Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Detection of Ralstonia solanacearum in Potatoes: The South African Experience

Outbreaks of bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum in South Africa in the 1980s necessitated the development of a sensitive assay for its detection. In this chapter, the development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of Ralstonia solanacearum including antibody production, the ELISA method itself, potato sample preparation for testing, ELISA result validation and interpretation, and confirmation of infection are discussed. Data showing the drop in the Ralstonia solanacearum infection rate, after testing was implemented, are presented and shows how the use of this method has brought the disease under control in South Africa.