RABBIT ANTI-CLAVIBACTER MICHIGANENSIS ANTIBODY

Affinity purified polyclonal antibody to Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis made in rabbit (BacTrace®). Isolated from a serum pool of rabbits immunized with heat-killed whole cells of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis. Each lot is tested to assure specificity and lot-to-lot consistency using an in-house ELISA assay.

PRODUCT DETAILS – RABBIT ANTI-CLAVIBACTER MICHIGANENSIS ANTIBODY

• Part of the BacTrace® range of antigens and antibodies.
• Affinity purified antibody made in rabbit.
• Isolated from a pool of serum from rabbits immunized with heat-killed whole cells of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis.
• The antibody is highly specific for Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis.
• Product is in lyophilized form.
• Each lot is tested to assure specificity and lot-to-lot consistency using an in-house ELISA assay.

BACKGROUND

Clavibacter michiganensis is an aerobic, non-motile, Gram-positive, non-spore producing, curved rod. Bacterial canker was first identified on tomato in Michigan (USA) in 1909 and is now widespread throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America. The main host of economic importance is tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) but natural infection has also been reported on pepper (Capsicum annuum) and on the wild plants Solanum douglasii, S. nigrum [S. americanum] and S. triflorum.

The Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis wild type strain NCPPB382 carries two plasmids associated with virulence: pCM1 and pCM2. The avirulent strain, CMM100, does not contain these plasmids. Strains that carried one of the two plasmids were found to be virulent but wilting symptoms were delayed. Infected tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) seeds and transplants raised in the greenhouse do not show visible symptoms of the disease; seed germination and seedling stand also appear to be normal. Unilateral wilting or withering of leaflets on one side of the leaf and bird’s eye-spot lesions (raised white spot developing a necrotic centre) on the fruit surface are the outstanding features diagnostic of tomato bacterial canker. The first symptoms include desiccation of the edge of the leaflets which may overlap with plant wilt in severe infections. Plants infected as young seedlings become stunted and wither rapidly. Numerous small, whitish or tan pustules may appear on leaf veins, petioles and peduncles. In advanced infection, vascular discolouration is seen as brown streaks on the stem and petiole. The symptoms described are variable and are influenced by plant age, cultivar type and environmental factors (CABI).

REFERENCES

• CABI. Invasive Species Compendium. Clavibacter michiganensis (bacterial canker of tomato) datasheet.