Carnation etched ring virus elimination through shoot tip culture

Abstract

Carnation etched ring virus (CERV) is the second most destructive virus which infects carnation and the only DNA virus among infecting viruses of carnation. In symptomatic leaves of carnation consist of mottling, necrotic and chlorotic flecks or blotches. Virus was detected by DAS-ELISA and PCR. Treatments consisted of different sizes of meristem and MS medium supplemented with different plant growth regulators (PGRS) (0.5 mg/l benzyl adenine (BA), 0.5 mg/l gibberellic acid (GA3) and medium without PGRS.). The plantlets were analysed by PCR in order to evaluate virus eradication. Results of PCR in vitro culture revealed that explant size and type of PGRS had a significant effect on elimination of CERV and the highest amount of it (100%) was observed on medium containing BA in meristem size of 0.4, 0.7 mm and the lowest amount of it (26%) was occurred on medium supplemented with GA3 in meristem size of 1mm. So far, there is no reporting about influence of PGRS on elimination of viruses.