DeTechtor: a plant disease detection kit

HRI- HortiTech had launched the simple-to-use pathogen detection kits, DeTechtor, at HortEx 2000, an international horticultural exhibition held recently at the International Centre, Telford in the English Midlands. This will enable farmers to accurately diagnose the presence or absence of specific pathogens.

Horticulture Research International (HRI) has plans to extend its initial range of detection kits, which can detect over 20 bacterial and viral pathogens. The kits are available in two formats – the LF-series and SA-series, enabling the detection of important pathogens of plants (edible and ornamental), including plum pox virus, tomato spotted wilt virus (Erwinia amylovara), the cause of fireblight; Ralstonia (Pseudomonas) solanacearum, the cause of brown rot in potatoes an bacterial wilt in a Varity of other hosts; and Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, the cause of black rot, a serious disease of brassicas.

The LF – series contains four tests per pack, whereas the SA-series contains 50, 100 or 250 tests per pack, quantities which allow for the cost-effective screening of large numbers of stock plants or similar. The LF – series kits incorporate a DeTechtor stick, which is based on a sophisticated membrans technique similar to that employed in home pregnancy-test kits. Pre-activated to detect a specific pathogen, the DeTechtor-stick is dipped into a plant extract and transferred to a second solution. If the target pathogen is present, two red lines appear on the stick. A single line at the control site indicates the absence of the pathogen. Using the SA- series, a sample from the plant is mixed with a test reagent and a second drop of the reagent is mixed with a positive control on a glass slide. If an agglutination reaction occurs in both wells, the test is positive.

The bacterial pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum is a notificable disease in Europe. It is causing severe losses around the world, in such crops as potato, tomato, pepper, banana, groundnut and tobacco. Use of the SA-series to detect this pathogen could avoid drastic financial losses to growers.

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