Tissue Print Hybridization for Detection and Characterization of Viroids

Abstract

Simplifying sample preparation by transferring plant sap (from plant sections) directly onto a membrane is advantageous for any routine viroid detection technique, such as tissue printing. After fixing the samples on the membrane, hybridization steps similar to Northern or dot blot can be successfully implemented as long as factors like stringency and low viroid titer are properly adjusted to enable enhancement of the detection limit. The protocol described allows for indexing hundreds of field samples as a phytosanitary control measure.