Aptamers as emerging tools for plant disease management: From biosensing to active modulation

Conventional methods for plant disease detection and management often face limitations in sensitivity, specificity, and field applicability. Aptamers, with high affinity and specificity, present a promising alternative. The review begins by elucidating the molecular mechanisms and key benefits of aptamers over traditional antibodies, highlighting their robustness and versatility. Building upon their demonstrated successes in food safety, environmental monitoring, and medical diagnostics, we systematically examine the application prospects of aptamers in plant disease management. Specifically, aptamers not only served as sensitive biosensors for detecting plant hormones and pathogens but also as active agents that interfere with pathogen effectors and modulate plant immune responses. Although emerging, aptamers hold considerable potential to transform plant disease control. Future advancements will require overcoming challenges in aptamer screening and biosensor stability through integration with emerging technologies, including microfluidics, CRISPR, and artificial intelligence, paving the way for intelligent, field-deployable diagnostics for sustainable agriculture.