Science Into Practice - Mushroom virus X

Detection of Mushroom Virus X (MVX) is a serious disease and is considered to be a complex of different viruses. Detection of MVX has relied on a gel-based test in the past that has a sensitivity to detect only the viruses in mushrooms. Recent HDC research (M 51 and other funded work) has identified genes associated with MVX that can be used to detect the disease, while also developing new methods of extracting these from compost and casing.