Serological differentiation of tobamoviruses by means of monoclonal antibodies.

Several serologically related plant viruses have been differentiated for the first time by means of monoclonal antibodies. Two orchid strains of tobacco mosaic virus that were previously considered to be serologically identical with the type strain were shown to be distinguishable with certain monoclonal antibodies. In indirect ELISA, none of the antibodies showed any binding to tobamoviruses that differed from TMV (common strain) by a serological differentiation index larger than 2. Monoclonal antibodies are likely to find widespread use as diagnostic tools in plant virology.