Gamma irradiation of dried plant material: implications for the identification of plant pathogens employing molecular techniques

Five pathogen-host leaf tissue combinations were used to determine whether dried plant disease material gamma (γ) irradiated at a level of 25 kGy retains diagnostic value when subjected to selected polymerase chain reaction-based assays. Diagnostic amplification of nucleic acids from all anticipated positive samples was successful following γ irradiation. Variability in results is discussed in relation to sample handling.