Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus Using Antiserum Produced to Virus from Field-Infected Plants

Abstract

The use of naturally infected oat leaves as a source of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) for purification eliminated the need for rearing vectors and yielded amounts of virus comparable to those reported from greenhouse-grown tissue. An antiserum was produced that gave positive reactions in enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) tests with homologous virus and with the RPV and PAV isolates but not with the MAV or RMV isolate of BYDV. Samples of small grains suspected of infection with BYDV were tested by ELISA. Freezing and thawing of extracts increased ELISA values for positive samples and decreased values for negative samples. Samples from throughout Kentucky [USA] reacted positively with the BYDV antiserum. Negative samples did not react with any of 4 isolate-specific antisera.