Real-Time PCR Detection of Elsinoë spp. on Citrus

Elsino & euml; species are the causal agents of scab and spot diseases on many economically important plant species. Diagnosis based on symptomology is often problematic, and traditional methods are not appropriate as Elsino & euml; spp. are notoriously difficult to isolate and slow growing. Three Elsino & euml; species that infect Citrus are regulated as quarantine organisms within the European Union. Reliable and fast detection of Elsino & euml; species on citrus fruit is essential for effective phytosanitary control. In this study, a multiplex real-time PCR was designed for rapid and sensitive detection of Elsino & euml; species, and validation was focused on citrus fruit. The test was specific to the Elsino & euml; genus when tested against a range of nontarget pathogens and had the ability to detect all three regulated Elsino & euml; species on Citrus. The test also proved highly sensitive, with a limit of detection of 12 fg of DNA per reaction. This new test can be used as a tool in the diagnostic process for the rapid and sensitive detection of Elsino & euml; pathogens on symptomatic plant material. Copyright (c) 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.