MOLECULAR DIAGNOSIS OF GRAPEVINE FLECK VIRUS

A digoxigenin-labelled riboprobe was developed for the detection of gr apevine fleck virus (GFkV) in infected tissues of grapevine leaves, ro ots and canes. The probe was GFkV-specific and was successfully used f or virus identification both with dot spot assays, using alkali-treate d crude sap, and tissue blot assays, using cross and longitudinal sect ions of leaf petioles. Primers designed for the amplification by rever se transcription-polymerase chain reaction of a viral genome fragment 243 nucleotides in size, gave also positive and repeatable results. Th ese newly developed molecular-based detection tools extend the range o f available procedures for the sensitive identification of GFkV in nat urally infected hosts.