Seed transmission of Melon necrotic spot virus and efficacy of seed-disinfection treatments

• Published in: Plant pathology 2009-06, Vol.58 (3), p.436-442
• Main Authors: Herrera-Vásquez, J.A, Córdoba-Sellés, M.C, Cebrián, M.C, Alfaro-Fernández, A, Jordá, C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Carmovirus; chemical seed treatment; Cucumis melo; ELISA; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Melon necrotic spot virus; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Plant viruses and viroids; RT-PCR; thermic seed treatment
• ISSN: 0032-0862; 1365-3059
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3059.2008.01985.x

Rates of seed transmission of Melon necrotic spot virus (MNSV) were estimated in seedlings grown from commercial melon (Cucumis melo) cv. Galia F₁ seeds. Seedlings at the cotyledon stage and adult plants were assayed for MNSV by DAS-ELISA and RT-PCR. None of the seedling groups tested positive for MNSV by ELISA. The proportion of seedlings infected with MNSV was at least 7 and 8% in seed lots 05 and 06, respectively, as estimated from RT-PCR analysis of grouped seedlings. Fourteen and eight grouped samples (10 seedlings per group), of a total of 200 and 100 seedlings, respectively, grown from infected seeds were MNSV-positive in seed lots 05 and 06, respectively, corresponding to seed-to-seedling transmission rates of 11·3 and 14·8%, respectively. Several seed-disinfection treatments were evaluated for their ability to prevent seed transmission of MNSV. The results suggest that a treatment of 144 h at 70°C can be used to eradicate MNSV in melon seeds without hindering germination.