Project Number: 1230-22000-022-12
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 17, 2007
End Date: Jul 01, 2012

Objective:
Developing sensitive, reliable, detection methods for viruses infecting specific ornamental crops. Identification and characterization of these viruses, and determination of the environmental factors that affect virus titer and detectability. Determine how the presence of multiple viruses affects detection.

Approach:
Isolate and perform basic characterization of the causal viruses. Develop reagents, sampling procedures and protocols for the sensitive and reliable detection of the viruses. Examine the influence of environmental conditions (lighting, daylength, temperature, effects of tissue culture) on virus titer and distribution within the ornamental host plant.