RT-PCR DETECTION OF APPLE MOSAIC VIRUS INFECTION IN SOME WEED HOSTS FOUND IN HAZELNUT ORCHARDS IN TURKEY

ELISA-positive samples of Scandix sp., Artemisia vulgaris L., Campanula sp., Galeopsis sp., Salvia verbenaca L., Prunella sp., Clematis vitalba L. and Rubus canescens L. were maintained in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants. Total RNAs were isolated from bean leaves and used as a template in RT-PCR. A single band of the expected size (820 bp) using ApMV-specific primers was amplified from all bean plants which were previously mechanically inoculated with extracts of ELISA-positive weed plants. RT-PCR test in this study confirmed the positivity of weed samples collected from hazelnut orchards.