Conventional and advanced techniques for detection of seed borne pathogens

Food losses resulting from crop infections by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi have long posed a significant challenge in global agriculture. Seeds are pivotal in the spread of plant pathogens to new areas and serve as carriers for their survival between growing seasons. Seed-borne diseases present a major biological hurdle in global seed production. Accurate and timely detection of soil pathogens is crucial for developing effective management strategies. Effective seed health testing methods are characterized by specificity, sensitivity, speed, simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and reliability. Traditional methods fall short in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. Serological tests, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and immunofluorescence microscopy, have been employed to detect seed-borne pathogens. However, these methods have limitations, such as the absence of species-specific antibodies and the potential for false positives due to the detection of nonviable pathogens. To overcome these challenges, nucleic acid-based detection methods have emerged as highly effective tools. Techniques such as BIO-PCR, immunemagnetic separation PCR (IMS-PCR), magnetic capture hybridization PCR (MCH-PCR), and rapid-cycle real-time PCR, along with advanced technologies like DNA chip technology, microsatellites, DNA barcoding, next-generation sequencing ((NGS), and nanotechnology, have significantly enhanced the reliability, specificity, sensitivity, and speed of pathogen detection in seeds. This article reviews both serological and modern detection techniques that have been reported to monitor and identify the seed-borne diseases which provide a comprehensive theoretical foundation for effective disease prevention and management.