Recent Advances in the Detection of Plant Viruses and Viroids in Field Crops
摘要
Crop plants are susceptible to infection by a number of viruses and viroids, which can only be controlled by early detection along with accurate diagnosis. Initial diagnosis of viral diseases was based on biological assays for the identification followed by serological and cytopathological detection methods. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has emerged as a highly favored technique for its versatility; however, with the advent of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nucleic acid–based techniques has evolved as a specific and accurate tool for the detection of viruses and virus-like pathogens. In recent years, variants of PCR like reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), real-time PCR, multiplex PCR, and isothermal nucleic acid amplification techniques were found advantageous in the detection of pathogens owing to their sensitivity and versatility as compared to ELISA. The use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) for the discovery of novel viruses or technologically advanced biosensor devices has revolutionized the field of viral disease diagnosis. This chapter reviews various methods of viral detection in field crops from the early to the most advanced technologies, although some are established protocols others are still under development.