Characterization of Plant Viruses: Methods and Protocols (Springer Protocols Handbooks)

This book provides detailed information on methodologies used in biological, serological and nucleic acid based assays for the detection, diagnosis and management of plant viruses. The content is divided into six main parts, the first of which presents techniques used in the biological characterization and transmission of viruses, while Part II covers purification and techniques concerning the physico-chemical properties of viruses. In turn, Part III focuses on in vitro expression, production of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies; and on various serological assays including precipitin tests, ELISA, blot immunoassays, immunosorbent electron microscopy and lateral flow immunoassays. Part IV addresses the isolation of DNA and RNA from plants and nucleic acid based assays such as dot-blot, polymerase chain reaction, real-time PCR, loop-mediated isothermal amplification, rolling circle amplification, recombinase polymerase amplification, and next-generation sequencing approaches. Part V discusses cloning, sequencing, sequence analysis and the production of infectious clones, while the last part (Part VI) provides biotechnological approaches for the management of viruses. Given its scope, the book will be a valuable resource for every laboratory, student and teacher, and for everyone interested in plant virology, plant pathology, plant biology and molecular biology, offering them a practical manual on various aspects of plant viruses.

Dr Alangar Ishwara Bhat

Alangar Ishwara Bhat is currently working as a Principal Scientist at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode, Kerala, India. Having obtained his PhD from the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, he has 28 years of research experience in Plant Virology and has contributed significantly to the identification, characterization, diagnostics and management of viruses. Dr Bhat has been a visiting scientist at the University of Georgia, USA and at the Food and Environment Research Agency, UK. He has handled ten externally funded projects from the Government of India, authored 89 publications in reputed refereed journals, edited two books, and contributed 28 book chapters and three technical bulletins. He is the chief editor of the Journal of Spices and Aromatic Crops and a section editor of VirusDisease. His work has been recognized with several national awards.

Dr Govind Pratap Rao

Govind Pratap Rao is a Principal Scientist (Plant Pathology) at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. He received his PhD in Plant Virology from Gorakhpur University in 1986 and pursued his postdoctoral research at the University of Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA (1994) and at Cedex, Montpellier, France (1998).  Dr Rao has 32 years of research experience, and has made significant contributions to the characterization of plant viruses and phytoplasmas. He has over 150 research articles, and 25 and authored and edited books to his credit.  His work has been recognized with several prestigious national and international awards. Dr Rao is also Secretary General of the Indian Virological Society, New Delhi and a member of several prestigious international scientific societies. In addition, he has travelled to more than 30 countries as a visiting scientist, expert, for invited talks, research training, panel discussions and conferences.