CHARACTERIZATION OF A 34 KD PROTEIN FROM POTATO CYST NEMATODES, USINGMONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES WITH POTENTIAL FOR SPECIES DIAGNOSIS

Two monoclonal antibodies, which differentially recognise the two spec ies of potato cyst nematodes (PCN), Globodera pallida and G. rostochie nsis, are described. They have been shown to have potential for quanti fication of these two species, recognising proteins of the same molecu lar weight (34 kD) in both species. Further investigation showed these proteins to have isoelectric points at pH values of 5.7 in G. pallida and 5.9 in G. rostochiensis, in common with the proteins used by Flem ing and Marks (1983) to differentiate the species of PCN. They are lik ely to be structurally very similar, with the same physiological funct ion (and therefore similar concentrations) in the two species. In cros sreactivity tests with a wide range of soil nematode species, the anti bodies reacted strongly only with species of the genus Globodera, and thereby confirmed their potential as the basis of a quantitative immun oassay likely to be useful in management of PCN populations.