Development of Real-time Quantitative PCR Assay based on SYBR Green I and TaqMan Probe for Detection of Apple Viruses

Abstract

Virus infections of apples result in lowered commercial qualities such as low sugar content, weakened tree vigor, and malformed fruits. An effective way to control viruses is to produce virus-free plants based on the development of an accurate and sensitive diagnostic method. In this study, real-time PCR assays based on SYBR Green I and TaqMan probes were developed for detecting ASGV, ASPV, and ApMV viruses. These methods can detect and quantify 103 to 1011 RNA copies/μL of each virus separately. Compared with methods with two different dyes, the SYBR Green I-based method was efficient for virus detection as well as for assay using the TaqMan probe. Field tests demonstrated that real-time PCR methods developed in this study were applicable to high-throughput diagnoses for virus research and plant quarantine.