Abstract

The most economically damaging ilarvirus affecting hazelnut on a worldwide scale is the related apple mosaic virus (ApMV). Attempts were made to isolate the virus RNA from hazelnut tissues using different extraction methods. The most suitable extraction method that could detect the virus occurring naturally in hazelnut by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methodology was selected. RT-PCR was applied successfully using flower, husk and leaf tissues. The most suitable extraction method and hazelnut tissues determined were sensitive, simple, rapid and reliable for simultaneous detection of ApMV in hazelnut tissues. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the simultaneous detection of the virus by RT-PCR, an alternative detection of ApMV in hazelnut hosts.

Key words: RT-PCR, hazelnut, apple mosaic virus.

Abbreviation

ApMV, Apple mosaic virus; RNA, ribonucleic acid; ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; RT-PCR, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; SDS, sodium dodecyl sulfate; DEPC, diethylpyrocarbonate; dNTP,deoxynucleotide triphosphate; AMV, avian myeloblastosis virus.