Comparison of TAS-ELISA, dot and tissue blot, ISEM and immunocapture RT-PCR assays for the detection of Yam mosaic virus in yam tissues

Abstract The performance of five techniques for detecting Yam mosaic virus (YMV), genus Potyvirus , in Dioscorea rotundata was evaluated. Triple antibody sandwich (TAS) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), dot (DBI) and direct tissue blot immunoassays (DTBI), immunosorbent electron microscopy (ISEM) and immunocapture reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (IC-RT-PCR) detected YMV in stems, leaf petioles, leaves and tubers. Younger leaves were more suitable for the detection of YMV using TAS-ELISA and DBI. DBI was as sensitive as TAS-ELISA when the detecting antibody was YMV-M24. The IC-RT-PCR technique was five times more sensitive than the purely protein-based serological detection methods. TAS-ELISA, DTBI and symptomatology were more suitable in detecting YMV in yam tubers than IC-RT-PCR and ISEM because of their sensitivity and reliability. The DTBI assays were very useful for the detection of YMV in yam tubers and tuber sprouts.