Validation of a one-step reverse transcription PCR detection method for Tobamovirus maculatessellati, in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

The solanaceous-infecting tobamoviruses are closely related and hence it can be challenging to detect them using serological or molecular methods, particularly when present in a mixed infection. Tomato mottle mosaic virus (ToMMV) is a newly identified tobamovirus that poses serious risk to tomato (S...

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Main Authors: Chellappan Padmanabhan, Andrea Gilliard, Kai-Shu Ling, Yazmín Rivera
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1535175/full
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author Chellappan Padmanabhan
Andrea Gilliard
Kai-Shu Ling
Yazmín Rivera
author_facet Chellappan Padmanabhan
Andrea Gilliard
Kai-Shu Ling
Yazmín Rivera
author_sort Chellappan Padmanabhan
collection DOAJ
description The solanaceous-infecting tobamoviruses are closely related and hence it can be challenging to detect them using serological or molecular methods, particularly when present in a mixed infection. Tomato mottle mosaic virus (ToMMV) is a newly identified tobamovirus that poses serious risk to tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) production worldwide. Species-specific identification is crucial to prevent the entry and establishment of plant pathogens and protect the billion-dollar tomato industry. In this study, we report the validation of a previously described reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay that amplifies a 289 bp fragment of the coat protein coding region of ToMMV genome. This assay has 100% specificity for ToMMV. Inclusivity tests were performed against a diverse collection of six ToMMV isolates in North America. Exclusivity tests showed no cross reaction with eleven non-target viruses and seven viroids commonly found on tomato and pepper host plants. The detection limit of the one-step RT-PCR was determined to be at 10-5 (or 0.25pg/μl) dilution in plant samples, with its amplicon sequence confirmed by Sanger sequencing. The RT-PCR can detect ToMMV consistently on contaminated seed or leaf tissues. This validated assay could serve as a standard method for detecting ToMMV in seed health testing and for plant disease diagnosis, thus to prevent inadvertent introduction and spread of this emerging and economically important tobamovirus in tomato and pepper fields.
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spelling doaj-art-7755a10940c740d6a2ec4cfdb6d91e3a2025-01-29T06:45:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-01-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15351751535175Validation of a one-step reverse transcription PCR detection method for Tobamovirus maculatessellati, in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)Chellappan Padmanabhan0Andrea Gilliard1Kai-Shu Ling2Yazmín Rivera3United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine, Science and Technology, Plant Pathogen Confirmatory Diagnostics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, United StatesUnited States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Vegetable Laboratory, Charleston, SC, United StatesUnited States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Vegetable Laboratory, Charleston, SC, United StatesUnited States Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine, Science and Technology, Plant Pathogen Confirmatory Diagnostics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, United StatesThe solanaceous-infecting tobamoviruses are closely related and hence it can be challenging to detect them using serological or molecular methods, particularly when present in a mixed infection. Tomato mottle mosaic virus (ToMMV) is a newly identified tobamovirus that poses serious risk to tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) production worldwide. Species-specific identification is crucial to prevent the entry and establishment of plant pathogens and protect the billion-dollar tomato industry. In this study, we report the validation of a previously described reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay that amplifies a 289 bp fragment of the coat protein coding region of ToMMV genome. This assay has 100% specificity for ToMMV. Inclusivity tests were performed against a diverse collection of six ToMMV isolates in North America. Exclusivity tests showed no cross reaction with eleven non-target viruses and seven viroids commonly found on tomato and pepper host plants. The detection limit of the one-step RT-PCR was determined to be at 10-5 (or 0.25pg/μl) dilution in plant samples, with its amplicon sequence confirmed by Sanger sequencing. The RT-PCR can detect ToMMV consistently on contaminated seed or leaf tissues. This validated assay could serve as a standard method for detecting ToMMV in seed health testing and for plant disease diagnosis, thus to prevent inadvertent introduction and spread of this emerging and economically important tobamovirus in tomato and pepper fields.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1535175/fullTobamovirus maculatessellatitomato mottle mosaic virusRT-PCRmethod validationtomatopepper
spellingShingle Chellappan Padmanabhan
Andrea Gilliard
Kai-Shu Ling
Yazmín Rivera
Validation of a one-step reverse transcription PCR detection method for Tobamovirus maculatessellati, in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)
Frontiers in Plant Science
Tobamovirus maculatessellati
tomato mottle mosaic virus
RT-PCR
method validation
tomato
pepper
title Validation of a one-step reverse transcription PCR detection method for Tobamovirus maculatessellati, in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)
title_full Validation of a one-step reverse transcription PCR detection method for Tobamovirus maculatessellati, in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)
title_fullStr Validation of a one-step reverse transcription PCR detection method for Tobamovirus maculatessellati, in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)
title_full_unstemmed Validation of a one-step reverse transcription PCR detection method for Tobamovirus maculatessellati, in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)
title_short Validation of a one-step reverse transcription PCR detection method for Tobamovirus maculatessellati, in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)
title_sort validation of a one step reverse transcription pcr detection method for tobamovirus maculatessellati in tomato solanum lycopersicum l and pepper capsicum annuum l
topic Tobamovirus maculatessellati
tomato mottle mosaic virus
RT-PCR
method validation
tomato
pepper
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1535175/full
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