title: Fungal disease detection in plants: Traditional assays, novel diagnostic techniques and biosensors.
abstract: Fungal diseases in commercially important plants results in a significant reduction in both quality and yield, often leading to the loss of an entire plant. In order to minimize the losses, it is essential to detect and identify the pathogens at an early stage. Early detection and accurate identification of pathogens can control the spread of infection. The present article provides a comprehensive overview of conventional methods, current trends and advances in fungal pathogen detection with an emphasis on biosensors. Traditional techniques are the "gold standard" in fungal detection which relies on symptoms, culture-based, morphological observation and biochemical identifications. In recent times, with the advancement of biotechnology, molecular and immunological approaches have revolutionized fungal disease detection. But the drawback lies in the fact that these methods require specific and expensive equipments. Thus, there is an urgent need for rapid, reliable, sensitive, cost effective and easy to use diagnostic methods for fungal pathogen detection. Biosensors would become a promising and attractive alternative, but they still have to be subjected to some modifications, improvements and proper validation for on-field use.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Biotechnology, Siksha O Anusandhan University, Kalinga Nagar, Ghatikia, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
authors.forename: Monalisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.affiliation: Centre of Biotechnology, Siksha O Anusandhan University, Kalinga Nagar, Ghatikia, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
authors.forename: Asit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.affiliation: Centre of Biotechnology, Siksha O Anusandhan University, Kalinga Nagar, Ghatikia, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
authors.forename: Swagatika
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dash
authors.affiliation: Centre of Biotechnology, Siksha O Anusandhan University, Kalinga Nagar, Ghatikia, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
authors.forename: Abtar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.affiliation: Imgenex India Pvt. Ltd, E-5 Infocity, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
authors.forename: K Gopinath
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Achary
authors.affiliation: Centre of Biotechnology, Siksha O Anusandhan University, Kalinga Nagar, Ghatikia, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
authors.forename: Sanghamitra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nayak
authors.affiliation: Centre of Biotechnology, Siksha O Anusandhan University, Kalinga Nagar, Ghatikia, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. Electronic address: shikhsingh@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Shikha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D010944:Plants / Q000382:microbiology*
keywords: Biosensors; Fungal pathogens; Plant diseases; Rapid detection