Antiserum production and detection by DAS-Elisa of Melon yellowing-associated virus on melon plants

Abstract

Today, the disease known as "Melon yellowing" is one of the major melon diseases in melon growing areas in the Northeast of Brazil. Up to the moment, only the Melon yellowing-associated virus (MYaV), transmitted by whiteflies, was detected in diseased plants, and it is the probable causing agent of the disease. To enable the unequivocal diagnosis of the disease, this study aimed to produce and evaluate a polyclonal antibody against the "Bessa" isolate of MYaV. Viral particles were purified and injected into rabbits for antiserum production, which was specific without any reaction with healthy plant sap. For antiserum evaluation, 14 melon samples with yellowing symptom from fields of Pernambuco and Rio Grande do Norte were evaluated by DAS-Elisa. A total of eleven samples reacted positively and the test showed that the virus concentration is higher at the stems instead of leaves, and therefore stems should be selected to be used in detection tests. This study demonstrated that the polyclonal antiserum produced against MYaV was specific and can be used to detect it in commercial melon fields. Copyright by the Brazilian Phytopathological Society.