Methods Comparison for the Detection of Pepino Mosaic Virus (PepMV) on Tomato Seeds

To review the French official detection method for PepMV, three detection methods were assessed. The reference method which is a serological detection test (DAS ELISA) was compared to a conventional RT-PCR test (Ling et al., 2008) and a real time RT-PCR test (Ling et al., 2007). Results obtained allowed specificity, sensitivity and repeatability criteria to be calculated. In this study, the real-time RT-PCR test had the best performance criteria with 100% for the three performance criteria assessed. DAS ELISA test will remain the initial test used because it has good sensitivity, repeatability, reproductibility and low cost. Because of its higher sensitivity, the real-time RT-PCR test will be used for the confirmation of undetermined results obtained with the serological test.