Detection of Sandal Spike Phytoplasma by Immunomicroscopy

Sandal tissues affected by spike disease were screened for the presence of sandal spike phytoplasma using the immunomicroscopic techniques immunofluorescence microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy. The tests were found to be highly sensitive to detect the pathogen since the techniques take advantage of the sensitivity of microscopy and the specificity of antibody. Fluorescent spots were visualized only in the phloem tissues of diseased sandal, but not in the tissues of healthy sandal when subjected to immunofluorescence microscopy. Among the tests, immunoelectron microscopy was found to be highly sensitive to detect the pathogen. Ex situ immunoelectron microscopic detection of phytoplasma was found to be very rapid compared to in situ detection.