BLIGHTSENSE - Development of a rapid biosensor system for in-field detection of potato late blight pathogens

马铃薯晚疫病是世界上最具破坏性的作物病害之一，在过去10年里，马铃薯产量停滞不前，全球每年损失35亿英镑。本项目将开发一种快速的声波生物传感器装置，用于现场鉴定晚疫病病原菌（Phytophthora Infestans）的空气传播孢子囊，以满足改进疾病管理和控制的迫切需求。Soil Essentials （SE）是一家精密农业中小企业，它将与剑桥大学（UC）、詹姆斯·赫顿研究所（JHI）、Mylnefield研究服务公司（MRS）和先正达公司（SG）合作，通过将低成本、抗体涂层的声学传感耗材与经过验证的孢子捕捉器相结合，开发一种用于早期病原体检测的综合诊断工具。拟议的创新，只有通过最先进的声电子、智能材料、生物化学、晚疫病流行病学、先进的ICT和精准农业的跨学科融合，才能实现优化的疾病控制，减少马铃薯作物浪费和杀菌剂成本，提高市场产量和质量。作为一种平台技术，它可以很容易地用于检测其他作物和牲畜病原体，从而对农业产生更广泛的影响。

Potato late blight is one of the world's most destructive crop diseases, with £3.5Bn annual losses globally in an industry suffering stagnant yields for the last decade. This project will develop a rapid acoustic biosensor device for in-field identification of air-borne sporangia of Phytophthora Infestans (causal agent of late blight), to meet the compelling need for improved disease management & control. Soil Essentials (SE), a precision-farming SME, together with University of Cambridge (UC), the James Hutton Institute (JHI), Mylnefield Research Services (MRS) & Syngenta (SG), will develop an integrated diagnostic tool for early pathogen detection, by coupling low-cost, antibody-coated acoustic sensing consumables with a proven spore-trap. The proposed innovation, enabled only by the interdisciplinary convergence of state-of-the art acousto-electronics, smart materials, biochemistry, late blight epidemiology, advanced ICT & precision agriculture, will enable optimised disease control, reducing potato crop waste & fungicide costs, improving marketable yield & quality. As a platform technology, it can be easily adapted to detect other crop & livestock pathogens for wider agricultural impact.