-- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --
Agdia, Inc., a leading provider of agricultural diagnostic tests and services, has commercialized a new Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for detection of Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) in corn.
MCMV is of particular concern to corn producers because of its co-contribution to the devastating Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease (MLND). MLND can manifest itself when a crop is co-infected with MCMV and a member of the Potyvirus group, such as Sugarcane mosaic virus. African corn growing regions, where food production is vital, have been devastated by the disease in recent years.
Agdia’s new ELISA test for MCMV has been successfully validated against a global collection of isolates and is claimed to be a minimum of ten-fold more sensitive than any other serological method currently available. Agdia has initially released the test for foliar tissue testing but will soon be validating a protocol for testing bulk seed samples. Agdia states the MCMV seed protocol will be harmonized with methods currently in use by industry for other pathogens such as Pantoea stewartii (A.K.A. Stewart’s wilt / leaf blight of Corn).
MCMV ELISA reagents are immediately available in sizes of 96, 500, 1000, and 5000 testwells and can be ordered from Agdia using product number SRA 17002. Agdia Testing Services can also perform laboratory testing using the new test for producers who need to send their samples for third-party analysis. Agdia has later plans to commercialize a field-based ImmunoStrip® test for detection of MCMV this summer.
For more information, contact Agdia at info@agdia.com or by phone at 574-264-2615.
About Agdia
A leading provider of diagnostic solutions for agriculture, Agdia, Inc. has been serving plant breeders, propagators, growers, universities, and private testing laboratories since 1981. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of validated, easy-to-use diagnostics for identifying plant pathogens, hormones, and transgenic traits, as well as in-house testing services.
