Detection, identification and disease diagnosis of soilborne pathogens

Recent advances in the detection of plant pathogens using immunological and nucleic acid-based techniques has enabled the major genera and species of disease-causing organisms to be quickly and reliably identified. Methods that are based on the use of monoclonal antibodies or the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are highly sensitive and specific and have the potential to replace traditional technologies. Detection and identification of pathogens that are soilborne presents a number of difficulties such as sampling and reaction inhibition that are beginning to be overcome. New approaches to antibody production such as that of phage display, the combination of immunoassays with PCR and the development of species-specific PCR primers will allow versatile and wide-scale use of these new techniques.