DEVICE AND METHODS FOR DETECTING FUNGAL PATHOGENICITY IN POSTHARVEST PRODUCE

摘要

The present invention discloses a system and a method for detecting different developmental stages of fungi life cycle in postharvest crops. More particularly, the system comprises a measuring transducer, such as a CMOS photodetector and immobilized fungal nucleic acid strands. RNA from the tested postharvest produce sample is loaded onto the system of the present invention, and specific fungal mRNA transcripts anneal to the immobilized strands. A reporter strand conjugated to a signal-generating component further binds the mRNA transcripts, and when a detectable reaction is produced post binding, the transducer captures said reaction and converts it to measurable values, indicating the quantity, presence and the developmental stage of the fungus.