Isothermal Detection Methods for Fungal Pathogens in Closed Environment Agriculture

Closed environment agriculture (CEA) is rapidly gaining traction as a sustainable option to meet global food demands while mitigating the impacts of climate change. Fungal pathogens represent a significant threat to crop productivity in CEA, where the controlled conditions can inadvertently foster their growth. Historically, the detection of pathogens has largely relied on the manual observation of signs and symptoms of disease in the crops. These approaches are challenging at large scale, time consuming, and often too late to limit crop loss. The emergence of fungicide resistance further complicates management strategies, necessitating the development of more effective diagnostic tools. Recent advancements in technology, particularly in molecular and isothermal diagnostics, offer promising tools for the early detection and management of fungal pathogens. Innovative detection methods have the potential to provide real-time results and enhance pathogen management in CEA systems. This review explores isothermal amplification and other new technologies in detection of fungal pathogens that occur in CEA.