Viral Inoculum Preparation for Potato Plant Inoculation to Study Cell Death

To begin, use extraction bags with filter net to harvest six to eight week old potato virus infected Pentland potato plants. Add four milliliters of phosphate buffer, supplemented with DIECA for every gram of tissue. Then homogenize the plants with a hand homogenizer for one to two minutes.

Next, lightly coat the first three fully developed leaves of three to four weeks old healthy potato plants with carborundum powder. Gently rub the leaves with the prepared viral inoculum. After 10 minutes, rinse the leaves clean with tap water.

Finally, transfer the plants to a growth chamber to allow them to grow under controlled environmental conditions at 28 degrees Celsius for three days.