Qick detection of plant mycoplasma with dapi method

A DAPI method is going to be introduced in our laboratory. This is the quickest unspecific way of detecting plant mycoplasma using a fluorescent microscopy and staining with DAPI (4''-6''-diamidino-2-phenylindole). Mycoplasma diseases are quite common in Slovenia. The most important damages can be seen on grapevine, pear, apple and peach trees. This kind of detection would be very useful, also because mycoplasmas on mentioned plants are usually those included in the Quarantine Pest List. Until now, we have diagnosed mycoplasma diseases only by symptoms, therefore a quick, large-scale and inexpensive detection method would be needed. In the adaptation phase different plant species will be tested with visible symptoms. Then we will compare symptomatic and DAPI detection methods. We will define infectivity of Slovenian and imported root stocks, scions and grafted vines and the possibility of using this method in the control of transportation of plant material. This method also gives the opportunity of studying the extension of mycoplasma in Slovenia and the control of imported plant material. It is also the base for the more time consuming and technically more challenging specific methods, for example the PCR technique.