Detection of Mixtures of Bean and Cowpea Viruses by Using Single and Mixed Antisera in Enzyme-linked-Immunosorbent Assay

Abstract

The sensitivity of ELISA to detect bean common mosaic potyvirus (BCMV), cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (CMV), bean yellow mosaic potyvirus (BYMV), cowpea mottle carmovirus (CPMoV), cowpea mosaic como virus (CPMV) and blackeye cowpea mosaic potyvirus (BLCMV) singly or in mixtures was evaluated using single or mixed antisera and the results compared to standard ELISA, The sensitivity was evaluated by comparing the, absorbances (A₄₀₅) values between treatments. Significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher A₄₀₅ values were recorded in wells coated with mixture of antisera than in the wells coated with single antiserum. Virus mixtures tested with antisera mixtures gave significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher A₄₀₅ values than test involving a single virus probed with a single antiserum. The results thus indicate that two or more viruses in bean or, cowpea leaf tissues or in bean + cowpea mixtures can be detected by using antisera mixtures in a single well without any loss of sensitivity. The implications are discussed in light of the ever increasing efforts by virus researchers worldwide to optimize ELISA procedures in order to reduce the time and the costs involved in carrying out the test.

Keywords: Antisera, Antisera mixture, Bean, Cowpea; ELISA, Sensitivity, Virus, Virus mixture

Tanzania J.Agric.Sc.(2006) Vol.7 No.1, 50-49