DETECTION AND QUANTIFICATION OF SEED-BORNE SEPTORIA-NODORUM IN NATURALLY INFECTED GRAINS OF WHEAT WITH POLYCLONAL ELISA

In Sweden the qualitative and rather time-consuming seed blotter metho d is used to decide whether seed dressing against seed-borne diseases should be performed. Serological methods such as ELISA (Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay) are suitable for multisample screening and give r esults within a few hours. They also offer a quantitative measurement of the target pathogen. Eight seed samples of wheat were analysed for Septoria nodorum infection with an ELISA kit. The results were compare d with infection levels obtained by the seed blotter method. For the E LISA test the seed samples were extracted in three different ways: by soaking; by mixing and by mixing followed by centrifugation. The agree ment between the seed blotter method and the ELISA was good. Significa nt differences between most oi the seed samples were obtained. The low est values of the standard deviation were obtained in the treatment in cluding soaking. We conclude that serological rests such as the above may be interesting within the field of seed testing.