Next-generation methods for early disease detection in crops

Plant pathogens are commonly identified in the field by the typical disease symptoms that they can cause. The efficient earlydetection and identification of pathogens are essential procedures to adopt effective management practices that reduce or preventtheir spread in order to mitigate the negative impacts of the disease. In this review, the traditional and innovative methodsfor early detection of the plant pathogens highlighting their major advantages and limitations are presented and discussed.Traditional techniques of diagnosis used for plant pathogen identification are focused typically on the DNA, RNA (when molecularmethods), and proteins or peptides (when serological methods) of the pathogens. Serological methods based on mainlyenzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) are the most common method used for pathogen detection due to their highthroughputpotential and low cost. This technique is not particularly reliable and sufficiently sensitive for many pathogensdetection during the asymptomatic stage of infection. For non-cultivable pathogens in the laboratory, nucleic acid-based technologyis the best choice for consistent pathogen detection or identification. Lateral flow systems are innovative tools thatallow fast and accurate results even in field conditions, but they have sensitivity issues to be overcome. PCR assays performedon last-generation portable thermocyclers may provide rapid detection results in situ. The advent of portable instrumentscan speed pathogen detection, reduce commercial costs, and potentially revolutionize plant pathology. This review providesinformation on current methodologies and procedures for the effective detection of different plant pathogens.