Agdia’s new AmplifyRP® XRT assay provides growers from multiple cropping systems with varying levels of expertise with a powerful diagnostic tool.
Agdia, Inc., a leading provider of plant diagnostic products and services, announced the introduction of an assay for detection of Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus on their popular AmplifyRP® XRT platform. Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV) is a Polerovirus of emerging importance to cucurbit growers worldwide. This virus was initially characterized in France in 1992 and has since spread to regions of cucurbit production around the world, resulting in yield reductions of up to 50% during severe outbreaks. Surveys indicate that CABYV is one of the most widespread viruses infecting cucumbers throughout European greenhouses and has seemingly been present in Asia and the Mediterranean basin for several decades. Limited, yet concerning outbreaks of CABYV have occurred in Africa, South America and the U.S. High disease incidence, wide host range, virulence and vector ubiquity have combined to make CABYV a significant concern for global cucurbit production.
In addition to most cultivated species of cucurbits, CABYV is known to infect beet, chickpea, faba bean, lettuce, passionfruit and tomato. Moreover, several weedy species in Amaranthaceae, Brassicaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Lamiaceae and Malvaceae function as virus reservoirs in the absence of cultivated hosts.
Successful management of CABYV in fields and greenhouses is complex, utilising multiple strategies, including exclusion of virus sources and vectors, vector management and disruption of vector activities. Genetic resistance has been identified in cucurbit spp.; however, the resistance genes in crops other than melon have not been characterized and are not commercially available.
Accurate and timely diagnosis of plants infected with viruses is paramount to successful management throughout the growing season, including the establishment and transplanting phases. And Agdia’s new AmplifyRP® XRT assay for detection of Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus provides growers from multiple cropping systems with varying levels of expertise with a powerful diagnostic tool. AmplifyRP® XRT technology promotes the rapid amplification and detection of nucleic acid targets, DNA or RNA, while maintaining a single operating temperature of 42oC. The AmplifyRP® XRT products achieve target sensitivity and specificity comparable to qPCR while having clear advantages over the lab-based technology. AmplifyRP® XRT products do not require a nucleic acid purification step, as crude sample extracts are prepared using a simple extraction buffer and tested directly. When paired with Agdia’s AmpliFire® isothermal fluorometer, the XRT system is a rapid, user-friendly tool that can be implemented in the field or the lab by personnel with limited experience in molecular diagnostics.
Agdia states their new assay for CABYV will detect several known isolates from around the world. Moreover, the assay was validated against a comprehensive panel of potential cross reactors, including viruses known to infect cucurbits and cause similar symptomology. The only cross reactor identified was Melon aphid-borne yellows virus. This product was developed to be used with leaf, petiole and stem tissue. The introduction of Agdia’s new AmplifyRP® XRT assay expands their catalog to 28 products on this platform.
