London, England, United Kingdom
February 1, 2010

Scientists Adrian Fox and Kelvin Hughes from Fera’s Disease Identification programme encountered a problem while delivering their bespoke seed health course to quarantine plant health inspectors in Fujian province, China. The inspectors, who work for the Chinese Academy of Inspection & Quarantine (CAIQ) equivalent to Fera’s Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate, asked Fera for assistance to diagnose what was killing watermelon seedlings grown from imported seed.

Extensive root decay of the watermelon seedlings suggested attack by either Phytophthora or Pythium, but this could not be confirmed by microscopic examination or isolation onto standard non-selective media.

Using a Phytophthora Pocket Diagnostic test kit, produced by Fera spinout company Forsite Diagnostics, Kelvin was able to detect Phytophthora presence on the decaying roots of 4-5 day old seedlings. Believed to be the first time Pocket Diagnostic tests have been used in the assessment of seed health, this opens the possibility of the tests being used for the detection of other seed-borne pathogens such as Pepino mosaic virus and Ralstonia solanacearum.

In addition to this breakthrough Fera is now in discussions with Adgen Biotechnology from China and the CAIQ to provide future training in areas including diagnosis of potato pathogens.

Website: http://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs

Published: February 1, 2010