ABSTRACT
Detection of alfalfa mosaic virus in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) production regions of Chile

Paulina Sepúlveda R.1, Francisco Morales2 y Mauricio Castaño2
 

During the last few years several virus symptoms have been observed in common bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris). A survey was conducted during the 1993/1994 and 1995/1996 seasons in the main bean growing areas (V to VIII Region) of Chile. One hundred and seventy-three bean leaf samples were collected from plants with possible viral symptoms. All samples were ELISA tested with antiserum produced for the Chilean isolate of Alfalfa Mosaic Virus (AMV). The survey showed that AMV is distributed in the bean-producing area of Chile, although its incidence in the bean samples tested was relatively low, 2 and 4%, respectively, for the two seasons mentioned above. The described procedure together with the utilization of antiserum is proposed as an adequate method for the detection of AMV.

Keywords: AMV, ELISA, virus isolation.
1 Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Centro Regional de Investigación La Platina, Casilla 439 - 3, Santiago, Chile. E-mail: psepulve@inia.cl
2 Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Apartado Aéreo 6713, Cali, Colombia. E-mail: morales@cgiar.org.