VPG NORTHERN-IMMUNOBLOTS AS A MEANS FOR DETECTION OF VIRAL RNAS IN PROTOPLASTS OR PLANTS INFECTED WITH GRAPEVINE FANLEAF NEPOVIRUS

Anti-genome-linked viral protein (anti-VPg) antibodies were produced f rom a synthetic peptide corresponding to the integral VPg sequence of grapevine fanleaf nepovirus-F 13. These antibodies allowed detection o f viral VPg-linked proteins which occur during the processing of viral polyproteins and of viral RNAs in total RNA extracts from infected pr otoplasts or plants after Northern blotting. These highly specific ant ibodies recognised RNAs from two grapevine fanleaf virus strains but n ot from arabis mosaic virus.