PLANT-Dx: A Molecular Diagnostic for Point of Use Detection of Plant Pathogens

M. Verosloff; J. Chappell; K. L. Perry; J. R. Thompson; J. B. Lucks

To date, most synthetic biology diagnostic efforts have focused on detecting pathogens that impact human health. However, there is great potential to leverage these technologies for detecting plant pathogens. In the United States alone, plant pathogens account for an estimated $33 billion annual loss in agricultural productivity (6) . Worldwide, losses in crop yields due to plant pathogens can be more severe and contribute to food scarcity and famine (7) . Among plant pathogens, wide host range viral species such as cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and potato virus Y (PVY) are particularly devastating as they infect hundreds of plant species, including agriculturally important species such as beans, maize, and potatoes (8) . PoUDs are an important component of strategies to combat the impacts of these pathogens, as timely identification can lead to the rapid deployment of methods for mitigation and containment.