Zhejiang University Develops Rapid Visual Test for Tomato Leaf Curl Virus Using CRISPR

Experts from Zhejiang University have developed a new rapid visual detection method for Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), a plant pathogen that causes major crop losses worldwide. The system is designed to improve early field diagnosis and help control the spread of the virus in important crops, such as members of the Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae families.

The method combines recombinase-aided amplification (RAA) with the CRISPR-Cas12a system to develop a rapid, reliable, and cost-effective field diagnosis of ToLCNDV. The findings of the study showed high specificity, with no cross-reaction with closely related plant viruses and a viral detection limit reaching 10¹ copies/µL. Evaluation of 28 samples confirmed results consistent with conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection.

Twelve field samples were further tested using a one-pot RAA-CRISPR-Cas12a system combined with a crude DNA extraction method, and the results were consistent with earlier findings, which confirms the method's suitability for field use. Overall, the researchers conclude that the one-pot visual detection system could provide a one-pot visual detection tool for on-site diagnosis of ToLCNDV.

For more information, read the abstract from Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture.