PubMed · 2026-05-21
Scientists developed a highly sensitive dual-technology test (combining RPA and CRISPR) to reliably detect Cacao Mild Mosaic Virus, a pathogen that hides in cacao trees at low levels and often causes no visible symptoms, making it a hidden threat in breeding programs and germplasm collections.
CaMMV accumulates at low levels in cacao leaves and petioles, causing detection failures with conventional methods, particularly in certain cacao genetic groups
A multiplex RPA assay using three primers targeting two regions of the virus's movement protein was developed to increase detection reliability
Coupling RPA with CRISPR/Cas12a created a system capable of detecting the virus even during asymptomatic, seasonally variable infections