CRISPR-Cas technology: an emerging opportunity for precise identification of diseases in plants

Plant diseases pose a major risk to worldwide agriculture, negatively impacting crop production and economic stability. The introduction of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) associated with Cas proteins has marked a new phase in identifying plant pathogens, providing unmatched accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. This review delves into the effect of CRISPR-Cas technologies on agricultural disease management strategies. Techniques like SHERLOCK, DETECTR, and HOLMES demonstrate the potential for swift and on-site pathogen identification, merging high sensitivity with precision. Moreover, combining assays such as Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA) and Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) with CRISPR/Cas improves diagnostic capabilities, making them ideal for field use due to their rapidity and cost-efficiency. These advancements indicate a transition toward sustainable agriculture by enhancing the ability to diagnose plant diseases more effectively. Utilizing CRISPR-Cas systems for detecting plant diseases not only strengthens global food security but also opens avenues for innovative, sustainable disease management practices in agriculture.