crop-disease
Crop disease encompasses the study of pathogens — including fungi, bacteria, viruses, and nematodes — that infect agricultural plants and disrupt their growth, yield, and survival. Understanding the mechanisms of plant-pathogen interactions is fundamental to plant science, enabling researchers to develop resistant varieties, improve detection methods, and design targeted interventions. With global food security increasingly threatened by emerging and evolving pathogens, crop disease research is critical to sustaining agricultural productivity worldwide.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-05-01
Scientists developed a portable device that can simultaneously test six plant samples for viral diseases in the field, using CRISPR gene-editing technology combined with a rapid amplification method. It matches the accuracy of laboratory-grade testing without needing a lab.
The ALERT platform detected plant viruses with sensitivity comparable to conventional RT-PCR, the current gold-standard lab method.
Field testing showed 100% diagnostic agreement with RT-PCR results across all samples tested.
The portable device can process six samples simultaneously in the field using an integrated microfluidic chip and a compact metal incubator.