Diagnostic tools for detection of pathogens and diseases in plantation crops.

Abstract

Plant pathogens are serious threats to the cultivation of commercially important plantations and result in a significant reduction in both quality and yield. Timely and precise diagnosis of these diseases is critical for adopting effective management measures to avoid crop loss. This review provides a comprehensive overview of technological advancements for pathogen and disease detection . Various methods have been developed to detect pathogens at different stages of infection. Traditional approaches such as visual inspection and symptom-based diagnosis are simple and cost-effective but detect diseases only after symptoms appear, limiting early intervention. Microscopy and culture-based techniques allow accurate identification of pathogens, especially fungi and bacteria, but are time-consuming and require skilled personnel. Serological methods, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), provide rapid and specific detection and are commonly used for pathogen screening in large-scale surveys. Molecular techniques like polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) have revolutionized plant pathogen detection by offering high sensitivity and specificity. Recently, technologies such as microfluidics, digital PCR, biosensor-based detection, and remote sensing have emerged as promising alternatives, offering efficiency and the potential for rapid diagnostics, thereby enhancing timely disease surveillance.