Rapid method for the detection and quantification of <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> in plant tissues

Abstract

Monoclonal antibody to B cinerea (BC58) was used to develop a platetrapped antigen enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (PTAELISA) to detect and quantify Botrytis antigens in boysenberry flowers The ability of antibody BC58 to detect B cinerea in extracts from artificially infected boysenberry flowers was assessed Results showed that the antigen could be detected in latent infections Antibody BC58 sensitivity to heat treatment of the antigen incubation conditions and the detection limit were also investigated Autoclaving at 121C reduced the sensitivity of the antibody Additionally the incubation of the antigen at 4C overnight produced higher absorbance values at 405 nm than incubation at 37C for 2 h The detection and quantification of B cinerea antigen was reliable within 016 g dried mycelium per ml of PBS buffer and at least 8 x 10³ spores