Sensors are everywhere now – and not just in gardening . So why do we still involve laboratory ? That ’s the interrogative sentence Ines van Marrewijk of Normec Groen Agro Control require at the International Propagation Seminar of Grodan last calendar week . “ Most of the time , research laboratory equipment is much more expensive than sensors , and data point needs to be validated and credited , especially when legislation is involved . ”
In short , science lab have earned their shoes , and for Normec Groen Agro Control , it all commence about thirty years ago , with researching water quality . “ Back then , ultraviolet illumination was one of the standard in water purification , and we did research into that – but we also do nutrition and residue depth psychology . Personally , I ’m also responsible for monitor systems for GlobalGAP . ”
Ines then went on to talk about some of their research method acting , for representative using natural gas tubes can be used to ‘ imitate ’ ethene or fluoride in nursery , and researching their impingement on the crop . “ We also have our own trial glasshouse , where we wait at the effects of substances on crop . ”
method for examination flora diseasesNext , Ines talk over several methods of testing for plant disease . “ First there comes visual : when you have good oculus , you could get an estimation of what ’s sound on with your flora . We also do that in the laboratory , for good example by using a microscope , to narrow down the scope of analysis : is it a computer virus , an insect , or perhaps nutrition deficiency ? ”
Then there are quick tests , which can be used by the grower , but they ’re also used by laboratory technician . When the grower use spry tests , it ’s of import to do it properly : “ When you utilise too many leaves , or you tot up too much pee , you could cease up with sour positives , even when the sample is negatively charged in the computer virus . That ’s why we also modernise good protocols , to get better results from those quick tests . ”
‘ former - fashion ’ agar platesAt Normec Groen Agro Control , they also use a lot of agar plates . “ That may seem a petty turn old - fashioned , but we use them a lot , especially for water quality measurements . After all , plate count is the living matter . PCRs and Elisa tests detect DNA textile or RNA material , but in the water , you need to know whether it ’s beat or alive deoxyribonucleic acid or RNA . ”
That ’s where agar plates come in – although they ca n’t be used to detect flora virus , they can be used for “ germ counts on cosmopolitan fungi . And for Phytophthora and Pythium , we develop our own plateful . ”
ElisaAnother testing method is Elisa , which works with antibodies . “ Those hunting for a protein of a specific virus . Every computer virus has its own specific protein , and this antibody reacts with it . Upon reaction , the test will colour yellowish , and by the intensity of sensationalistic , you’re able to even identify specific pathogens . ”
Elisa tests played a major role in reveal the global ToBRFV outbreak . “ Elisa tests for the tomato mosaic virus , ELISA - TMV demonstrate a tidy sum of electropositive termination at once , which put the world on alert . ” Specific Elisa tests were even originate for ToBRFV , although those are n’t that dependable , Ines explains . “ For ToBRFV , it ’s full to use PCR tests , which are more tender . ”
PCR to screen for ToBRFVAs Ines already explained , PCR tryout are better at detecting ToBRFV , which is why Normec Groen Agro Control formulate their own PCR test . That these are becoming the criterion , is also emphasized by the International Seed Federation , which stipulates that PCR tests must be used when testing seed for ToBRFV .
Those PCR tests can be carry out on plant material or on water , Ines move on to explicate . There is also the choice to use Bio - PCR tests , where urine is screen for purity by smearing some on plants and see what chance to them , but that method is a fleck too complicated for growers to do themselves . “ If you desire to quiz your water for pureness , be certain to check it for Fusarium and Pythium – all the live counts of pathogen . Are all the pathogens idle ? Then you ’ll sleep together the viruses are probably also beat . ”
For more selective information : Normec Groen Agro ControlDistributieweg 12645 EG , DelfgauwTel . : +31 15 257 25 11Mob . : +31 6 11347778www.agrocontrol.nl[email protected ]
© FloralDaily.com/Annet Breure
