Ensuring food security through rapid and in-field detection of diseases in food crops using real time and portable sensors

The increasing global population and rising demands for food production require innovative approaches for managing crop losses caused by plant diseases. Conventional diagnostic methods are often limited by time-consuming protocols, lack of real-time monitoring, and the need for specialized laboratory infrastructure. Meanwhile, sensor technology has emerged as a promising tool for early detection and diagnosis of plant diseases. Sensor technology offers rapid, real-time, high sensitivity, and specificity in diagnosing plant diseases. This review comprehensively presents various biosensors based on biorecognition elements and transducer types. It emphasizes the pivotal role of nanotechnology in enhancing biosensor performance through improved conductivity, surface reactivity, and miniaturization, particularly for plant disease detection. Additionally, electronic nose (E-nose) sensors detecting pathogen-induced volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are highlighted for their potential in non-invasive, early-stage diagnosis. The review also discusses the application of nanobiosensors in agriculture for detecting pesticide residues, toxins, and agrochemicals. Metal oxide nanoparticles (MONPs) are recognized for their multifunctional roles in agriculture and environmental remediation, owing to their unique structural and electronic properties. Furthermore, recent advances in photoelectrocatalysis (PEC), which combines light and applied voltage to degrade toxic pollutants via reactive oxygen species (ROS), are examined. Finally, the ultrasensitive Rolling Circle Amplification-Enabled Point-of-Care Test (RCA-POCT) for rapid detection of aflatoxin B1 in food and environmental samples is presented, utilizing biotin-streptavidin interactions coupled with nucleic acid amplification. Alon with challenges and future prospects, underscoring the transformative potential of these technologies in precision agriculture through rapid, in-field detection benefiting farmers, researchers, and scientists.