An electrochemical biosensor assay for diagnostics of Cytospora canker disease in apple trees

Abstract

Apple is one of the most widely grown fruit trees, and Cytospora canker is a disease that causes branch canker and dieback. The treatment of the disease is mainly carried out by using fungicides. However, excessive use of chemicals has a significant impact on fruit quality, as well as on the environment, and is also economically unprofitable for countries with small apple production. The problem can be solved by establishing a management strategy based on timely diagnosis of the disease and preventing its spread. Therefore, there is a need for a reliable and inexpensive diagnostic tool that can be used for early detection and quantification of the pathogen. Although there are several conventional laboratory tests for this purpose, they lack simplicity and selectivity, and most importantly, require trained personnel. This article describes the development of an electrochemical biosensor method that can replace conventional molecular detection methods. This method is a hundred times more sensitive than existing quantitative PCR methods.