In-field, blight detection kits – which are genotype specific – could be available to Irish potato growers as early as next year, as Richard Halleron reports for Agriland.
Research scientists at Dublin City University (DCU) have already devised an antigen test, which can detect specific blight strains within 30 minutes. The kits work on the same principle used to develop Covid-19 lateral flow tests during the recent pandemic.
Prof. Anne Parle-McDermott from DCU said: “Completing the test entails the grower taking a small sample of potato leaf tissue in a vial to which is added a number of reagents.
“It is very simple to work through in the field with the results generated within 30 minutes. The end results can be viewed on test strips, again similar to those used in a Covid test.” Similar to the Covid-19 tests, the appearance of two lines on the test strip confirms the presence of blight.
“The new tests can be tweaked to be blight genotype specific. This is because they have been developed to identify bespoke DNA sequences that are directly associated with unique strains of the attacking fungus,” Prof. Parle-McDermott added.
Teagasc plans to survey Irish potato growers, seeking views on the relevance of the new test for their businesses and the price they would be prepared to pay for it.
Source: Agriland. Full story here
Image: Professor Anne Parle-McDermott (left) and Ciara McDermott are the DCU scientists behind the development of a new, in-field blight detection kit. Credit Agriland
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