Spiegel, S., Virus Laboratory, ARO, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
Alper, M., Virus Laboratory, ARO, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
Allen, R.N., Agricultural Research Centre, Wollongbar, New South Wales, 24800, Australia

The reliability of biochemical diagnostic methods for avocado sunblotch viroid (ASBV) was evaluated for the Israeli avocado propagation program. Polyacry-lamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) was compared with hybridization to in vitro32P-labeled cDNA and ASBV-RNA probes. Although hybridization to a cDNA probe was the most sensitive method, not all known infected plants were detected. In the light of these results, the problem of diagnosing ASBV in the Israeli propagation program is discussed. © 1984 Springer Science + Business Media B.V.