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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #165749

Title: WHAT IS ON THE HORIZON CONCERNING NEW TOOLS FOR DETECTION OF PLANT PATHOGENS?

Author
item Martin, Robert

Submitted to: APS Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2004
Publication Date: 7/1/2004
Citation: Martin, R.R. What is on the horizon concerning new tools for detection of plant pathogens?. Phytopathology. 2004. v94 p. S130.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: PCR has been the basis for the remarkable improvements in pathogen detection during the last several years. Multiplex, Real-time, and Real-time multiplex PCR have reduced the cost and time to determine if a sample is infected with a known pathogen. For fungi, bacteria, and phytoplasmas, primers that amplify ribosomal RNA or other conserved genes have been used as broad spectrum probes and are useful in detection of an unknown pathogen. Sequencing of the amplicons obtained in these general tests allows for the development of pathogen specific probes. Broad spectrum probes for viruses generally can be used to detect all known members of a genus or family. Obtaining sequence from isolated dsRNA can still be the most efficient means of identifying a new virus. The next major improvement will be the application of microarray technology for detection. Detection of viruses using microarrays may be possible without a PCR amplification step by using molecular beacons as trapping primers on the microarray. With the application of microarray technology, it will be possible to develop chips for the simultaneous detection of all known pathogens of a crop or group of related crops.