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Quantitative Immunoelectrophoresis of Panicum Mosaic Virus and Strains of St. Augustine Decline. P. H. Berger, Research technician, Department of Plant Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843; R. W. Toler, professor, Department of Plant Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843. Phytopathology 73:185-189. Accepted for publication 19 July 1982. Copyright 1983 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-73-185.

Panicum mosaic virus (PMV), including seven isolates of St. Augustine decline (SAD) strain, was characterized by “rocket” quantitative immunoelectrophoresis (QIEP) utilizing rabbit antisera. The titer of each strain in a common host could be quantified by QIEP. The slope of the linear regression between log peak area of the rockets and log-relative concentration of plant sap serial dilutions differed between isolates, and this difference was a measure of the serological relationship between the strains. In addition, this method was used to compare virus titers in different hosts or cultivars infected with the same strain. It is a rapid, reliable, inexpensive, and sensitive technique for measuring and characterizing virus from extracts of infected plants.