A Nondestructive Asymptomatic Early Disease Prediction Method Employing Ros-induced Differential Volatile Emissions From Dry Rot-infected Potatoes
This study aims to identify volatile organic compound (VOC) biomarkers for the early and non-destructive detection of dry rot in potatoes, enabling timely control measures to minimize post-harvest losses.
Key highlights
- Early detection of dry rot in potatoes is critical to minimizing post-harvest storage losses.
- Volatile organic compounds can be used as biomarkers for early detection of the disease.
- Four specific VOCs (linalool tetrahydride, γ-muurolene, alloaromadendrene, and α-isomethyl ionone) were found exclusively in potatoes infected with dry rot and can be used as biomarkers for detection.
- These biomarkers have the potential to be used in the development of an e-nose sensor for the non-destructive detection of dry rot in stored potatoes.
by Jorge Luis Alonso with ChatGPT-4
A fundamental goal of agricultural research is to protect crops from diseases that threaten food security and cause significant economic losses. Among these threats, potatoes, a staple of the world’s diet and economy, are particularly vulnerable to dry rot. Caused primarily by the fungus Fusarium sambucinum, dry rot causes significant postharvest losses in yield and quality. A recent study by Rittika Ray et al. at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee presents an innovative method for the early, asymptomatic detection of dry rot in potatoes. The method uses volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling in infected tubers.
Potatoes are critical to feeding millions of people worldwide, yet they face numerous post-harvest challenges, including dry rot. Traditional detection techniques, which rely on visible symptoms and odor, often fail to identify the disease early enough for effective management. However, the research by Ray et al. introduces a non-destructive technique based on the unique VOCs released by potatoes during the early stages of infection.
Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), the researchers identified 29 VOCs differentially emitted by healthy and F. sambucinum-infected potatoes and pinpointed four biomarkers specific to dry rot. These findings offer hope for early detection of the disease. In addition, the study indicates a significant role for ROS, particularly hydrogen peroxide, in the emission of these biomarkers, suggesting that ROS signaling is critical in the metabolic changes that lead to VOC emission. This discovery paves the way for sensor-based technologies, such as electronic noses, for early detection in stored potatoes, representing a leap forward in non-destructive disease diagnostics.
This research has profound implications, enabling early detection of dry rot to minimize losses, maintain potato quality and improve food security. It highlights the impact of interdisciplinary approaches to solving agricultural problems. In summary, the work of Ray et al. not only provides a new method for managing dry rot in potatoes, but also sets a precedent for future crop protection research. It highlights the importance of early detection and the potential of VOC biomarkers, paving the way for e-nose technology to transform post-harvest disease management into a more proactive, accurate and efficient practice.
Source: Ray, R., Singh, S. S., Yadav, S. R., & Sircar, D. (2024). A nondestructive asymptomatic early disease prediction method employing ROS-induced differential volatile emissions from dry rot-infected potatoes. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 208, 108532. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108532
For more research on potato storage, click here: https://bit.ly/3u8OCtU.
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