DETECTION OF BUNCHY TOP VIRUS IN MICROPROPAGATED PLANTS USING A PCR GENERATED DNA PROBE

Abstract

Polymerase Chain Reaction was used to amplify genome sequence of Banana  bunchy top virus in the total nucleic acid extract of petiole tissues collected from BBTV infected  banana plants. An amplified fragment of 1.00 kb was isolated, labeled with digoxigenin and used  as a probe to detect BBTV viral sequences in banana sap-smears made on nylon membranes. In  tissue culture facilities this probe will be useful for virus detection.