Application of Spectroscopic Techniques in Early Detection of Fungal Plant Pathogens

Among the plant pathogens, around 85% of diseases in plants are caused by fungi. Rapid and accurate detection of fungal phytopathogens up to the species level is crucial for the implementation of proper disease control strategies, which were previously relied on conventional approaches. The conventional identification methods have been replaced by many rapid and accurate methods like high throughput sequencing, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), serological and spectroscopic technique. Among these rapid pathogen detection techniques, spectroscopy is a rapid, cost-effective, non-destructive method and does not require sample preparation. Nowadays, visible, infrared and near-infrared rays are commonly employed for pathogen detection. Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR)-FTIR spectroscopy, Raman Spectroscopy, Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Biocontrol fungus-like Trichoderma spp. can be detected with the help of MALDI-TOF MS. Fluorescence spectroscopy used fluorescence emanating from the sample and successfully used in the detection of powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis). Hyperspectral imaging is an advanced approach which uses artificial intelligence in plant disease detection. This literature discusses briefly about the features of above-mentioned spectroscopy techniques which may impel the general understanding and propel the research activities.

Diagnosis of Fungal Plant Pathogens Using Conventional and Molecular Approaches

Fungi are a large group of eukaryotes found as saprophytes, pathogens or endophytes, which distribute in every corner of our planet. As the main pathogens, fungi can cause 70–80% of total plant diseases, leading to huge crop yield reduction and economic loss. For identification of fungal plant pathogens, mycologists and plant pathologists have mainly gone through two stages, viz. morphological observation and morphology/phylogeny, and the next era might be utilizing DNA barcodes as the tool for rapid identification. This chapter accounts i) the brief history of development for fungal identification tools and main concepts, ii) the importance and confusion of “One fungus, one name” for pathogen identification, iii) more or fewer species that we need in agricultural practice, and iv) the foreground of fungal plant pathogen identification. These will help to solve the practical problems of identification of fungal pathogens in agricultural production.

Spectroscopy Technology: An Innovative Tool for Diagnosis and Monitoring of Wheat Diseases

Diseases are among the most important factors limiting worldwide production of wheat. Accurate detection of diseases is the key to develop effective management strategies for control of these diseases. Spectroscopy-based technology can be a non-destructive, quick, efficient tool to accurately detect and monitor the occurrence and development of crop diseases. There has seen an increased interest in the research and application of spectrum technology for the diagnosis and detection of wheat diseases in recent years. This book chapter provides a brief review on research advances in using spectroscopy techniques to detect wheat diseases, with a focus on the diagnosis and detection of Fusarium head blight, powdery mildew, and stripe rust, three important fungal diseases in wheat worldwide. Disease symptoms and traditional disease detection methods are also included. Both literature and our original research data are presented, with the section of conclusion and prospects at the end of this book chapter.