Disease diagnosis takes 10 minutes
Disease diagnosis takes 10 minutes
By Andrew Swallow
TARGETING disease control should be much easier with a series of rapid diagnostic kits launched by Hortitech, the commercial arm of HRI Wellesborne, at HortEx in Telford last week.
The SA series of DeTechtor kits identifies bacterial diseases such as brownrot in potatoes or tomatoes, blackrot in brassicas and bacterial wilts in a wide variety of crops. The LF series pinpoints key viral diseases such as tomato spotted wilt virus or plum poxvirus. Fungal versions of the diagnosis kits should follow.
Each diagnosis takes just 10 minutes, which should be a major boost for growers, says Hortitechs Martin McPherson.
"Disease control relies on early detection, but field recognition of many diseases isnt easy. Lab tests take between three and four days at best and all the grower can do is sit, wait and hope."
The kits are based on antibodies to the specific plant pathogens. Growers or consultants take leaf samples, grind them and mix the sap with the antibody. A simple indicator dipstick provides a yes/no diagnosis of the target disease and interpreting results is said to be very simple.
Initially targeted at horticultural use, kits for mainline arable crops could follow shortly, says Dr McPherson. Crops such as potatoes leeks or onions are likely to lead the way. "The technology is certainly adaptable," he says.
A pack of four viral test kits costs £27.50; the bacterial version costs £110 for the smallest pack of 50 tests. *
• More from HortEx on page 67.
DISEASE ID KIT
• 10-minute field diagnosis.
• One kit per disease.
• Key horticultural diseases now.
• Main arable disease to follow?