Development of duplex RT-PCR for detection of <i>Konjac mosaic virus</i> and Spathiphyllum chlorotic vein banding virus in taro and peace lily

120-122Konjac mosaic virus (KoMV) and Spathiphyllum chlorotic vein banding virus (SCVbV) infecting aroids in Andhra Pradesh, India have recently been reported as distinct potyviruses. Primers were designed based on their partial genome sequence (GenBank A/C EU979524, GQ421462) to detect above viruses by duplex-reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (duplex RT-PCR). Using this method, the two viruses were individually detected in limited number of filed/nursery collected Colocasia esculenta (taro) and Spathiphyllum spp. (peace lily). No co-infections with two viruses were traced among the screened samples. However, they were simultaneously detected in the simulated leaf samples of taro and peace lily (1:1, w/w). </span