Fungal Spore Detection of the Gray Mold Crop Disease: Imprinted-Polymer Thermometric Sensing Platform for the Real-Time Monitoring of Botrytis cinerea

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Abstract
Timely identification of pathogens within the food production chain is crucial to prevent spoilage and reduce the substantial economic burden associated with crop loss. Botrytis cinerea is the causative agent of gray mold disease, which affects important crops such as tomatoes. In this study, we introduce a sensing platform for real-time monitoring of this fungus. The sensor consists of a polymeric receptor imprinted with the physical and chemical characteristics of the fungus’s spores, enabling identification. Detection is achieved using a thermal transducer, which offers a reproducible concentration-dependent signal toward the analyte. The sensor was tested for specificity with other spores (Ampelomyces quisqualis, Fusarium oxysporum, and Akanthomyces muscarius), with a significantly higher response intensity for the targeted microorganism. The sensor’s practical applicability was evaluated using B. cinerea-containing water collected from a greenhouse dedicated to tomato cultivation. These results highlight the platform’s potential as a routine monitoring tool for this plant pathogen.
Funding Information
  • European Regional Development Fund
  • Interreg Vlaanderen-Nederland

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