Abstract

The surveys conducted during 2006 and 2007 revealed the infection of the virus in potato fields in Tehran province. Due to the important roll of aphids in transmission of the virus, immunocapture reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (IC-RT-PCR) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was developed using potato leafroll virus (PLRV) specific antibodies and specific primer pair (20 mer) located in the virus capsid gene to detect the virus in aphids. A 336-bp PCR product was detected from aphids (Myzus persicae) which had been fed on PLRV-infected plants. The PCR band was specific to PLRV as determined in PLRV-infected plants. This inquiry shows that this method is applicable to assess viroliferous nature of aphids in yellow -pan traps during season.

Key words: Luteovirus, immunocapture reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, viroliferous aphids.