijke Nederlandse Planteziektenkundige Vereniging.