Serotype-specific detection of bean common mosaic potyvirus in bean leaf and seed tissue by enzymatic amplification.

An assay involving reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is described for specific detection of serotypes A and B BCMV isolates in bean leaf and seed tissues. Three oligonucleotide primers designed according to the sequence data available allow, in appropriate combination, serotype-specific detection of BCMV. The sensitivity of the method was sufficient to detect BCMV in as little as 100 fg and 50 pg of infected leaf and seed tissues, respectively.