Sensors at the Interface of Agriculture: Tackling Plant Pathogens with Cutting-edge Detection Mechanisms
Amelia Surya Widjaja
Universitas Nusantara Sejati (UNS), Indonesia.
Aditya Pratama
Universitas Pertanian Desa (UPD), Indonesia.
Keywords: Plant pathogens, Early detection, Spectroscopy, Precision agriculture, Disease management, Biosensors
Abstract
Plant pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and nematodes are major threats to agricultural production and global food security. Rapid and early detection of these pathogens is crucial for effective disease management. Traditional identification of plant diseases relied on visual symptoms and microbiological isolation, but these are time-consuming and often detect the pathogens at end-stage disease once yield losses have occurred. Molecular methods are faster and more specific but still rely on in-lab services and expertise. Recent advances in sensing technology have provided new tools to detect plant pathogens in situ, in real-time. This article reviews developments in sensing technology at the interface of agriculture, focusing on optical and electrochemical biosensors, spectroscopic sensors, microfluidic lab-on-a-chip devices, and electronic noses. We describe examples of how these new sensor technologies have detected plant pathogens before visible disease symptoms emerge, providing vital early warning so appropriate interventions can be implemented in a timely and targeted manner. Key developments include smartphone attachments for rapid on-site diagnosis, multiplexing capabilities for high-throughput screening of multiple pathogens, non-destructive spectral signatures for in planta detection, and remote/drone sensing opening up precision agriculture approaches. Sensing technology has huge potential to support sustainable disease management strategies, increased productivity, and global food and nutrition security. We identify key priorities going forward including technology scale-up and commercialization, sensor network infrastructure, and holistic integration with agricultural systems.
Author Biography
Aditya Pratama, Universitas Pertanian Desa (UPD), Indonesia.
