Multiplex RT–PCR Assay for the Simultaneous Detection and Identification of Five Sugarcane Viruses

• Published in: Sugar tech : an international journal of sugar crops & related industries 2020-08, Vol.22 (4), p.662-670
• Main Authors: Feng, Xiao-Yan, Wang, Wen-Zhi, Shen, Lin-Bo, Wang, Jun-Gang, Xiong, Guo-Ru, Feng, Cui-Lian, Zhao, Ting-Ting, Zhang, Shu-Zhen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agriculture; Assaying; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Life Sciences; Multiplexing; Polymerase chain reaction; Research Article; Reverse transcription; Sorghum; Sugarcane; Viruses; Yellow leaf
• ISSN: 0972-1525; 0974-0740; 0972-1525
• DOI: 10.1007/s12355-020-00805-2

Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV), Sorghum mosaic virus (SrMV), Sugarcane streak mosaic virus (SCSMV), Sugarcane yellow leaf virus (SCYLV), and Sugarcane bacilliform virus (SCBV) are the major viruses infecting sugarcane worldwide. This study proposed a multiplex reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) assay for the simultaneous detection and identification of these sugarcane viruses. Results showed that five primer pairs amplified their respective target viruses, indicating the assay specificity. The sensitivity of the assay was similar to or 10–100-folds lower than that of singleplex RT–PCR for detecting SCMV or the four other viruses, respectively. When detecting the five viruses in field sugarcane samples, the detection results of multiplex RT–PCR were approximately identical to those of singleplex RT–PCR, thereby indicating the relative reliability of the former. The proposed multiplex RT–PCR can simultaneously detect SCMV, SrMV, SCSMV, SCYLV, and SCBV in sugarcane, making it a suitable, efficient, and practical detection method for sugarcane viruses.