CRISPR-Based Test Speeds Up Detection of Wheat Powdery Mildew

Experts from Henan Normal University and partners have developed a rapid visual detection method for Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), the fungus that causes wheat powdery mildew. The one-pot RPA-CRISPR-Cas12a assay can detect the pathogen in 75 minutes without requiring PCR machines, centrifuges, or gel imaging systems.

The method combines RPA and CRISPR-Cas12a in a single tube and operates at 37°C. Its closed-tube design reduces contamination risks while providing a detection limit 1,000 times more sensitive than conventional PCR. The assay also detected Bgt in infected wheat leaves one day after inoculation, before visible symptoms typically appear three to seven days later.

The researchers found that the assay produced results consistent with conventional PCR and showed no cross-reactivity with several common wheat pathogens. They concluded that the platform could provide a simple and sensitive tool for early disease detection, while recommending further validation using naturally infected field samples and a wider range of Bgt isolates before field deployment.

For more information, read the study from Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology.