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Development of a sensitive and single-step PCR-based assay for detection of sandal spike phytoplasma


Affiliations
1 Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, R.S. Puram, Coimbatore 641 002, India, India
2 Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur 680 653, India, India
 

Santalum album commonly known as Indian sandalwood, is extensively exploited due to its demand in the international market for essential oil. In the Indian subcontinent, the species is approaching commercial extinction due to overexploitation and sandal spike disease caused by phytoplasma. Molecular detection using PCR and RFLP is reported for disease diagnosis. In the present study, a single-step, stringent PCR-based assay was developed to detect the sandal spike phyto­plasma. The titre estimation revealed that the marker maintained detection sensitivity up to 0.8 ng of template DNA. Subsequent to validation of the marker in a larger number of symptomatic individuals, this diag­no­stic assay can be routinely used to detect the pathogen. It will facilitate early detection and enable plantation managers to take adequate measures to control the spread of the disease.

Keywords

Control Measures, Diagnostic Markers, Nested PCR, Pathogen, Phytoplasma, Sandal Spike Disease
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  • Development of a sensitive and single-step PCR-based assay for detection of sandal spike phytoplasma

Abstract Views: 345  |  PDF Views: 119

Authors

Muthulakshmi Eswaran
Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, R.S. Puram, Coimbatore 641 002, India, India
Karthick Thangaraj
Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, R.S. Puram, Coimbatore 641 002, India, India
Balasubramanian Aiyar
Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, R.S. Puram, Coimbatore 641 002, India, India
Suma Arun Dev
Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur 680 653, India, India
Swathi Balakrishnan
Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur 680 653, India, India
Modhumita Ghosh Dasgupta
Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, R.S. Puram, Coimbatore 641 002, India, India

Abstract


Santalum album commonly known as Indian sandalwood, is extensively exploited due to its demand in the international market for essential oil. In the Indian subcontinent, the species is approaching commercial extinction due to overexploitation and sandal spike disease caused by phytoplasma. Molecular detection using PCR and RFLP is reported for disease diagnosis. In the present study, a single-step, stringent PCR-based assay was developed to detect the sandal spike phyto­plasma. The titre estimation revealed that the marker maintained detection sensitivity up to 0.8 ng of template DNA. Subsequent to validation of the marker in a larger number of symptomatic individuals, this diag­no­stic assay can be routinely used to detect the pathogen. It will facilitate early detection and enable plantation managers to take adequate measures to control the spread of the disease.

Keywords


Control Measures, Diagnostic Markers, Nested PCR, Pathogen, Phytoplasma, Sandal Spike Disease

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv122%2Fi12%2F1454-1458