Detection of Sandal Spike Phytoplasma by Immunomicroscopy
T. Sunil
Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560 012, India
M. Balasundaran
Division of Pathology, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur-680 653, India
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Sandal tissues affected by spike disease were screened for the presence of sandal spike phytoplasma using the immunomicroscopic techniques immunofluorescence microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy. The tests were found to be highly sensitive to detect the pathogen since the techniques take advantage of the sensitivity of microscopy and the specificity of antibody. Fluorescent spots were visualized only in the phloem tissues of diseased sandal, but not in the tissues of healthy sandal when subjected to immunofluorescence microscopy. Among the tests, immunoelectron microscopy was found to be highly sensitive to detect the pathogen. Ex situ immunoelectron microscopic detection of phytoplasma was found to be very rapid compared to in situ detection.
Keywords: Sandal, Immunofluorescence microscopy, Immunoelectron microscopy, Phytoplasma, Spike disease