Development of an Immunosorbent Assay for SeedborneErwinia stewartiiin Corn Seeds

Specificity of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies generated to Erwinia stewartii was determined by testing 167 bacterial strains in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Of these, the antibodies were positive to all 43 E. stewartii strains tested. Reaction of the monoclonaI antibody to all other bacterial strains was negative. However, the polyclonal antibodies reacted with seven of 105 nonpathogenic bacteria from corn plants and seeds determined not to be virulent E. stewartii (...)