Abstract:
Ascochyta blight is a major biotic stress that limits chickpea production globally. Fungicide application
remains one of the effective control measures for the endemic spread. Due to the serious threat that
synthetic fungicides pose to crop quality, early diagnosis of the pathogen is imperative. Whilst there
have previously been several conventional lab-based diagnostic methods developed for early detection
of Ascochyta rabiei, they require long assay times, specialised equipment and facilities, and trained
personnel to process the samples. To overcome this challenge, a rapid amplification-free detection
assay using a molecular beacon probe was developed. The method consists of a simple assembly assay
that accurately detects pathogen within 30 min. The developed assay is species-specific and has a
similar sensitivity level as conventional amplification-based methods. Although it is still a lab-based
technique, considering the simplicity of the assay, it has a great potential to be developed further as a
reliable in-field diagnostic device for early detection and quantification of fungal pathogen spores.
