ENZYME IMMUNOASSAY TECHNOLOGY AND PAPER ASSAY KITS FOR PLANT PATHOGENS

PLANT PATHOGENS COST PRODUCERS, PROCESSORS AND USERS SEVERAL BILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR IN YIELD AND QUALITY LOSSES AND CONTROL COSTS. ECONOMICAL AND EASY TO USE ASSAY KITS FOR THE EARLY DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF PATHOGENIC VIRUSES AND MICROBES, WILL PERMIT LARGE REDUCTIONS IN CROP LOSSES THROUGH WISE PREVENTION (PARTICULARLY IN CERTIFICATION OF DISEASE-TESTED CULTIVARS) AND CONTROL PLANNING. THIS PROJECT IS AIMED TOWARDS THE EXTENSION OF CURRENT ENZYME IMMUNOASSASY TECHNOLOGY AND ITS USE IN THE SENSITIVE AND RAPID DETERMINATION OF PLANT PATHOGENS IN HOST AND VECTORS. COLORED BANDS WILL BE GENERATED UPON SIMPLE EXPOSURE OF THE ASSAY STRIP TO THE SAMPLE EXTRACT. INITIAL PATHOGEN TARGETS WILL BE POTATO VIRUSES