Serological and Molecular Detection of Latent Viruses in the Apple Germplasm Bank of Santa Catarina

Abstract The Apple Germplasm Bank (AGB) of Santa Catarina Agricultural Research and Rural Extension Company - Epagri, AGB-Epagri, is the largest of the genus Malus in Brazil. Twenty-eight main accessions of this bank were virus screened through DAS-ELISA, RT-PCR and IC-RT-PCR during two consecutive reproductive cycles, and each accession showed latent mixed infection by at least two species, among ASGV, ASPV and ACLSV. The combined use of diagnostic methods helped overcome inconsistencies commonly found in apple virus detection and was shown essential for the AGB-Epagri can be safely used as a source of genetic variability and for the exchange of virus-free propagative material.

Interception of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani' in Brazil in apple tree propagative material imported from France / Interceptação de 'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani' no Brasil em material propagativo de macieira importado da França

Apple plants from France introduced in Brazil for research purposes were subjected to a phytosanitary analysis at the Plant Quarantine Laboratory of Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (Cenargen). After grafting onto healthy apple rootstock, some plants showed phytoplasma-infection symptoms. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests yielded DNA fragments of the expected size for phytoplasmas. DNA sequencing revealed an identity of the 16S rDNA nucleotide sequence of 98-99% with 'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani'. This phytoplasma species is responsible for losses in European apple orchards and has not been reported in Brazil. According to the Federal Legislation on Plant Protection, the plants were incinerated to avoid the introduction of this exotic pest in Brazil.(AU)

Plantas de macieira originárias da França introduzidas no Brasil para fins de pesquisa foram submetidas à análise no Laboratório de Quarentena Vegetal da Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia (Cenargen). Após realizar a enxertia em porta-enxertos sadios, algumas plantas apresentaram sintomas típicos de infecção por fitoplasmas. Os testes por meio da técnica de reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) obtiveram fragmentos de DNA do tamanho esperado para fitoplasmas. O sequenciamento de DNA revelou uma identidade de 98-99% da região 16 rDNA dos fitoplasmas encontrados com o fitoplasma 'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani'. Essa espécie de fitoplasma é responsável por perdas em pomares de maçã europeus e não foi relatada no Brasil. De acordo com a Legislação Federal de Proteção de Plantas, as plantas de macieira foram incineradas para evitar a entrada dessa praga exótica no Brasil.(AU)