Abstract
Two strains of maize chlorotic mottle virus, Kansas (MCMV-K) and Peru (MCMV-P), were compared in double immunodiffusion (DID) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) systems against respective antisera (i.e., MCMV-K AS and MCMV-PAS) and antiserum prepared to a mixture of both strains (MCMV-K + P AS). In DID, all antisera showed antibody titers of 1/2048 against both viruses. Homologous reactants spurred over the precipitin line formed against heterologous virus and MCMV-K + P AS against MCMV strains K and P produced bilateral spurs. In Elisa, antisera MCMV-K and -P, but not MCMV-K + P, differentiated homologous from heterologous virus strains. Differences in absorbance values at 405 nm were 2-4 times higher for homologous than for heterologous reactants, but MCMV-K + P AS produced similar substrate intensity for each virus. Also, results approximating those of MCMV-K + P AS were achieved with an equal mixture of MCMV-K AS and MCMV-P AS (MCMV-mixed AS). The relative sensitivities of DID and ELISA for detecting MCMV were 100 and 0.1 .mu.g/ml, respectively.