A simple and efficient method for testing Lettuce mosaic virus resistance in in vitro cultivated lettuce

The potential of a new in vitro inoculation and propagation method developed for Lettuce mosaic virus (LMV) on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was evaluated by studying LMV infection on in vitro cultivated seedlings or on newly regenerated plantlets. Lettuce cultivars differing by their LMV-resistance status were inoculated with various natural LMV isolates as well as with Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)-tagged recombinant virus isolates. A good correlation was observed between the known resistance status of the cultivars and the results obtained by in vitro screening. The results show that this resistance assay can be greatly improved by the use of GFP-tagged virus isolates. The main advantages of this method are reduced space requirements and an improved environmental safety, especially for the handling of recombinant virus, of quarantine virus or of transgenic plants.