Interference Between D and M Types of Plum pox virus in Japanese Plum Assessed by Specific Monoclonal Antibodies and Quantitative Real-Time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction

ABSTRACT The dynamics of virus interference between two isolates of Plum pox virus (PPV) belonging to the main PPV types, D and M, were analyzed in Japanese plum (Prunus salicina) by challenge inoculations. To assess the consequences of a PPV-M infection on plum already infected with PPV-D, and vice versa (predominance of one of the strains, recombination, synergism, symptoms aggravation, and so on), 30 Japanese plum trees were graft inoculated with PPV-D or PPV-M isolates in quarantine conditions. One year postinoculation, in the event that the inoculated isolates were detected in the whole plant, a second challenge inoculation (PPV-M or PPV-D, respectively) was performed by grafting. The presence of PPV-D, PPV-M, or both was monitored for 7 years by double-antibody sandwich indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using specific monoclonal antibodies. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with D- and M-specific primers confirmed the serological typing. Real-time RT-PCR assays were p...