Automating Citrus Budwood Processing for Downstream Pathogen Detection Through Instrument Engineering

作者： Deborah Pagliaccia*1,6, Douglas Hill*2, Emily Dang1, Gerardo Uribe1, Agustina De Francesco1, Ryan Milton2, Anthony De La Torre2, Axel Mounkam2, Tyler Dang1, Sohrab Bodaghi1, Irene Lavagi-Craddock1, Alexandra Syed1, William Grover3, Adriann Okamba4,5, Georgios Vidalakis*1 1Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology,University of California Riverside, 2Technology Evolving Solutions (TES), 3Department of Bioengineering,University of California Riverside, 4Ecole Supérieure d'Ingénieurs Léonard de Vinci ESILV, 5University of California Riverside, 6California Agriculture and Food Enterprise (CAFÉ),University of California Riverside

简介：

Overview

This study presents a novel instrument, the Budwood Tissue Extractor (BTE), designed to rapidly process phloem-rich citrus budwood tissues. The BTE significantly enhances sample throughput while reducing labor and equipment costs compared to traditional methods.

Key Study Components

Area of Science

• Plant pathology
• Crop management
• Diagnostic techniques

Background

• Citrus plants are susceptible to various pathogens, leading to substantial economic losses.
• Current methods for processing citrus budwood are labor-intensive and require specialized equipment.
• There is a need for efficient techniques to improve pathogen detection in the citrus industry.
• The BTE aims to address these challenges by streamlining the processing of budwood tissues.

Purpose of Study

• To develop a cost-effective instrument for rapid processing of citrus budwood.
• To enhance the efficiency of pathogen detection in citrus plants.
• To provide a method applicable to various crops beyond citrus.

Methods Used

• Engineering and fabrication of the Budwood Tissue Extractor (BTE).
• Validation of the BTE with citrus samples.
• Comparison of throughput and cost-effectiveness against traditional methods.
• Application of the BTE in diagnostic laboratories and field operations.

Main Results

• The BTE allows for rapid processing of phloem-rich citrus tissue.
• Significant reduction in labor and equipment costs was achieved.
• Improved quality and uniformity of testing services were noted.
• The method is adaptable for use with other crops in various settings.

Conclusions

• The Budwood Tissue Extractor represents a significant advancement in citrus pathogen detection.
• This technique can potentially benefit the citrus industry by improving disease management.
• Future applications may extend to other agricultural sectors, enhancing overall crop health.

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