POLYCLONAL ANTIBODIES IN DETECTION OF POTYVIRUSES AS MAIZE PATHOGENS

Polyclonal antisera (PCA) for intact virus particles of maize dwarf mo saic virus (MDMV) and sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) have been prepared . Virus-specific antibodies for both MDMV and SCMV were isolated by af finity chromatographic method developed by SHUKLA et al. (1989). Cross -reactivity of PCA with heterologous antigens, when purified virus pre paration was used as antigen, was proved by electro-blot immunoassay ( EBIA). Unpurified MDMV antibodies could recognize SCMV antigen in infe cted sap run parallel with MDMV antigen at 1:1000 dilution. However, u npurified SCMV antibodies could not detect MDMV antigen in infected sa p not even when five fold higher concentration of antibodies was used. Virus-specific antibodies for MDMV and SCMV could detect only homolog ous antigen. Optimal working dilution for both antisera in EBIA was 1: 1000. Yugoslav and Italian samples of maize (Zea mays L.) plants with virus symptoms appeared infected with MDMV. That was confirmed by posi tive reaction with MDMV virus-specific antibodies, but not with SCMV v irus-specific antibodies. EBIA proved to be an extremely sensitive met hod in detection of maize Potyviruses, since it combines electrophoret ic separation of proteins with immunological identification.