Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 11: 13-46. Molecular Tools for DetectionOnline journal of Plant at http://www.cimb.org Pathogens 13 Are Molecular Tools Solving the Challenges Posed by Detection of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria and Viruses? María M. López*, Pablo Llop, Antonio Olmos, Ester plant pathogens due to their low titre in the plants, their Marco-Noales, Mariano Cambra and Edson Bertolini uneven distribution, the existence of latent infections and the lack of validated sampling protocols. Research Centro de Protección Vegetal y Biotecnología, Instituto based on genomic advances and innovative detection Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA). Carretera methods as well as better knowledge of the pathogens’ de Moncada a Náquera km 4.5, 46113 Moncada, lifecycle, will facilitate their early and accurate detection, Valencia, Spain thus improving the sanitary status of cultivated plants in the near future. *For correspondence:
[email protected] Introduction Abstract Plant pathogenic bacteria, phytoplasmas, viruses and Plant pathogenic bacteria, phytoplasmas, viruses and viroids cause harmful, widespread and economically viroids are difficult to control, and preventive measures important diseases in a very broad range of plant are essential to minimize the losses they cause each species worldwide (Agrios, 2001; Janse, 2007). Damage year in different crops. In this context, rapid and accurate is often sufficient to cause significant yield losses in methods for detection and diagnosis of these plant cultivated plants (Schaad, 1988; Scortichini, 1995; pathogens are required to apply treatments, undertake Cambra et al., 2006b). The two main effects on agronomic measures or proceed with eradication agriculture are decreased production and, in a less direct practices, particularly for quarantine pathogens.