Current and future molecular diagnostics of palms phytoplasmas
Initial molecular diagnostic tools involved PCR amplification, often requiring nested PCR due to the low titre of phytoplasmas in infected palm and other species host tissues. This was followed by advanced techniques such as quantitative PCR assays and digital PCR, which offer enhanced sensitivity and accuracy. The development of isothermal diagnostic platforms, including the loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay, has further expanded the toolkit for phytoplasma detection in diverse hosts. The integration of CRISPR-based diagnostics holds immense potential for rapid, specific, and sensitive detection of phytoplasmas. CRISPR platforms, with their programmability and precision, could enable point-of-care detection and multiplexed assays for simultaneous identification of multiple pathogens.
