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Lucerne Seed - international standards for disease testing by Jan Gooden and Kathy Ophel Keller
December 2005
RIRDC Publication No 02/149 RIRDC Project No SAR-25A
The antibody-based test developed for detection of bacterial wilt in lucerne (SAR 10-A) was included as part of a comparative "ring" test coordinated by the International Seed Health Initiative (ISHI) to identify internationally accepted assays for testing of lucerne seed. A plating assay using selective media was evaluated at the same time. A simultaneous study to examine variation between bacterial wilt strains collected from around the world was undertaken in France.
Bacterial wilt ELISA detection "kits" were distributed to laboratories in USA, Canada, the Netherlands and France. Another kit will be sent to South Africa following test modifications.
Results were collated and presented to a meeting of the Technical Committee Group in Charlottetown, Canada in July 2000.
There was good agreement between the SARDI, US and Canadian laboratories. Two laboratories experienced problems with reagent stability. A more stable reagent is being substituted and a second test kit will be sent to these laboratories. Overall there was strong interest and acceptance of the test and the results achieved. Comparative testing will continue. The major problem with testing has been the lack of availability of naturally infected seed so all tests have been performed using artificially infected seed.
A final decision by ISTA
could take several years. In the meantime the SARDI Diagnostics will begin
providing the test to Australian industry on a cost-recovery basis.
 
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