Use of a Monoclonal Antibody-Based Immunoassay for the Detection and Quantification of Heliscus lugdunensis Colonizing Alder Leaves and Roots

A genus-specific monoclonal antibody, NG-CF10, raised in a previous study to the fungal pathogen Nectria galligena, was found to recognize the aquatic hyphomycete Heliscus lugdunensis (anamorph) and its teleomorph Nectria lugdunensis. Using this MAb in a plate trapped antigen- ELISA we could detect and determine the biomass of Heliscus lugdunensis in mixed assemblages in both naturally occurring and artificially inoculated leaves and roots of Alnus glutinosa trees. Initial studies indicate that the biomass associated with naturally occurring leaf material is significantly lower than that recorded with laboratory inoculated leaves, suggesting that biomass production is limited in the natural environment. Significantly lower biomass was associated with roots when compared with leaf material, which supports the proposition that rather than a major substrate for the growth of aquatic hyphomycetes, roots act as a refugium for fungal growth.