Efficiency of the Ouchterlony gel diffusion test in detecting bean pod mottle virus infection in soybean

The efficiency of the Ouchterlony gel-diffusion test in detecting bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) infection in soybean was examined. Maximum infection level was detected in both ‘Bragg’ and ‘Lee 74’ soybean varieties ca. 7 days after inoculation of vegetative and reproductive growth stages. Approximately 2 weeks after inoculation the Ouchterlony gel-diffusion tests failed to detect BPMV in most infected plants. The virus was again detected 17 to 34 days after inoculation in both varieties inoculated in the vegetative growth stages. Virus detection continued until the plants were in the R6 growth stage. The level of infection detected during this period was less than that detected initially.