Abstract

Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) is an easily prepared, plentiful and stable source of homogenous RNA suitable for addition to reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays as an internal control. We describe primers and conditions used in a duplex assay for Pea seedborne mosaic virus (PSbMV)-infection of pea seed as an example of the utility of the system for RT-PCR screening of plant germplasm for the presence or absence of a virus.