LOCALIZATION OF PLUM POX VIRUS IN APRICOT STEM AND PETIOLE TISSUES BYTISSUE PRINTING ONTO NITROCELLULOSE MEMBRANE

The localisation of plum pox virus (PPV) in stem and petiole tissues o f nine susceptible apricot cultivars and GF305 peach seedling has been studied. From stem and petioles consecutive transverse sections space d at 1 mm were made and tissue sections printed onto nitrocellulose me mbrane. The resulting prints were probed with a specific antibody for plum pox virus, followed by a rabbit anti-goat antibody conjugated wit h horse radish peroxidase, in order to localise the virus within the t issues. In stems the virus was mainly present in xylem and pith. The p ossible presence of the virus in the sclerenchyma is discussed. In pet ioles the virus was present in epidermis and parenchymas, but not in v essels. The probable movement through the xylem and from cell to cell has been shown.