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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #167870

Title: GUIDELINES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW METHODS FOR VIRUS TESTING OF FRUIT TREES AND SMALL FRUIT CROPS

Author
item Martin, Robert
item JELKMANN, W - BBA DOSSENHEIM, GERMANY
item CANDRESSE, T - INRA BORDEAUX, FRANCE

Submitted to: Acta Horticulturae
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/13/2004
Publication Date: 9/24/2004
Citation: Martin, R.R., Jelkmann, W., Candresse, T. 2004. Guidelines for the development of new methods for virus testing of fruit trees and small fruit crops. Acta Horticulturae. 657.

Interpretive Summary: This publication describes the data that will be required for new tests to be acceptable for virus indexing of Tree Fruit or Small Fruit crops. During the last 10 years, many research groups have developed PCR tests for the detection of viruses in small fruit and tree fruit crops. The problem is that these tests have not been evaluated against a wide range of strains under different environmental conditions to ensure that they will detect all known isolates of a virus. Before these tests can be used in certification or quarantine programs, they need to be validated to be as good as or better than currently used assays. This document outlines the data set that will be required by the working groups on tree fruit and small fruit viruses of the International Society of Horticultural Sciences before a test will be considered as a recommended assay by the ISHS. The data sets will be evaluated by the working group at their triennial symposium. Once the committee accepts the data set supporting a test, it will be included in the recommended test procedures for that virus. This recommendation is required before quarantine agencies will accept the test as a suitable alternative to currently used assays.

Technical Abstract: At the 19th International Symposium on Virus and Virus-like Diseases of Temperate Fruit Crops and the 10th International Symposium on Small Fruit Virus Diseases, it was decided that a protocol would be developed to outline the type of data needed for a new test (Biological Indicators, Serological Tests, Molecular Test or other) to be accepted by the committee as a suitable method of detection for a specific virus. The data must be collected and there will be a session at subsequent symposia to present the data packet and have it evaluated. Once accepted by the committee it will be listed as an appropriate test in the proceedings of the meeting. The data packet should include results from at least three different laboratories. The isolates of the virus evaluated need to be identified and the new assay must be compared to currently accepted tests for the virus. A test will not be recommended if data sets are incomplete. Evaluations of data sets and recommendations will only be made at the tiennial symposia of the Working Groups.