Despite success in increasing food production, half of the world's food crops are wasted due to decay caused by microorganisms. Plants are known to release various volatile organic compounds into the environment, which can be used for early detection of diseases and prevention of crop losses. A new study by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Israel Agricultural Research Organization (Vulcani Institute) has created a biological sensor for the early detection of latent diseases in potato tubers, one of Israel's main agricultural exports, with an annual production of up to 700000 tons, reports STMEGI.
Israeli farmers import potatoes from Europe for planting, and a certain percentage of these imported tubers arrive already infected with diseases that cause rot and greatly reduce quality. Researchers at the Hebrew University and the Vulcani Institute have developed a sensor that detects potato diseases and can help prevent their spread.
The development, which will be published in the next issue of the scientific chemistry journal Talanta, was carried out by Dr. Doreen Harpaz and her PhD student Boris Veltman at the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment at the Hebrew University under the direction of Dr. Evgeny Yeltsov from the Vulcani Institute. The researchers collaborated with Dr. Sarit Melamed and Dr. Tzipora Titel (Vulcani Institute) and Dr. Leah Tsror (Gilat Research Center).
The sensor is based on a combination of smart bioengineering and optics. When it is near an infected potato tuber, the bacterial element in it begins to emit a glow, the strength of which depends on the concentration and composition of putrefactive chemicals in the air. According to Dr. Yeltsov, "The intensity of the light emitted by the bacterial panel allows you to quickly analyze the disease even before the appearance of visible symptoms." This allows you to isolate diseased tubers as quickly as possible, preventing the development or spread of rot to other plants.
During the study, the sensor detected the disease in tubers that did not show any visible signs of infection, and in the presence of infected tubers emitted a glow twice as strong as when testing healthy potatoes.
Early detection of diseases provides a significant advantage to food growers. Dr. Doreen Harpaz: "The biological sensor can be used to quickly and cost-effectively detect latent rot in potatoes, improve crop control and reduce food waste, which is especially important in the current global food crisis."