European interlaboratory comparison and validation of detection methods for 'Candidatus Phytoplasma mali', 'Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum' and 'Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri': preliminary results

摘要

A working group was established in the frame of EUPHRESCO Phytosanitary ERA-NET Project aimed to compare and validate diagnostic protocols for the detection of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum', 'Ca. P. mali' and 'Ca. P. pyri' in fruit trees. Four molecular protocols were submitted to interlaboratory trials starting from extracted DNAs prepared in four laboratories. The tested molecular protocols consisted in universal and group-specific real time and conventional nested PCR assays. A good agreement among laboratories was obtained and high values of diagnostic sensitivity were revealed for all tested protocols. The preliminary analysis of the results also highlighted some diagnostic specificity problems that require further investigations.