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THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission(1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament(2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee(3),
Whereas potato production occupies an important place in Community agriculture; whereas the potato yield is constantly threatened by harmful organisms;
Whereas, through the protection of potato cultivation against such harmful organisms, not only should productive capacity be maintained but agricultural productivity should also be increased;
Whereas protective measures to prevent the introduction of harmful organisms into the territory of a Member State would have only a limited effect were such organisms not controlled simultaneously and methodically throughout the Community and not prevented from spreading;
Whereas one of the harmful organisms on potatoes is Clavibacter michiganensis (Smith) Davis et al. ssp. sepedonicus (Spieckermann et Kotthoff) Davis et al., the pathogenic agent of the potato ring rot disease; whereas this disease has occurred in some parts of the Community and some limited sources of infection still exist;
Whereas there is a considerable risk to potato cultivation throughout the Community if effective measures are not taken to locate this disease and determine its distribution, to prevent it from occurring and spreading, and, if found, to prevent its spread and to control it with the aim of eradication;
Whereas, in order to ensure this, certain measures must be taken within the Community; whereas Member States must, in addition, be able to take additional or stricter measures where necessary, provided that there is no hindrance to the movement of potatoes within the Community, except in so far as laid down in Council Directive 77/93/EEC of 21 December 1976 on protective measures against the introduction into the Member States of organisms harmful to plants or plant products(4); whereas such measures must be notified to the other Member States and to the Commission;
Whereas Council Directive 80/665/EEC of 24 June 1980 on the control of potato ring rot(5), laid down minimum measures to be taken by the Member States against potato ring rot;
Whereas, since then, there have been significant developments in the understanding of potato ring rot disease and the detection of the potato ring rot pathogen;
Whereas the application of the Community plant health regime to the Community as an area without internal frontiers has called for the re-examination and revision of some provisions of Directive 80/665/EEC;
Whereas, as a result of such re-examination, the provisions of Directive 80/665/EEC have been found insufficient, and further specification of measures is necessary;
Whereas, in that situation, Directive 80/665/EEC should be repealed and the necessary measures adopted;
Whereas the measures have to take into account, first, that the disease can remain latend and unobserved both in the growing crop and in stored tubers, and so can be effectively prevented only by production and use of seed potatoes free from infection and, secondly, that systematic official surveys are necessary to locate it; whereas spread of the pathogen within the growing crop is not the most important factor, but whereas the pathogen can exist through the winter in self-sown (volunteer) potato plants and these are the major source of infection being carried from one season to the next; whereas the pathogen is spread mainly by the contamination of potatoes through contact with infected potatoes and through contact with planting, harvesting and handling equipment or transport and storage containers which have become contaminated with the organism by previous contact with infected potatoes; whereas such contaminated objects can remain infectious for some time after such contamination; whereas spread of the pathogen can be reduced or prevented by disinfection of such objects; whereas any such contamination of seed potatoes poses a major risk for the spread of the pathogen;
Whereas, for the determination of the details of such general measures, as well as for those stricter or additional measures taken by Member States to prevent the introduction of the pathogen into their territory, it is desirable for Member States to cooperate closely with the Commission within the Standing Committee of Plant Health (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Committee’),
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
The Directive concerns the measures to be taken within the Member States against Clavibacter michiganensis (Smith) Davis et al. ssp. sepedonicus (Spieckermann et Kotthoff) Davis et al., the cause of potato ring rot (hereinafter referred to as ‘the organism’), in order to:
locate it and determine its distribution;
prevent its occurrence and spread; and
if found, to prevent its spread and to control it with the aim of eradication.
1.Member States shall conduct systematic official surveys for the organism on tubers and, where appropriate, on plants of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) originating in their territory, for the confirmation of absence of the organism.
For these surveys, in the case of tubers samples of both seed and other potatoes shall be taken, preferably from lots in store and subjected to official or officially supervised laboratory testing using the method set out in Annex I for the detection and diagnosis of the organism. In addition, where appropriate, official or officially supervised visual inspection by cutting of tubers on other samples may be done.
In the case of plants, these surveys shall be carried out according to appropriate methods and the samples shall be subjected to appropriate official or officially supervised testing.
The number, origin, stratification and timing of collection of samples shall be decided by the responsible official bodies within the meaning of Directive 77/93/EEC based on sound scientific and statistical principles and the biology of the organism, and taking into account the particular potato production systems of the Member States concerned. The details thereof shall be submitted annually to the other Member States and the Commission, with a view to ensuring comparable levels of assurance between Member States for confirmation of the absence of the organism.
2.The results of the official surveys provided for in paragraph 1 shall be notified at least once a year to the other Member States and to the Commission. The details of this notification shall be confidential. They may be submitted to the Committee in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 16a of Directive 77/93/EEC.
3.The following provisions may be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 16a of Directive 77/93/EEC;
the details of surveys provided for in paragraph 1 above, to be carried out in accordance with sound scientific and statistical principles,
the details of the notification provided for in paragraph 2 above.
4.The following provisions shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 16a of Directive 77/93/EEC:
the appropriate method for the surveys and the testing provided for in the third subparagraph of paragraph 1 above.
Member States shall ensure that the suspected occurrence or confirmed presence of the organism, in potato plants and tubers or harvested, stored or marketed tubers in their territory shall be reported to their own responsible official bodies.
1.In cases of suspected occurrence, the responsible. official bodies of the Member State in which these cases have been reported shall ensure completion of official or officially supervised laboratory testing, using the method set out in Annex I, and in accordance with the conditions specified in point 1 of Annex II, in order to confirm or refute the suspected occurrence. In the former case, the requirements laid down in point 2 of Annex II shall apply.
2.Pending the confirmation or refutation of the suspected. occurrence under paragraph 1, in those cases of suspect occurrence where, either:
suspect diagnostic visual symptoms of the disease have been seen; or,
a positive immunofluorescence test as specified in Annex I or other appropriate positive test has been identified,
the responsible official bodies of the Member States shall:
prohibit the movement of all lots or consignments from which the samples have been taken, except under their control and provided that it has been established that there is no identifiable risk of the organism spreading;
take steps to trace the origin of the suspected occurrence;
introduce appropriate additional precautionary measures based on the level of estimated risk, in order to prevent any spread of the organism. These measures may include the official control of the movement of all other tubers or plants within or off premises associated with the suspected occurrence.
3.The following provision may be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 16a of Directive 77/93/EEC:
the measures referred to in paragraph 2 (c) above.
4.The following provision shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 16a of Directive 77/93/EEC:
the other appropriate test provided for in paragraph 2 (ii) above;
1.If official or officially supervised laboratory testing using the method set out in Annex I confirms the presence of the organism in a sample of tubers, plants, or parts of plants, the responsible official bodies of a Member State, having regard to sound scientific principles, the biology of the organism and the particular production, marketing and processing systems in that Member State shall:
(a)designate as contaminated the tubers or plants, consignment and/or lot, and the machinery, vehicle, vessel, store, or units thereof, and any other objects including packaging material, from which the sample was taken, and, where appropriate, the place(s) of production and field(s) from which the tubers or plants were harvested;
(b)determine, taking into account the provisions of point 1 of Annex III, the extent of probable contamination through pre- or post-harvest contact or through production link with the designated contamination;
(c)demarcate a zone on the basis of the designation of contamination under (a), the determination of the extent of probable contamination under (b), and the possible spread of the organism, taking into account the provisions of point 2 of Annex III.
2.Member States shall immediately notify the other Member States and the Commission, in accordance with the provisions of point 3 of Annex III, of any contamination designated under paragraph 1 (a) and the details of the zone demarcation under paragraph 1 (c).
The details of this notification shall be confidential. They may be submitted to the Committee in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 16a of Directive 77/93/EEC.
3.As a result of the notification under paragraph 2 and the elements mentioned therein, other Member States detailed in the notification shall, as appropriate, designate contamination, determine the extent of probable contamination and demarcate a zone, in accordance with paragraph 1 (a), (b) and (c) respectively.
Member States shall prescribe that where tubers or plants have been designated to be contaminated under Article 5 (1) (a), testing in accordance with Article 4 (1) shall be carried out on potato stocks which are clonally related to those involved in the contamination. The testing shall be carried out on as many such tubers or plants as are needed to determine the probable primary source of infection and the extent of the probable contamination, preferably in order of degree of risk.
As a result of the testing, further designation of contamination, determination of the extent of probable contamination and demarcation of a zone shall be conducted, as appropriate, under Articles 5 (1) (a), (b) and (c) respectively.
1.Member States shall prescribe that tubers or plants, designated to be contaminated under Article 5 (1) (a) may not be planted and that, under the control of their responsible official bodies, they shall be:
destroyed, or
otherwise disposed of, subject to officially supervised measure(s), in accordance with the provisions of point 1 of Annex IV, provided that it is established that there is no identifiable risk of the organism spreading.
2.Member States shall prescribe that tubers or plants determined as probably contaminated under Article 5 (1) (b) may not be planted and, without prejudice to the outcome of the testing referred to in Article 6 for clonally related stocks shall, under the control of their responsible official bodies, be put to appropriate use or disposal as specified in point 2 of Annex IV, in such a way that it is established that there is no identifiable risk of the organism spreading.
3.Member States shall prescribe that any machinery, vehicle, vessel, store, or units thereof, and any other objects including packaging material, designated as contaminated under Article 5 (1) (a) or determined as probably contaminated under Article 5 (1) (b), shall either be destroyed or cleansed and disinfected using appropriate methods as specified in point 3 of Annex IV. After disinfection, any such objects shall no longer be considered contaminated.
4.Without prejudice to the measures implemented under paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, Member States shall prescribe that, in the zone demarcated under Article 5 (1) (c), a series of measures, as specified in point 4 of Annex IV, shall be implemented.
1.Member States shall prescribe that seed potatoes shall meet the requirements of Directive 77/93/EEC and shall derive in direct line from material obtained under an officially approved programme which has been found free of the organism in official or officially supervised testing using the method set out in Annex I.
The aforesaid testing shall be carried out:
in cases where the contamination affects seed potato production, on the plants of the initial clonal selection,
in other cases, either on the plants of the initial clonal selection or on representative samples of the basic seed potatoes or earlier propagations.
2.The following provisions may be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 16a of Directive 77/93/EEC:
the detailed rules of application of the first indent of the second subparagraph of paragraph 1 of this Article,
the rules concerning the representative samples provided for in the second indent of the second subparagraph of paragraph 1 of this Article.
Member States shall ban the holding and handling of the organism.
Without prejudice to the provisions of Directive 77/93/EEC, Member States may authorize derogations from the measures referred to in Articles 6, 7 and 9 of this Directive for experimental or scientific purposes, and for work on varietal selection, provided that such derogations do not prejudice the control of the organism and create no risk of spread of the organism.
Member States may adopt such additional or stricter measures as may be required to combat the organism or to prevent it from spreading, in so far as they are in compliance with the provisons of Directive 77/93/EEC.
The additional measures mentioned in the first subparagraph may include the prescription that only seed potatoes may be planted that are either officially certified or officially inspected to meet the required plant health standards. The latter may apply in particular in case farmers are authorized to use, on their own holding, seed potatoes which they have obtained from their own harvest and in other cases that own-produced seed potatoes are planted.
The details of these measures shall be notified to the other Member States and to the Commission.
Amendments to the Annexes to this Directive, to be made in the light of developments in scientific or technical knowledge, shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 16a of Directive 77/93/EEC.
1.By 15 November 1993 Member States shall adopt and publish the provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.
When Member States adopt these provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference at the time of their official publication. The procedure for making such reference shall be adopted by Member States.
Member States shall apply these provisions from 16 November 1993.
2.Member States shall immediately communicate to the Commission all provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive. The Commission shall inform the other Member States thereof.
Directive 80/665/EEC is hereby repealed with effect from 16 November 1993.
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
Textual Amendments
The presented scheme describes the various procedures involved in: U.K.
Diagnosis of ring rot in potato tubers and plants;
Detection of Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. sepedonicus in samples of potato tubers and plants;
Identification of Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. sepedonicus ( C. m. subsp. sepedonicus ).
Optimized protocols for the various methods, validated reagents and details for the preparation of test and control materials are provided in the Appendices. A list of the laboratories that were included in optimization and validation of protocols is provided in Appendix 1.
Since the protocols involve detection of a quarantine organism and will include the use of viable cultures of C. m. subsp. sepedonicus as control materials, it will be necessary to perform the procedures under suitable quarantined conditions with adequate waste disposal facilities and under the conditions of appropriate licences as issued by the official plant quarantine authorities.
Testing parameters must assure consistent and reproducible detection of levels of C. m. subsp. sepedonicus at the set thresholds of the selected methods.
Precise preparation of positive controls is imperative.
Testing according to the required thresholds also implies correct settings, maintenance and calibration of equipment, careful handling and preservation of reagents and all measures to prevent contamination between samples, e.g. separation of positive controls from test samples. Quality control standards must be applied to avoid administrative and other errors, especially concerning labelling and documentation.
A suspected occurrence, as referred to in article 4(2) in directive 93/85/EEC implies a positive result in diagnostic or screening tests performed on a sample as specified in flow charts.
If the first screening test (IF or PCR/FISH) is positive, then contamination with Cms is suspected and a second screening test must be done. If the second screening test is positive, then the suspicion is confirmed (suspected occurrence) and the testing according to the scheme must be continued. If the second screening test is negative, then the sample is considered not contaminated with Cms.
Therefore a positive IF test as referred to in article 4(2) is defined by a positive IF reading confirmed by a second screening test (PCR/FISH).
Confirmed presence as referred to in article 5(1) in directive 93/85/EEC implies the isolation and identification of a pure culture of C. m. subsp. sepedonicus with confirmation of pathogenicity.
The testing procedure is intended for potato tubers and plants with symptoms typical or suspect of ring rot. It involves a rapid screening test, isolation of the pathogen from infected vascular tissue on diagnostic media and, in case of a positive result, identification of the culture as C. m. subsp. sepedonicus .
The testing procedure is intended for detection of latent infections in potato tubers. A positive result from at least two screening tests, based on different biological principles, must be complemented by the isolation of the pathogen; followed by, in case of isolation of typical colonies, confirmation of a pure culture as C. m. subsp. sepedonicus . A positive result from only one of the screening tests is not sufficient to consider the sample suspect.
Screening tests and isolation tests must permit a detection threshold of 10 3 to 10 4 cells/ml resuspended pellet, included as positive controls in each series of tests.
Under European climatic conditions symptoms are rarely found in the field and often only at the end of the season. Moreover the symptoms are frequently masked or confused by/with other diseases, senescence or mechanical damages. Therefore it may be easy to miss symptoms in field inspections. Wilting symptoms are very different from those of brown rot; wilting is usually slow and initially limited to the leaf margins. Young infected leaves often continue to expand although, less so in the infected zones. This creates odd shaped leaves. Leaves affected by blocking of the vascular tissues further down the stem often develop chlorotic, yellow to orange, intercostal areas. Infected leaflets, leaves and even stems may eventually die. Often leaves and tubers are simply reduced in size. Occasionally plants are stunted. Coloured pictures of a range of symptoms can be found on the web site http://forum.europa.eu.int/Public/irc/sanco/Home/main
The earliest symptoms are a slight glassiness or translucence of the tissue without softening around the vascular system, particularly near the heel end. The vascular ring at the heel end may be slightly darker in colour than normal. The first readily identifiable symptom is one whereby the vascular ring has a yellowish coloration and when the tuber is gently squeezed, pillars of cheese-like material emerge from the vessels. This exudation contains millions of bacteria. Browning of the vascular tissue may develop and tuber symptoms at this stage are similar to those of brown rot caused by Ralstonia solanacearum. At first, these symptoms may be restricted to one part of the ring, not necessarily close to the heel end and may gradually extend to the whole ring. As the infection progresses, destruction of the vascular tissue occurs; the outer cortex may become separated from the inner cortex. In advanced stages of infection, cracks appear on the surface of the tuber, which are often reddish-brown at their margins. Recently in Europe several cases have occurred where the central cortex rots at the same time as the vascular ring resulting in secondary invasion with internal hollowing and necrosis. Secondary fungal or bacterial invasion may mask the symptoms and it may be difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish advanced ring rot symptoms from other tuber rots. Atypical symptoms may be possible. Coloured pictures of a range of symptoms can be found on the web site http://forum.europa.eu.int/Public/irc/sanco/Home/main
The standard sample size is 200 tubers per test. More intensive sampling requires more tests on samples of this size. Larger numbers of tubers in the sample will lead to inhibition or difficult interpretation of the results. However, the procedure can be conveniently applied for samples with less than 200 tubers where fewer tubers are available.
Validation of all detection methods described below is based on testing of samples of 200 tubers.
The potato extract described below can also be used for detection of the potato brown rot bacterium, Ralstonia solanacearum.
Optional pre-treatment in advance to sample preparation: U.K.
Wash the tubers. Use appropriate disinfectants (chlorine compounds when PCR-test is to be used in order to remove eventual pathogen DNA) and detergents between each sample. Air dry the tubers. This washing procedure is particularly useful (but not required) for samples with excess soil and if a PCR-test or direct isolation procedure is to be performed.
Set aside any tubers with suspected ring rot symptoms and test separately.
If during removal of the heel end core suspect symptoms of ring rot are observed, the tuber should be visually inspected after cutting near the heel end. Any cut tuber with suspected symptoms should be suberised at room temperature for two days and stored under quarantine (at 4 to 10 °C) until all tests have been completed. All tubers in the sample (including those with suspicious symptoms) should be kept according to Annex II.
cover the cores with sufficient volume (approximately 40 ml) of extraction buffer (Appendix 3) and agitate on a rotary shaker (50 to 100 rpm) for four hours below 24 °C or for 16 to 24 hours refrigerated,
or
homogenise the cores with sufficient volume (approximately 40 ml) of extraction buffer (Appendix 3), either in a blender (e.g. Waring or Ultra Thurax) or by crushing in a sealed disposable maceration bag (e.g. Stomacher or Bioreba strong guage polythene, 150 mm × 250 mm; radiation sterilised) using a rubber mallet or suitable grinding apparatus (e.g. Homex).
The risk of cross-contamination of samples is high when samples are homogenized using a blender. Take precautions to avoid aerosol generation or spillage during the extraction process. Ensure that freshly sterilised blender blades and vessels are used for each sample. If the PCR test is to be used, avoid carry-over of DNA on containers or grinding apparatus. Crushing in disposable bags and use of disposable tubes is recommended where PCR is to be used.
Repeated freezing and thawing is not advisable.
If transport of the extract is required, ensure delivery in a cool box within 24 to 48 hours.
For detection of latent C. m. subsp. sepedonicus populations it is advised to test composite samples. The procedure can be conveniently applied for composite samples of up to 200 stem parts. (Where surveys are performed they should be based on a statistically representative sample of the plant population under investigation.)
Disinfect stem segments briefly with ethanol 70 % and immediately blot dry on tissue paper.
Collect stem segments in a closed sterile container according to the following sampling procedures:
cover the segments with sufficient volume (approximately 40 ml) of extraction buffer (Appendix 3) and agitate on a rotary shaker (50 to 100 rpm) for four hours below 24 °C or for 16 to 24 hours refrigerated,
or
process immediately. By crushing the segments in a strong maceration bag (e.g. Stomacher or Bioreba) with an appropriate volume of extraction buffer (Appendix 3) using a rubber mallet or appropriate grinding apparatus (e.g. Homex). If this is not possible, store the stem segments refrigerated for not longer than 72 hours or for not longer than 24 hours at room temperature.
The use of the IF test as the principal screening test is recommended because of its proven robustness to achieve the required thresholds.
When the IF test is used as the principal screening test and the IF reading is positive, the PCR or FISH test must be performed as a second screening test. When the IF test is used as the second screening test and the IF reading is positive, further testing according to the flow scheme is required to complete the analysis.
Always use a polyclonal antibody, when the IF test is used as the principal screening test. In case of a positive IF reading with a polyclonal antibody further screening of the sample with a monoclonal antibody may provide more specificity but can be less sensitive.
Use antibodies to a reference strain of C. m. subsp. sepedonicus . It is recommended that the titre is determined for each new batch of antibodies. The titre is defined as the highest dilution at which optimum reaction occurs when testing a suspension containing 10 5 to 10 6 cells per ml of the homologous strain of C. m. subsp. sepedonicus and using an appropriate fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) conjugate according to the manufacturer's recommendations. The crude polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies should have an IF titre of at least 1:2000. During testing, the antibodies should be used at a working dilution(s) (WD) close to or at the titre. Use validated antibodies (see web site http://forum.europa.eu.int/Public/irc/sanco/Home/main).
The test should be performed on freshly-prepared sample extracts. If necessary, it can be successfully performed on extracts stored at -68 to -86 °C under glycerol. Glycerol can be removed from the sample by addition of 1 ml pellet buffer (Appendix 4), re-centrifugation for 15 minutes at 7 000 g and resuspension in an equal volume of pellet buffer. This is often not necessary, especially if slides samples are fixed to the slides by flaming (see 2.2).
Prepare separate positive control slides of the homologous strain or any other reference strain of C. m. subsp. sepedonicus , suspended in potato extract, as specified in Appendix 2, and optionally in buffer.
Naturally infected tissue (maintained by lyophilization or freezing at -16 to -24 °C) should be used where possible as a similar control on the same slide.
As negative controls, use aliquots of sample extract which previously tested negative.
Use multiwell microscope slides with preferably 10 windows of at least 6 mm diameter.
Test control material in an identical manner as the sample(s).
For pellets with relatively little starch sediment:
Pipette a measured standard volume (15 µl is appropriate for 6 mm window diameter-scale up volume for larger windows) of a 1/100 dilution of the resuspended potato pellet onto the first window. Subsequently pipette a similar volume of undiluted pellet (1/1) onto the remaining windows on the row. The second row can be used as duplicate or for a second sample as presented in Figure 1.
For other pellets:
Prepare decimal dilutions (1/10 and 1/100) of the resuspended pellet in pellet buffer. Pipette a measured standard volume (15 µl is appropriate for 6 mm window diameter-scale up volume for larger windows) of the resuspended pellet and each dilution on a row of windows. The second row can be used as duplicate or for a second sample as presented in Figure 2.
If necessary, fixed slides may then be stored frozen in a desiccated box for as little time as necessary (up to a maximum of 3 months) prior to further testing.
IF procedure: U.K.
According to test slide preparation in 4.1(i):
Prepare a set of twofold dilutions of the antibody in IF buffer. The first well should have 1/2 of the titre (T/2), the others 1/4 of the titre (T/4), 1/2 of the titre (T/2), the titre (T) and twice the titre (2T).
According to test slide preparation in 4.1(ii):
Prepare the working dilution (WD) of the antibody in IF buffer. The working dilution affects the specificity.
The following procedure should be carried out in the absence of specific instructions from the suppliers of the antibodies:
Carefully remove excess moisture.
Reading the IF test: U.K.
Check the positive control slide first. Cells must be bright fluorescent and completely stained at the determined antibody titre or working dilution. The IF test (section 4) must be repeated if the staining is aberrant.
If any contamination is suspected the test must be repeated. This may be the case when all slides in a batch show positive cells due to the contamination of buffer or if positive cells are found (outside of the slide windows) on the slide coating.
If bright fluorescing cells with characteristic morphology are found, estimate the average number of typical cells per microscope field and calculate the number of typical cells per ml of resuspended pellet (Appendix 4).
The IF reading is positive for samples with at least 5 × 10 3 typical cells per ml of resuspended pellet. The sample is considered potentially contaminated. and further testing is required.
The IF reading is negative for samples with less than 5 × 10 3 cells per ml resuspended pellet and the sample is considered negative. Further testing is not required.
When the FISH test is used as the first screening test and found to be positive, the IF test must be performed as a second compulsory screening test. When the FISH test is used as the second screening test and found to be positive, further testing according to the flow scheme is required to complete the diagnosis.
Use validated C. m. subsp. sepedonicus -specific oligo-probes (Appendix 7). Preliminary testing with this method should permit reproducible detection of at least 10 3 to 10 4 cells of C. m. subsp. sepedonicus per ml added to sample extracts which previously tested negative.
The following procedure should preferably be performed on freshly prepared sample extract but can also be successfully performed on sample extract that has been stored under glycerol at -16 to -24 °C or -68 to -86 °C.
As negative controls, use aliquots of sample extract that previously tested negative for C. m. subsp. sepedonicus .
As positive controls prepare suspensions containing 10 5 to 10 6 cells per ml of C. m. subsp. sepedonicus (e.g. strain NCPPB 4053, or PD 406) in 0,01M phosphate buffer (PB) from a three to five day culture (preparation see Appendix 2). Prepare separate positive control slides of the homologous strain or any other reference strain of C. m. subsp. sepedonicus , suspended in potato extract, as specified in Appendix 2.
The use of the FITC-labelled eubacterial oligo-probe offers a control for the hybridisation process, since it will stain all eubacteria that are present in the sample.
Test control material in an identical manner as the sample(s).
The following protocol is based upon Wullings et al. , (1998): U.K.
An alternative fixative is 96 % ethanol. To use this dissolve the pellet from step 5.1.2 in 50 µl 0,01M PB and 50 µl 96 % ethanol. Vortex mix and incubate at 4 °C for 30 to 60 minutes.
At this stage the procedure may be interrupted and the hybridisation continued the following day. Slides should be stored dust-free and dry at room temperature.
Alternatively, instead of lysozyme add 50 µl of 40 to 400µg ml –1 proteinase K in buffer (20 mM Tris-HCl, 2 mM CaCl 2 , pH 7,4) to each well and incubate at 37 °C for 30 minutes.
Valid FISH test results are obtained if bright green fluorescent cells of size and morphology typical of C. m. subsp. sepedonicus are observed using the FITC filter and if bright red fluorescent cells using the rhodamine filter in all positive controls and not in any of the negative controls. If bright fluorescing cells with characteristic morphology are found, estimate the average number of typical cells per microscope field and calculate the number of typical cells per ml of resuspended pellet (Appendix 4). Samples with at least 5 × 10 3 typical cells per ml of resuspended pellet are considered potentially contaminated. Further testing is required. Samples with less than 5 × 10 3 typical cells per ml of resuspended pellet are considered negative.
The FISH test is negative if bright red fluorescent cells with size and morphology typical of C. m. subsp. sepedonicus are not observed using the rhodamine filter, provided that typical bright red fluorescent cells are observed in the positive control preparations when using the rhodamine filter.
When the PCR test is used as the principal screening test and found to be positive, the IF test must be performed as a second compulsory screening test. When the PCR test is used as the second screening test and found to be positive, further testing according to the flow scheme is required to complete the diagnosis.
Full exploitation of this method as principal screening test is only recommended when specialised expertise has been acquired.
Preliminary testing with this method should permit reproducible detection of 10 3 to 10 4 cells of C. m. subsp. sepedonicus per ml added to sample extracts which previously tested negative. Optimisation experiments may be required to achieve maximum levels of sensitivity and specificity in all laboratories.
Use validated PCR reagents and protocols. Preferably select a method with an internal control.
Use appropriate precautions to avoid contamination of sample with target DNA. The PCR test should be performed by experienced technicians, in dedicated molecular biology laboratories, in order to minimise the possibility of contamination with target DNA.
Negative controls (for DNA extraction and PCR procedures) should always be handled as final samples in the procedure, to make evident whether any carry over of DNA has occurred.
The following negative controls should be included in the PCR test:
sample extract that previously tested negative for C. m. subsp. Sepedonicus ,
buffer controls used for extracting the bacterium and the DNA from the sample,
PCR-reaction mix.
The following positive controls should be included:
aliquots of resuspended pellets to which C. m. subsp. sepedonicus has been added (preparation see Appendix 2),
a suspension of 10 6 cells per ml of C. m. subsp. sepedonicus in water from a virulent isolate (e.g. NCPPB 2140 or NCPPB 4053),
if possible also use DNA extracted from positive control samples in the PCR test.
To avoid potential contamination prepare positive controls in a separate environment from samples to be tested.
Sample extracts should be as free as possible from soil. It could therefore in certain cases advisible to prepare extractions from washed potatoes if PCR protocols are to be used.
Use positive and negative control samples as described above. U.K.
Prepare control material in an identical manner as the sample(s).
A variety of methods are available for purification of target DNA from complex sample substrates, thus removing inhibitors of PCR and other enzymatic reactions and concentrating target DNA in the sample extract.
The following method has been optimised for use with the validated PCR method shown in Appendix 6.
Pipette 220 µl of lysis buffer (100 mM NaCl, 10 mM Tris-HCl [pH 8,0], 1 mM EDTA [pH 8,0]) into a 1,5 ml Eppendorf tube.
Add 100 µl sample extract and place in a heating block or waterbath at 95 °C for 10 minutes.
Put tube on ice for five minutes.
Add 80 µl Lysozyme stock solution (50 mg lysozyme per ml in 10 mM Tris HCl, pH 8,0) and incubate at 37 °C for 30 minutes.
Add 220 µl of Easy DNA ® solution A (Invitrogen), mix well by vortexing and incubate at 65 °C for 30 minutes.
Add 100 µl of Easy DNA ® solution B (Invitrogen), vortex vigorously until the precipitate runs freely in the tube and the sample is uniformly viscous.
Add 500 µl of chloroform and vortex until the viscosity decreases and the mixture is homogeneous.
Centrifuge at 15 000 g for 20 minutes at 4 °C to separate phases and form the interphase.
Transfer the upper phase into a fresh Eppendorf tube.
Add 1 ml of 100 % ethanol ( -20 °C) vortex briefly and incubate on ice for 10 minutes.
Centrifuge at 15 000 g for 20 minutes at 4 °C and remove ethanol from pellet.
Add 500 µl 80 % ethanol ( -20 °C) and mix by inverting the tube.
Centrifuge at 15 000 g for 10 minutes at 4 °C, save the pellet and remove ethanol.
Allow the pellet to dry in air or in a DNA speed vac.
Resuspend the pellet in 100 µl sterile UPW and leave at room temperature for at least 20 minutes.
Store at -20 °C until required for PCR.
Spin down any white precipitate by centrifugation and use 5 µl of the supernatant containing DNA for the PCR.
Other DNA extraction methods (e.g. Qiagen DNeasy Plant Kit) could be applied providing that they are proven to be equally as effective in purifying DNA from control samples containing 10 3 to 10 4 pathogen cells per ml.
Interpretation of the PCR test result:
The PCR test is negative if the C. m. subsp. sepedonicus -specific PCR amplicon of expected size is not detected for the sample in question but is detected for all positive control samples (in case of multiplex PCR with plant specific internal control primers: a second PCR-product of expected size must be amplified with the sample in question).
The PCR test is positive if the C. m. subsp. sepedonicus -specific PCR amplicon of expected size and restriction pattern (when required) is detected, providing that it is not amplified from any of the negative control samples. Reliable confirmation of a positive result can also be obtained by repeating the test with a second set of PCR primers (section 9.3).
Inhibition of the PCR may be suspected if the expected amplicon is obtained from the positive control sample containing C. m. subsp. sepedonicus in water but negative results are obtained from positive controls with C. m. subsp. sepedonicus in potato extract. In multiplex PCR protocols with internal PCR controls, inhibition of the reaction is indicated when neither of the two amplicons are obtained.
Contamination may be suspected if the expected amplicon is obtained from one or more of the negative controls.
Preliminary testing with this method should permit reproducible detection of 10 3 to 10 4 colony-forming units of C. m. subsp. sepedonicus per ml added to sample extracts that previously tested negative (preparation see Appendix 2).
Highest sensitivity of detection can be expected when using freshly prepared sample extract and optimal growth conditions. However, the method can be successfully applied to extracts that have been stored under glycerol at -68 to -86 °C. U.K.
Some varieties of eggplant provide an excellent selective enrichment medium for the growth of C. m. subsp. sepedonicus even in the absence of symptoms and also provide an excellent confirmatory host test.
Growth conditions should be optimal to reduce the risk of false negative test results.
For cultural details, see Appendix 8.
Slit inoculation U.K.
Inoculate the eggplant stems just above the cotyledons using a syringe fitted with a hypodermic needle (not less than 23 G). Distribute the sample between the eggplants.
Wilts may also be induced by populations of other bacteria or fungi present in the tuber tissue pellet. These include Ralstonia solanacearum, Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora and E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica, Erwinia chrysanthemi, Phoma exigua var. foveata , as well as large populations of saprophytic bacteria. In particular Erwinia chrysanthemi can cause leaf symptoms and wilt that is very similar to symptoms of C. m. sepedonicus . The only difference is blackening of the stems in case in Erwinia chrysanthemi infections. Other wilts can be distinguished from those caused by C. m. subsp. sepedonicus since whole leaves or whole plants wilt rapidly. Also a Gram stain can be prepared: this test will differentiate C. m. subsp. sepedonicus from Erwinia spp.
Interpretation of the bioassay test result.
Valid Bioassay test results are obtained when plants of the positive control show typical symptoms, the bacteria can be reisolated from these plants and no symptoms are found on the negative controls.
The bioassay test is negative if test plants are not infected by C. m. subsp. sepedonicus , and provided that C. m. subsp. sepedonicus is detected in positive controls.
The bioassay test is positive if the test plants are infected by C. m. subsp. sepedonicus .
Diagnosis is only completed if C. m. subsp. sepedonicus is isolated, subsequently identified (see section 9). and confirmed by a pathogenicity test (section 10). Although C. m. subsp. sepedonicus is a fastidious organism, it can be isolated from symptomatic tissue.
However, it may be outgrown by rapidly growing saprophytic bacteria and, therefore, isolations directly from the tuber or stem tissue pellet (section 3.1.6 or 3.2.5) is difficult. With selective medium and appropriate dilution of the resuspended pellet from the heel end cores or stems of potatoes direct isolation of C. m. subsp. sepedonicus may be possible. U.K.
Isolations shall be made from all symptomatic potato tubers or stem segments and from eggplants were no symptoms are observed but IF/PCR test from the composite sample was positive (see section 7.10). Maceration of eggplants stems when necessary should be carried out as described in section 3.1.3.
As positive controls, prepare decimal dilutions from a suspension of 10 6 cfu per ml of C. m. subsp. sepedonicus (e.g. NCPPB 4053 or PD 406). To avoid any possibility of contamination, prepare positive controls totally separated from samples to be tested.
For each newly prepared batch of a selective medium its suitability for growth of the pathogen should be tested before it is used to test routine samples.
Test control material in an identical manner as the sample(s).
An alternative strategy is to spread out the initial 100 µl potato pellet aliquot onto a first agar plate with a spreader and then remove the spreader to a second agar plate, streaking out any residue left on the spreader; finally repeat this with a third plate, thus giving a dilution plating effect via the spreader.
Subculturing of C. m. subsp. sepedonicus -like colonies should be carried out onto YGM media for eggplant inoculation and/or subsequent identification; this should be done before the plates become too overgrown i.e. preferably after three to five days.
nutrient dextrose agar (for use in subculturing only),
yeast peptone glucose agar,
yeast extract mineral salts agar.
Incubate at 21 °C to 24 °C for up to 10 days.
C. m. subsp. sepedonicus is slow-growing, usually producing pin-point, cream, domed colonies within 10 days. Photos of typical colonies of C. m. subsp. sepedonicus (see web site http://forum.europa.eu.int/Public/irc/sanco/Home/main).
Growth rates are improved with subculture. Typical colonies are creamy-white or ivory, occasionally yellow, rounded, smooth, raised, convex-domed, mucoid-fluidal, with entire edges and usually 1 to 3 mm in diameter.
A simple Gram stain (Appendix 9) may help to select colonies for further testing.
Identify pure cultures of presumptive C. m. subsp. sepedonicus isolates using at least two of the following tests based on different biological principles. U.K.
Include known reference strains where appropriate for each test performed.
Determine the following phenotypic properties which are universally present or absent in C. m. subsp. sepedonicus , according to the methods of Lelliott and Stead (1987), Klement et al. (1990), Schaad (2001), Anonymous (1987).
All media should be incubated at 21 °C and examined after six days. If no growth has occurred, incubate for up to 20 days.
All tests must include a known C. m. subsp. sepedonicus control. Nutritional and physiological tests must be made using inocula from nutrient agar subcultures. Morphological comparisons must be made from nutrient dextrose agar cultures.
Tests | Expected result |
---|---|
Oxidation/Fermentation (O/F) test | Inert or weakly oxidative |
Oxidase activity | – |
Growth at 37 °C | – |
Urease activity | – |
Aesculin hydrolysis | + |
Starch hydrolysis | – or weak |
Tolerance of 7 % NaCl | – |
Indole production | – |
Catalase activity | + |
H 2 S production | – |
Citrate utilization | – |
Gelatin liquefaction | – |
Acid glycerol | – |
Acid from lactose | – or weak |
Acid from rhamnose | – |
Acid from salicin | – |
Gram stain (Appendix 9) | + |
Prepare a suspension of approximately 10 6 cells per ml in IF buffer (Appendix 3).
Prepare a 2-fold dilution series of an appropriate antiserum.
Apply the IF procedure (section 4).
A positive IF test is achieved if the IF titre of the culture is equivalent to that of the positive control.
Prepare a suspension of approximately 10 6 cells per ml in ultra pure water (UPW).
Heat 100 µl of the cell suspension in closed tubes in a heating block or boiling waterbath at 100 °C for four minutes. If required, addition of freshly-prepared NaOH to a final concentration of 0,05M may assist cell lysis. The samples may then be stored at -16 to -24 °C until required.
Apply appropriate PCR procedures to amplify C. m. subsp. sepedonicus specific amplicons (e. g. Pastrik, 2000; see Appendix 4; Li and de Boer, 1995; Mills et al. , 1997; Pastrik and Rainey, 1999; Schaad et al. , 1999.
A positive identification of C. m. subsp. sepedonicus is achieved if the PCR amplicons are the same size and have the same restriction fragment length polymorphisms as for the positive control strain.
Prepare a suspension of approximately 10 6 cells per ml in UPW.
Apply the FISH procedure (section 5).
A positive FISH test is achieved if the same reactions are achieved from the culture and the positive control.
Grow the culture on trypticase soy agar (Oxoid) for 72 hours at 21 °C (+/– 1°).
Apply an appropriate FAP procedure (Janse, 1991; Stead, 1992).
A positive FAP test is achieved if the profile of the presumptive culture is identical to that of the positive control. The presence of characteristic fatty acids are 15:1 Anteiso A, 15:0 Iso, 15:0 Anteiso, 16:0 Iso, 16:0 and 17:0 Anteiso is highly indicative of C. m. sepedonicus . Other genera such as Curtobacterium, Arthrobacter and Micrococcus also have some of these acids but 15:1 Anteiso A is a rare acid in these bacteria but occurs in all Clavibacter spp. at between 1 to 5 %. In C. m. sepedonicus the value is usually around 5 %.
Prepare a suspension of approximately 10 6 cells per ml in UPW.
Apply the test according the procedure (Smith et al. , 2001).
The pathogenicity test must be performed as final confirmation of a diagnosis of C. m. subsp. sepedonicus and for assessment of virulence of cultures identified as C. m. subsp. sepedonicus : U.K.
a Contact scientists: see website http://forum.europa.eu.int/Public/irc/sanco/Home/main | ||
Laboratory a | Location | Country |
---|---|---|
Agentur für Gesundheit und Ernährungssicherheit | Vienna and Linz | Austria |
Departement Gewasbescherming | Merelbeke | Belgium |
Plantedirektoratet | Lyngby | Denmark |
Central Science Laboratory | York | England |
Scottish Agricultural Science Agency | Edinburgh | Scotland |
Laboratoire National de la Protection des Végétaux, Unité de Bactériologie | Angers | France |
Laboratoire National de la Protection des Végétaux, Station de Quarantaine de la Pomme de Terre | Le Rheu | France |
Biologische Bundesanstalt | Kleinmachnow | Germany |
Pflanzenschutzamt Hannover | Hannover | Germany |
State Laboratory | Dublin | Ireland |
Plantenziektenkundige Dienst | Wageningen | Netherlands |
Norwegian Crop Research Institute, Plant Protection Centre | Aas | Norway |
Direcção-Geral de Protecção das Culturas | Lisbon | Portugal |
Nacionalni institut za biologijo | Ljubljana | Slovenia |
Centro de Diagnostico de Aldearrubia | Salamanca | Spain |
Produce a 72 hour culture of a virulent strain of C. m. subsp. sepedonicus (NCPPB 4053 or PD 406) on MTNA basal medium and suspend in 10 mM phosphate buffer to obtain a cell density of approximately 1 to 2 × 10 8 cfu per ml. This is usually obtained by a faintly turbid suspension equivalent to an optical density of 0,20 at 600 nm.
Remove the heel end cores of 200 tubers taken from a white skin variety production known to be free from C. m. subsp. sepedonicus .
Process the heel ends as usual and resuspend the pellet in 10 ml.
Prepare 10 sterile 1,5 ml microvials with 900 µl of the resuspended pellet.
Transfer 100 µl of the suspension of C. m. subsp. sepedonicus to the first microvial. Vortex.
Establish decimal levels of contamination by further diluting in the next five microvials.
The six contaminated microvials will be used as positive controls. The four non-contaminated microvials will be used as negative controls. Label the microvials accordingly.
Prepare aliquots of 100 µl in sterile 1,5 ml microvials thus obtaining nine replicas of each control sample. Store at -16 to -24 °C until use.
The presence and quantification of C. m. subsp. sepedonicus in the control samples should be first confirmed by IF.
For the PCR test perform DNA extraction from positive and negative control samples with each series of test samples.
For IF and FISH tests perform assays on positive and negative control samples with each series of test samples.
For IF, FISH and PCR assays C. m. subsp. sepedonicus must be detected in at least the 10 6 and 10 4 cells/ml of the positive controls and not in any of the negative controls.
GENERAL: Unopened sterilized buffers can be stored for up to one year. U.K.
This buffer is used for extraction of the bacterium from plant tissues by homogenisation or shaking.
Na 2 HPO 4 (anhydrous) | 4,26 g |
KH 2 PO 4 | 2,72 g |
Distilled water | 1.00 L |
Dissolve ingredients, check pH and sterilise by autoclaving at 121 °C for 15 min.
Additional components may be useful as follows:
This buffer is used for resuspension and dilution of potato tuber heel-end core extracts following concentration to a pellet by centrifugation.
Na 2 HPO 4 .12H 2 O | 2,7 g |
NaH 2 PO 4 .2H 2 O | 0,4 g |
Distilled water | 1,00 L |
Dissolve ingredients, check pH and sterilise by autoclaving at 121 °C for 15 min.
This buffer is used for dilution of antibodies.
Na 2 HPO 4 .12H 2 O | 2,7 g |
NaH 2 PO 4 .2H 2 O | 0,4 g |
NaCl | 8,0 g |
Distilled water | 1.0 L |
Dissolve ingredients, check pH and sterilise by autoclaving at 121 °C for 15 min.
This buffer is used to wash slides.
Add 0,1 % Tween 20 to the IF buffer.
This buffer is used as a mountant fluid on the windows of IF slides to enhance fluorescence.
Na 2 HPO 4 .12H 2 O | 3,2 g |
NaH 2 PO 4 .2H 2 O | 0,15 g |
Glycerol | 50 ml |
Distilled water | 100 ml |
Anti-fading mountant solutions are commercially available e.g. Vectashield ® (Vector Laboratories) or Citifluor ® (Leica).
Count the mean number of typical fluorescent cells per field of view (c)
Calculate the number of typical fluorescent cells per microscope slide window (C)
C = c × S/s
where | S | = | surface area of window of multispot slide, and |
s | = | surface area of objective field. |
s = πi 2 /4G 2 K 2 | where | i | = | field coefficient (varies from 8 to 24 depending upon ocular type) |
K | = | tube coefficient (1 or 1,25) | ||
G | = | magnification of objective (100x, 40x etc.). |
Calculate the number of typical fluorescent cells per ml of resuspended pellet (N)
N = C × 1 000 /y × F
where | y | = | volume of resuspended pellet on each window, and |
F | = | dilution factor of resuspended pellet. |
Nutrient Agar (Difco) | 23,0 g |
Distilled water | 1,0 L |
Dissolve ingredients and sterilise by autoclaving at 121 °C for 15 min.
Difco bacto nutrient agar containing 1 % D(+) glucose (monohydrate). Sterilize by autoclaving at 115 °C for 20 minutes.
Yeast Extract (Difco) | 5,0 g |
Bacto-Peptone (Difco) | 5,0 g |
D(+) Glucose (monohydrate) | 10,0 g |
Bacto-Agar (Difco) | 15,0 g |
Distilled water | 1,0 L |
Dissolve ingredients and sterilise by autoclaving at 121 °C for 15 min.
Bacto-Yeast-Extract (Difco) | 2,0 g |
D(+) Glucose (monohydrate) | 2,5 g |
K 2 HPO 4 | 0,25 g |
KH 2 PO 4 | 0,25 g |
MgSO 4 .7H 2 O | 0,1 g |
MnSO 4 .H 2 O | 0,015 g |
NaCl | 0,05 g |
FeSO 4 .7H 2 O | 0,005 g |
Bacto-Agar (Difco) | 18 g |
Distilled water | 1,0 L |
Dissolve ingredients and sterilize 0,5 litre volumes of medium by autoclaving at 115 °C for 20 minutes.
Unless otherwise stated all media components are from BDH.
Yeast extract (Difco) | 2,0 g |
Mannitol | 2,5 g |
K 2 HPO 4 | 0,25 g |
KH 2 PO 4 | 0,25 g |
NaCl | 0,05 g |
MgSO 4 .7H 2 O | 0,1 g |
MnSO 4 .H 2 O | 0,015 g |
FeSO 4 .7H 2 O | 0,005 g |
Agar (Oxoid no. 1) | 16,0 g |
Distilled water | 1,0 L |
Dissolve ingredients, adjust pH to 7,2. After autoclaving (at 121 °C for 15 minutes) and cooling down to 50 °C, add the antibiotics: trimethoprim 0,06 g, nalidixic acid 0,002 g, amphotericin B 0,01 g.
Stock antibiotic solutions: trimethoprim (Sigma) and nalidixic acid (Sigma) (both at 5 mg/ml), in 96 % methanol, amphotericin B (Sigma) (1 mg/ml) in dimethyl sulfoxide. Stock solutions are filter-sterilized.
Durability of basal medium is three months. After antibiotics are added durability is one month when stored refrigerated.
Nutrient agar (Difco) | 23 g |
Yeast extract (Difco) | 2 g |
D-mannitol | 5 g |
K 2 HPO 4 | 2 g |
KH 2 PO 4 | 0,5 g |
MgSO 4 .7H 2 O | 0,25 g |
Distilled water | 1,0 L |
Dissolve ingredients, adjust pH to 7,2. After autoclaving and cooling down to 50 °C, add the following antibiotics: Polymyxin B sulphate (Sigma) 0,003 g, nalidixic acid (Sigma) 0,008 g, Cycloheximide (Sigma) 0,2 g.
Dissolve antibiotics in stock solutions as follows: nalidixic acid in 0,01 M NaOH, cycloheximide in 50 % ethanol, polymyxin B sulphate in distilled water. Stock solutions are filter-sterilized.
Durability of basal medium is three months. After antibiotics are added durability is one month when stored refrigerated.
Preliminary testing should permit reproducible detection of at least 10 3 to 10 4 cells of C. m. sepedonicus per ml of sample extract.
Preliminary testing should also show no false positive results with a panel of selected bacterial strains.
Forward primer PSA-1 | 5′- ctc ctt gtg ggg tgg gaa aa -3′ |
Reverse primer PSA-R | 5′- tac tga gat gtt tca ctt ccc c -3′ |
Forward primer NS-7-F | 5′- gag gca ata aca ggt ctg tga tgc -3′ |
Reverse Primer NS-8-R | 5’- tcc gca ggt tca cct acg ga -3’ |
Expected amplicon size from C. m. subsp. sepedonicus template DNA = 502 bp (PSA-primer set).
Expected amplicon size from the 18S rRNA internal PCR control = 377 bp (NS-primer set).
a Methods were validated using Taq polymerase from Perkin Elmer (AmpliTaq or Gold) and Gibco BRL. | ||
b Concentration of primers NS-7 F and NS-8-R were optimised for potato heel end core extraction using the homogenisation method and DNA purification according to Pastrik (2000) (see section 6.1.a) and 6.2). Re-optimisation of reagent concentrations will be required if extraction by shaking or other DNA isolation methods are used. | ||
Reagent | Quantity per reaction | Final concentration |
---|---|---|
Sterile UPW | 15,725 µl | |
10x PCR buffer a (15 mM MgCl 2 ) | 2,5 µl | 1x (1,5 mM MgCl 2 ) |
BSA (fraction V) (10 %) | 0,25 µl | 0,1 % |
d-nTP mix (20 mM) | 0,125 µl | 0,1 mM |
Primer PSA-1 (10 µM) | 0,5 µl | 0,2 µM |
Primer PSA-R (10 µM) | 0,5 µl | 0,2 µM |
Primer NS-7-F (10 µM) b | 0,1 µl | 0,04 µM |
Primer NS-8-R (10 µM) b | 0,1 µl | 0,04 µM |
Taq polymerase (5 U/µl) a | 0,2 µl | 1,0 U |
Sample volume | 5,0 µl | |
Total volume | 25,0 µl |
Run the following programme:
1 cycle of: | (i) | 3 minutes at 95 °C (denaturation of template DNA) |
10 cycles of: | (ii) | 1 minute at 95 °C (denaturation of template DNA) |
(iii) | 1 minute at 64 °C (annealing of primers) | |
(iv) | 1 minute at 72 °C (extension of copy) | |
25 cycles of: | (v) | 30 seconds at 95 °C (denaturation of template DNA) |
(vi) | 30 seconds at 62 °C (annealing of primers) | |
(vii) | 1 minute at 72 °C (extension of copy) | |
1 cycle of: | (viii) | 5 minutes at 72 °C (final extension) |
(ix) | hold at 4 °C. |
This programme is optimised for use with an MJ Research PTC 200 thermal cycler. Modification of the duration steps of cycles (ii), (iii) (iv), (v), (vi) and (vii) may be required for use with other models.
PCR products amplified from C. m. subsp. sepedonicus DNA produce a distinctive restriction fragment length polymorphism with enzyme Bgl II after incubation at 37 °C for 30 minutes. The restriction fragments obtained from C. m. subsp. sepedonicus -specific fragment are 282 bp and 220 bp in size.
Bromphenol blue | 5 g |
Distilled Water (bidest) | 50 ml |
Glycerol (86 %) | 3,5 ml |
Bromphenol blue (5.1) | 300 µl |
Distilled Water (bidest) | 6,2 ml |
Tris buffer | 48,4 g |
Glacial acetic acid | 11,42 ml |
EDTA (disodium salt) | 3,72 g |
Distilled water | 1,00 L |
Dilute to 1x before use.
Also commercially available (e.g. Invitrogen or equivalent).
Cms -specific probe CMS-CY3-01: | 5′- ttg cgg ggc gca cat ctc tgc acg -3′ |
Non-specific eubacterial probe EUB-338-FITC: | 5′- gct gcc tcc cgt agg agt -3′ |
[WARNING! THE FIXATIVE CONTAINS PARAFORMALDEHYDE WHICH IS TOXIC. WEAR GLOVES AND DO NOT INHALE. IT IS ADVISABLE TO WORK IN A FUME CUPBOARD]
Heat nine ml molecular grade water (e.g. Ultra pure water (UPW)) to about 60 °C and add 0,4 g paraformaldehyde. Paraformaldehyde dissolves after adding five drops of 1N NaOH and stirring with a magnetic stirrer.
Adjust pH to 7,0 by addition of 1ml of 0,1 M phosphate buffer (PB; pH 7,0) and five drops of 1 N HCl. Check pH with indicator strips and adjust if necessary with HCl or NaOH.
[WARNING! DO NOT USE A PH METER IN SOLUTIONS WITH PARAFORMALEDHYDE]
Filter the solution through a 0,22 µm membrane filter and keep dust-free at 4 °C until further use.
Note:
Alternative fixative solution: 96 % ethanol.
NaCl | 2,7 M |
Tris-HCl | 60 mM (pH 7,4) |
EDTA (filter sterilised and autoclaved) | 15 mM |
Dilute to 1x as required.
1x Hybmix
Sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) | 0,01 % |
probe EUB 338 | 5 ng/μl |
probe CMSCY301 | 5 ng/μl |
Prepare quantities of hybridisation solution according to the calculations in Table. For each slide (containing two different samples in duplicate) 90 μl hybridisation solution is required.
2 slides | 8 slides | |
---|---|---|
Sterile UPW | 50,1 | 200,4 |
3x hybmix | 30,0 | 120,0 |
1 % SDS | 0,9 | 3,6 |
Probe EUB 338 (100 ng/μl) | 4,5 | 18,0 |
Probe CMSCY301 (100 ng/μl) | 4,5 | 18,0 |
Total volume (μl) | 90,0 | 360,0 |
NB. Store all solutions containing light sensitive oligo-probes in the dark at -20 °C. Protect from direct sunlight or electric light during use. U.K.
Na 2 HPO 4 | 8,52 g |
KH 2 PO 4 | 5,44 g |
Distilled water | 1,00 L |
Dissolve ingredients, check pH and sterilise by autoclaving at 121 °C for 15 min.
Sow seeds of eggplant ( Solanum melongena ) in pasteurized seed compost. Transplant seedlings with fully expanded cotyledons (10 to 14 days) into pasteurized potting compost.
Eggplants should be grown in a glasshouse with the following environmental conditions:
Day length: | 14 hours or natural day length if greater; | |
Temperature: | day: | 21 to 24 °C, |
night: | 15 °C. |
Susceptible varieties of eggplant: | ‘ Black Beauty ’ , |
‘ Long Tom ’ , | |
‘ Rima ’ , | |
‘ Balsas ’ |
Supplier: see website http://forum.europa.eu.int/Public/irc/sanco/Home/main
Dissolve 2 g crystal violet in 20 ml 95 % ethanol.
Dissolve 0,8 g ammonium oxalate in 80 ml distilled water.
Mix the two solutions.
Iodine | 1 g |
Potassium iodide | 2 g |
Distilled water | 300 ml |
Grind the solids together in a pestle and mortar. Add to the water and stir to dissolve in a closed container.
Stock solution:
Safranin O | 2,5 g |
95 % ethanol | 100 ml |
Mix and store.
Dilute: 1:10 to obtain a working solution.
Prepare smears, air dry and heat fix.
Flood slide with crystal violet solution for one minute.
Wash briefly with tap water.
Flood with Lugol's iodine for one minute.
Wash with tap water and blot dry.
Decolourise with 95 % ethanol, added dropwise, until no further colour is removed or immerse with gentle agitation for 30 seconds.
Wash in tap water and blot dry.
Flood with safranin solution for 10 seconds.
Wash with tap water and blot dry.
Gram positive bacteria stain violet-blue; Gram negative bacteria stain pink-red.
For each suspected occurrence for which a positive result in the screening test (s) has been identified according to the methods set out in Annex I, and confirmation or refutation by completion of the said methods is awaited, there should be the retention and appropriate conservation of:
all tubers sampled and, wherever possible, all plants sampled,
any remaining extract and additional prepared material for the screening test(s), e.g. immunofluorescence slides,
and
all relevant documentation,
until the completion of the said methods.
Retention of the tubers will enable variety testing to be undertaken where appropriate.
In the case of positive confirmation of the organism, there should be retention and appropriate conservation of:
the material specified in paragraph 1,
and
a sample of the infected eggplant material inoculated with the tuber or plant extract,
and
the isolated culture of the organism,
until at least one month after the notification procedure under Article 5(2).]
The elements to be considered in the determination of the extent of probable contamination under Article 5(1)(b) shall include:
tubers or plants grown at a place of production designated as contaminated under Article 5(1)(a),
place(s) of production with some production link to the tubers or plants, designated as contaminated under Article 5(1)(a), including those sharing production equipment and facilities directly or through a common contractor,
tubers or plants produced in the place(s) of production referred to in the previous indent, or present in such place(s) of production during the period when the tubers or plants designated as contaminated under Article 5(1)(a) were present on the place of production referred to in the first indent,
premises handling potatoes from the places of production referred to in the above indents,
any machinery, vehicle, vessel, store, or units thereof, and any other objects including packaging material, that may have come into contact with the tubers or plants designated as contaminated under Article 5(1)(a),
any tubers or plants stored in, or in contact with, any of the structures or objects listed in the previous indent, prior to the cleansing and disinfection of such structures and objects,
as a result of the testing under Article 6, those tubers or plants with a sister or parental clonal relationship to the tubers or plants designated to be contaminated under Article 5(1)(a) and for which, although they may have tested negative for the organism, it appears that contamination is probable through a clonal link. Variety testing may be undertaken to verify the identity of the contaminated and clonally related tubers or plants,
and
place(s) of production of the tubers or plants referred to in the previous indent.
The elements to be considered in the determination of the possible spread under Article 5(1)(c) shall include:
the proximity of other places of production growing potatoes or other host plants,
the common production and use of seed potato stocks.
The notification referred to in the first subparagraph of Article 5(2) shall be provided as follows:
immediately after the presence of the organism has been confirmed by laboratory testing, using the methods set out in Annex I, at least:
the variety name of the potato lot,
the type (ware, seed, etc.) and where applicable the seed category of potatoes,
when there is a risk of contamination of potatoes from or into another Member States(s), the Member State in which the occurrence has been confirmed shall immediately notify the Member State(s) concerned of information needed to comply with Article 5(3), such as:
the variety name of the potato lot,
the name and address of the consignor and the consignee,
the date of delivery of the potato lot,
the size of the potato lot delivered,
a copy of the plant passport or at least the plant passport number where appropriate, or where appropriate the registration number of the grower or merchant and a copy of the delivery notice.
The Commission shall be notified immediately when such information has been provided.
After all investigations have been finalised, for each case:
the date that contamination was confirmed,
a brief description of the investigation carried out to identify the source and possible spread of the contamination, including the level of sampling undertaken,
information on the identified or presumed sources(s) of contamination,
details of the extent of the designated contamination, including the number of places of production and the number of lots with an indication of the variety and, if seed potatoes, category,
details of the zone demarcation, including the number of places of production, not designated as contaminated, but included in the zone,
such other information relating to the confirmed outbreak(s) as the Commission may require.]
The officially supervised measures referred to in Article 7(1) shall be:
use as animal feed after heat treatment such that there is no risk of the organism surviving,
or
disposal at an officially approved dedicated waste disposal site at which there is no identifiable risk of escape of the pathogen into the environment e.g. through seepage to agricultural land,
or
incineration,
or
industrial processing through direct and immediate delivery to a processing plant with officially approved waste disposal facilities for which it has been established that there is no identifiable risk of the organism spreading, and with a system of cleansing and disinfection of at least the departing vehicles,
or
other measures, provided that it has been established that there is no identifiable risk of the organism spreading; such measures and their justification to be notified to the Commission and to the other Member States.
Any remaining waste associated with and arising from the above shall be disposed of by officially approved methods in accordance with Annex V to this Directive.
The appropriate use or disposal of tubers or plants determined as probably contaminated under Article 5(1)(b) and referred to in Article 7(2), under the control of the responsible official bodies of the Member States concerned, with appropriate communication between responsible official bodies to ensure such control at all times and approval by the responsible official bodies of the Member State where the potatoes are to be packed or processed in respect of the waste disposal facilities referred to in the first and second indent, shall be:
use as ware potatoes intended for consumption, packed ready for direct delivery and use without repacking, on a site with appropriate waste disposal facilities. Potatoes intended for planting may only be handled at the same site, if this is done separately or after cleansing and disinfection,
or
use as ware potatoes intended for industrial processing, and intended for direct and immediate delivery to a processing plant with appropriate waste disposal facilities and a system of cleansing and disinfection of at least the departing vehicles,
or
some other use or disposal, provided that it is established that there is no identifiable risk of the organism spreading and subject to approval by the said responsible official bodies.
The appropriate methods for cleansing and disinfecting of the objects referred to in Article 7(3) shall be those for which it has been established that there is no identifiable risk of the organism spreading and shall be employed under the supervision of the responsible official bodies of the Member States.
The series of measures to be implemented by Member States within the demarcated zone established under Article 5(1)(c) and referred to in Article 7(4) shall include:
in places of production designated as contaminated under Article 5(1)(a):
in a field designated to be contaminated under Article 5 (1)(a), either
during at least the three growing years following the year of the designated contamination,
measures shall be taken to eliminate volunteer potato plants and other naturally found host plants of the organism,
and
no potato tubers, plants or true seeds, or other naturadlly found host plants of the organism, or crops for which there is an identified risk of the organism spreaing, shall be planted,
in the first potato cropping season following the period specified in the preceding indent, and on the condition that the field has been found free from volunteer potato plants and other naturally found host plants of the organism during official inspections for at least the two consecutive growing years prior to planting, only ware potato production shall be allowed and the harvested tubers shall be tested according to the procedure detailed in Annex I;
in the potato cropping season succeeding that referred to in the previous indent and following an appropriate rotation cycle, which shall be at least two years if seed potatoes are to be grown, potatoes may be planted for either seed or ware production, and an official survey as detailed in Article 2(1), shall be conducted;
or
during the four growing years following that of the designated contamination,
measures shall be taken to eliminate volunteer potato plants and other naturally found host plants of the organism,
and
the field shall be laid to, and maintained either, in bare fallow or in permanent pasture with frequent close cutting or intensive grazing,
in the first potato cropping season following the period specified in the preceding indent, and on the condition that the field has been found free from volunteer potato plants and other naturally found host plants of the organism during official inspections for at least the two consecutive growing years prior to planting, seed or ware potato production shall be allowed and the harvested tubers shall be tested according to the procedure detailed in Annex I;
in all other fields of the contaminated place of production, and on the condition that the responsible official bodies are satisfied that the risk of volunteer potato plants and other naturally found host plants of the organism have been eliminated:
in the growing year following that of the designated contamination either no potato tubers, plants or true seeds or other naturally found host plants of the organism shall be planted, or
certified seed potatoes may be planted for ware production only,
in the second growing year following that of the designated contamination, only certified seed or seed potatoes officially tested for the absence of ring rot and grown under official control on places of production other than those referred to in 4.1 shall be planted for either seed or ware production,
for at least the third growing year following the designated contamination, only certified seed potatoes or seed potatoes grown under official control from certified seed potatoes shall be planted for either seed or ware production,
in each of the growing years referred to in the previous indents, measures shall be taken to eliminate volunteer potato plants and other naturally found host plants of the organism if present and in each potato field official testing of the harvested potatoes shall be conducted according to the procedure detailed in Annex I,
immediately following the designation of contamination under Article 5 (1)(a) and after the first subsequent growing year, all machinery and storage facilities on the place of production and involved in potato production shall be cleansed and disinfected as appropriate using appropriate methods, as specified in 3;
in an unit of protected crop production where complete replacement of the growing medium is possible,
no tubers, plants or true seeds shall be planted unless the production unit has been subjected to officially supervised measures to eliminate the organism and to remove all host plant material, including, at least, a complete change in growing medium and cleansing and disinfection of the production unit, and all equipment, and, subsequently has been granted approval for potato production by the responsible official bodies,
and
potato production shall be from certified seed potatoes, or from mini-tubers or micro-plants derived from tested sources;
within the demarcated zone, without prejudice to the measures detailed under 4.1, the Member States shall:
immediately following the designated contamination, ensure that all machinery and storage facilities on such premises and involved with potato production be cleansed and disinfected, as appropriate, and using appropriate methods, as specified in 3;
immediately, and for at least three growing seasons, after the designated contamination:
ensure supervision by their responsible official bodies of premises growing, storing or handling potato tubers, together with premises which operate potato machinery under contract,
require the planting of only certified seed or seed grown under official control for all potato crops within that zone, and testing after harvest of seed potato crops grown in places of production designated as probably contaminated under Article 5(1)(b),
require the separate handling of harvested seed potato stocks to those of ware on all premises within the zone, or a system of cleansing and disinfection to be carried out between the handling of seed and ware stocks,
conduct an official survey as detailed in Article 2(1);
establish a programme, where appropriate, for the replacement of all seed potato stocks over an appropriate period of time.
The officially approved waste disposal methods referred to in Annex IV paragraph 1, shall conform to the following provisions such that any identifiable risk of spreading the organism is obviated:
potato waste (including rejected potatoes and peelings) and any other solid waste associated with the potatoes (including soil, stones and other debris) shall be disposed by either,
disposal at an officially approved dedicated waste disposal site at which there is no identifiable risk of escape of the organism into the environment e.g. through seepage to agricultural land. The waste shall be conveyed directly to the site under containment conditions such that there is no risk of loss of the waste,
or
incineration,
or
other measures, provided that it has been established that there is no identifiable risk of the organism spreading; such measures to be notified to the Commission and to the other Member States.
liquid waste: prior to disposal, liquid waste containing suspended solids shall be subjected to filtration or settlement processes to remove such solids. These solids shall be disposed of as set out in subparagraph (i).
The liquid waste shall then be either:
heated to a minimum of 60 °C throughout the entire volume during at least 30 minutes prior to disposal,
or
otherwise disposed of subject to official approval and under official control such that there is no identifiable risk that the waste could come into contact with agricultural land. The details thereof shall be notified to the other Member States and to the Commission.
The options described in this Annex also apply to the waste associated with handling, disposal and processing of contaminated lots.]
OJ No L 26, 31. 1. 1977, p. 20. Directive as last amended by Commission Directive 92/103/EEC (OJ No L 363, 11. 12. 1992, p. 1).
[F1Commercially available solutions and staining kits can also be used.]
Textual Amendments