Institut für Pflanzenschutz in Obst- und Weinbau
A changing range of pathogens and pests driven by factors such as climate change results in an increasing demand for identification and monitoring methods. As at the same time expertise in classical morphology of insect vectors is dwindling, new techniques with a broad applicability are required. MALDI-ToF biotyping could provide such a technical platform. The method based on protein profiling is well established for cultivable bacteria and has been successfully transferred to other organisms. A derivative method called peak MALDI offers an approach, that is especially suited for the analysis of complex materials, as it improves the signal-to-noise ratio of generated protein spectra. The current project focusses on the application of peak MALDI for the species determination of leafhopper vectors associated with Vitis.
Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity
