DETECTION OF RICE TUNGRO BACILLIFORM VIRUS IN-FIELD AND GLASSHOUSE SAMPLES FROM INDIA USING THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION

Rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV) together with rice tungro spheric al virus (RTSV) is the causal agent for the rice tungro disease. A rap id technique was developed to detect RTBV DNA in the crude extract of freshly collected leaf samples by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Thi s technique can detect the viral DNA in 1000-fold diluted leaf extract . Detection has been possible in samples stored upto 5 days after the collection. This technique may have wide application for the field dia gnosis of RTBV infection.