Rapid visual detection of lily mottle virus using a loop-mediated isothermal amplification method.

Area of Science:

• Plant pathology
• Molecular biology
• Virology

Background:

• Lily mottle virus (LMoV) significantly impacts the quality of Lilium plants, affecting both flowers and bulbs.
• Accurate and sensitive detection methods are crucial for managing LMoV outbreaks in lily cultivation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a rapid and highly sensitive diagnostic assay for Lily mottle virus (LMoV).
• To evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of the developed assay compared to existing methods.

Main Methods:

• Development of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay targeting the LMoV coat protein gene.
• Validation of the LAMP assay's specificity against other lily viruses.
• Comparison of LAMP assay sensitivity with conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
• Application of reverse transcription LAMP (RT-LAMP) for LMoV RNA detection.

Main Results:

• The developed LAMP assay demonstrated high specificity for LMoV, with no cross-reactivity observed with other tested lily viruses.
• The LAMP assay was found to be 100 times more sensitive than conventional PCR for detecting LMoV.
• A one-step reverse transcription LAMP (RT-LAMP) assay was successfully established for LMoV RNA detection.

Conclusions:

• The newly developed LAMP and RT-LAMP assays offer a sensitive and specific alternative for detecting Lily mottle virus in lily plants.
• These molecular tools can aid in the early and accurate diagnosis of LMoV, supporting disease management strategies.