Development of a Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay for Detecting Five Previously Unreported Papaya Viruses for Quarantine Purposes in Korea

There are concerns about the introduction and spread of plant pests and pathogens with globalization and climate change. As commercial control agents have not been developed for plant viruses, it is important to prevent virus spread. In this study, we developed a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection method to rapidly diagnose and control three DNA (papaya golden mosaic virus, Lindernia anagallis yellow vein virus, and melon chlorotic leaf curl virus) and two RNA (papaya leaf distortion mosaic virus and lettuce chlorosis virus) viruses that infect papaya. Specific primer sets were designed for the virus coat protein. Performing PCR, clear bands were observed with no non-specific reaction. Our multiplex PCR method can simultaneously detect small amounts of DNA/RNA to diagnose five viruses infecting papaya and prevent the spread of the virus.