Plant bacterial wilt, caused by the soil-borne bacterium Ralstonia, infects over 400 crops including tomatoes and peppers.
In southern China (such as Guangdong), field incidence can reach 50–80%, causing severe annual losses.
Plant bacterial wilt, caused by the soil-borne bacterium Ralstonia, infects over 400 crops including tomatoes and peppers.
In southern China (such as Guangdong), field incidence can reach 50–80%, causing severe annual losses.
Traditional diagnosis depends on visual symptoms or laboratory tests. Visual checks find the disease too late, while lab tests are costly and not field-friendly.
Ralstonia releases a special signaling molecule (AHL) early in infection. Our engineered E. coli detects it and triggers a warning signal.
Insert a sampler into the soil, filter the soil, collect AHL molecules in the soil, and transfer them to a vacuum collection tube.
Transfer the liquid containing engineered bacteria into a vacuum tube, then incubate it in a shaking incubator for batch testing.When the result turns blue, it indicates that the sample is infected with bacterial wilt.
This synthetic biology approach is portable, low-cost, and effective in the field.
It gives farmers critical time to protect their crops and reduce losses.
