Jun 17, 2020

New Test Available for Detecting TRV

Agdia has announced the commercialization of a rapid, PCR-alternative testing to detect tobacco rattle virus (TRV).

Tobacco rattle virus, or tobravirus, affects 400 species of ornamentals, vegetable plants and weeds.

Symptoms of TRV vary according to plant variety and environmental conditions.

Agdia’s new detection technology, AmplifyRP XRT assay, is based on recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA). This technology promotes the rapid amplification and detection of nucleic acid targets, DNA or RNA, while maintaining a single operating temperature of 39-42C. The AmplifyRP XRT products achieve target sensitivity and specificity comparable to PCR, while having clear advantages over the lab-based technology.

Agdia’s RPA advancements for tobacco rattle virus detection were part of phase I of a USDA-NIFA Small Business Innovation Research program grant. The company plans to apply for phase II funding next year, which would be to develop a smaller, more cost-effective fluorometer.

TRV infects several species of herbaceous perennials, causing potentially severe disease in some species. Ornamental hosts include astilbe, dicentra, epimedium, gladiolus, heuchera, hosta, hyacinthus, paeonia, narcissus, tagetes, tulipa and vinca.

For more information, visit www.agdia.com.

Agdia acknowledged assistance in validating the testing from the labs of Stewart Gray and Hanu Pappu.