Testing Methods For Seed‐transmitted Viruses: Principles and Protocols ‐ S. E. Albrechtsen

Abstract

Testing Methods For Seed-transmitted Viruses: Principles and Protocols. S. E. Albrechtsen. 288 pp. Wallingford, UK: CABI Publishing (http://www.cabi-publishing.org), 2005. £55. ISBN 0 85 199016 9 (spiralbound softback). I was recently asked to recommend some key plant virology texts for a new diagnostic laboratory. Good reference material is easy: buy the latest edition of Matthews’ Plant Virology (Hull, 2002) and then go online for VIDE (http://image.fs.uidaho.edu/vide/refs.htm) and DPVweb (http://www.dpvweb.net). There are also some excellent crop-specific texts available, e.g. Viruses and Virus Diseases of Poaceae (Lapierre & Signoret, eds, 2004). But what about practical guides? Well, then it gets more tricky: Methods in Plant Virology (Hill, 1984) is long out of press. There is Diagnosis of Plant Virus Diseases (Matthews, 1993), which is excellent on the principles but is somewhat dated, e.g. PCR only gets one page. The more recent and soon to be revised Plant Virology Protocols (Foster & Taylor, 1998) is much better for molecular methods, but is aimed more at research and development rather than diagnostic requirements. Beyond that there is little else; that is, I believe until now, with the publication of this new book. As far as I am aware, this is the first book to be dedicated to seed virus-testing, but it goes well beyond that and actually provides one of the best single-source, practical guides to plant virus diagnostic methods available. Split into seven chapters, the main bulk of the book is dedicated to the three methods chapters: biological assays, serological tests and nucleic acid-based tests. All provide excellent coverage of their respective fields, with good, established protocols. I particularly like the fact that there are plenty of options given, e.g. a table of different recipes for one-step RT-PCR. I also appreciated that support techniques such as isolate storage are fully covered. As anyone who has run a routine ELISA laboratory will know, maintaining a supply of positive control material is a major problem. All laboratories need good advice and protocols on this, and this book provides it. And good advice on troubleshooting is another strong point, as is the fact that the latest techniques, such as real-time PCR methods, are covered. I guess one disappointment is that the author did not go as far as including any real-time protocols, in contrast to the comprehensive coverage given for conventional PCR. While real-time PCR is still a relatively new technique, it has become a routine technique in some laboratories and is rapidly establishing itself. Similarly electron microscopy does not really feature. However in fairness, EM is not a great tool for seed testing, which has very much become a niche technique used routinely by very few. The other good thing about this book is that it really does do what it says in the title; covering both principles and protocols. It is often easy for books to become either laboratory manuals with precious little background or reference texts without practical use. However, this is a book that is equally at home in the laboratory and the library. It has excellent review chapters covering the background to seedborne viruses, providing information on a range of subjects including the mechanism of seed transmission, control and economic importance – all good stuff. It also has an extremely useful section (co-written by Steve Roberts) on sampling and testing strategies, arguably the most important step in any seed test. The quick reference list of seedborne viruses is another helpful addition. Overall, this is an excellent guide to seed testing and virological diagnostic methods in general. It is a very welcome addition to the literature and a book that should have a place on the shelf of every diagnostic plant virology laboratory, whether or not they are involved in seed testing.