Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have developed an innovative method for the early detection of Fusarium wilt in tomato plants by monitoring subtle changes in the plants' water use. The study demonstrates that measuring water-relation traits such as transpiration rates can identify the disease well before visual symptoms appear.
This breakthrough provides a sensitive, quantitative approach to assessing disease severity, pathogen virulence, and plant susceptibility, offering breeders and researchers a powerful tool to mitigate crop losses and improve agricultural sustainability.
A study led by Ph.D. student Shani Friedman (Goldfarb), under the supervision of Prof. Menachem Moshelion from the Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has demonstrated a new approach to detect Fusarium wilt in tomatoes at its earliest stages, long before symptoms become visible.
This research offers significant implications for plant science, providing breeders and scientists a robust method to improve early disease detection and deepen the understanding of plant-pathogen interactions. The research is published in the journal Plant Disease.
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