New wheat disease detection tool established in Tanzania
John Innes Centre researchers have trained scientists from across Tanzania to use new loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays to rapidly detect wheat blast, a looming fungal threat to wheat harvests.
Researchers from the John Innes Centre have trained Tanzanian scientists to utilize new loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays for swiftly detecting wheat blast, a fungal threat to wheat crops in Tanzania. The training took place at the Tanzanian Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) and emphasized the use of LAMP assays as low-cost, rapid tests to identify the presence of wheat blast, a disease caused by Magnaporthe oryzae pathotype Triticum.
Although wheat blast has not yet been detected in Tanzania, it is a looming threat that has already been confirmed in neighboring Zambia. Dr. Caresma Chuwa, director of TARI-Selian, highlighted the importance of rapid detection tools in identifying and responding to the threat of wheat blast, should the disease reach the country.
The training, attended by 21 representatives from five institutions across Tanzania, provided the Tanzanian team with the necessary resources to test samples they suspect could be wheat blast during the upcoming season. This new technology, developed by the Saunders Lab at the John Innes Centre, is a type of LAMP assay that can rapidly confirm the presence of wheat blast.
LAMP assays are advantageous due to their precision, accessibility for field labs, and quick processing time, making them ideal for early detection in low-resource settings. Wheat blast, a fungal disease that emerged in Brazil in 1985, has spread to South American countries, Bangladesh, and Africa, causing significant crop losses. Early detection of the disease is crucial for preventing its spread and minimizing economic losses.
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