Portable LAMParA Kit enhances detection of diseases plaguing abaca
Margust Dela Cerna | August 19, 2024
The Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) has unveiled a new tool to fight viral diseases plaguing the abaca crop.
Recognizing the limitations of ELISA and PCR in rural areas, PhilFIDA and the University of the Philippines Diliman National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (UPD-NIMBB) developed a simpler and faster detection method: the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) kit. This kit, part of the “Enhancing Virus Detection Technology for Effective Disease Management in Abaca” project funded by the Department of Agriculture’s Biotech Program, allows for easy and rapid virus detection directly in the field.
The portable LAMParA Kit provides all necessary supplies for on-site testing, delivering results within 30 minutes based on a simple color change. This tool empowers farmers by enabling early detection and timely intervention to prevent the spread of diseases, thereby improving abaca yield and quality.
The abaca industry, which supports 130,000 farmers and numerous jobs in fiber manufacturing, faces challenges from viral infections such as abaca and banana bunchy top, bract mosaic, and sugarcane mosaic viruses. These viruses, spread by insects like aphids and contaminated planting materials, severely reduce fiber yield.
To address this, PhilFIDA collaborates with local governments and farmers, employing continuous surveillance and eradication strategies. Severely infected areas are treated with insecticides, and infected plants are removed or treated with glyphosate. Additionally, PhilFIDA promotes high-yield, disease-free planting materials and operates labs to produce virus-free plantlets using ELISA and PCR detection methods.
Recognizing the limitations of ELISA and PCR in rural areas, PhilFIDA and the University of the Philippines Diliman National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (UPD-NIMBB) developed a simpler and faster detection method: the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) kit. This kit, part of the “Enhancing Virus Detection Technology for Effective Disease Management in Abaca” project funded by the Department of Agriculture’s Biotech Program, allows for easy and rapid virus detection directly in the field.
The portable LAMParA Kit provides all necessary supplies for on-site testing, delivering results within 30 minutes based on a simple color change. This tool empowers farmers by enabling early detection and timely intervention to prevent the spread of diseases, thereby improving abaca yield and quality.
The abaca industry, which supports 130,000 farmers and numerous jobs in fiber manufacturing, faces challenges from viral infections such as abaca and banana bunchy top, bract mosaic, and sugarcane mosaic viruses. These viruses, spread by insects like aphids and contaminated planting materials, severely reduce fiber yield.
To address this, PhilFIDA collaborates with local governments and farmers, employing continuous surveillance and eradication strategies. Severely infected areas are treated with insecticides, and infected plants are removed or treated with glyphosate. Additionally, PhilFIDA promotes high-yield, disease-free planting materials and operates labs to produce virus-free plantlets using ELISA and PCR detection methods.
