Diagnostic Innovations for Microbial Pathogens in Edible Plants: Cutting-Edge Technologies for Enhanced Detection

The continuous evolution of microbial pathogens poses significant challenges to the health of edible plants, impacting agriculture and food security. Traditional diagnostic methods, while effective, often require complex procedures, specialized equipment, and extended time to yield results. Recent technological advancements offer promising solutions, driven by the need for rapid, accurate, and cost-effective diagnostic tools tailored for agriculture. Integrating the Internet of Things (IoT), biosensors, chemical sensors, E-CRISPR, and spectral detection techniques into the diagnostics of pathogens in edible plants represents a pioneering approach to enhancing detection capabilities.

IoT enables real-time monitoring and data collection, facilitating rapid response to microbial outbreaks in agricultural settings. Biosensors and chemical sensors provide highly sensitive and specific detection of microbial pathogens through biochemical and chemical interactions, respectively, crucial for ensuring the health of edible plants. E-CRISPR (Electrochemical CRISPR) technologies have revolutionized the field, allowing for precise genetic identification of plant pathogens with unparalleled speed and accuracy. Spectral detection techniques, including Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy, offer non-invasive methods to identify and quantify microbial presence and activity in edible plants.

This Research Topic will highlight how these advanced technologies are being applied to detect bacterial, viral, fungal, and protozoan pathogens specifically in edible plants. This collection aims to gather original research articles, reviews, and methods papers exploring the latest innovations in diagnostics for pathogens affecting food crops.

We aim to provide a platform for researchers and professionals to share their findings, discuss challenges, and propose future directions in this rapidly evolving field. This will be an invaluable resource for scientists, agricultural professionals, policymakers, and industry stakeholders interested in the latest advancements in diagnostics for edible plants.

The following themes are welcomed to submit a manuscript, but not limited to:

- Integration of IoT in real-time diagnostics and monitoring of edible plant pathogens
- Development and application of biosensors for pathogen detection in food crops
- Advances in chemical sensors for the identification of pathogens in edible plants
- Innovations in E-CRISPR for rapid genetic diagnostics of plant pathogens
- Spectral detection methods for microbial analysis in edible plants
- Use of next-generation sequencing in diagnostics of pathogens affecting food crops
- Portable diagnostic devices and point-of-care testing solutions for edible plants
- Applications of nanotechnology in the diagnostics of pathogens in food crops
- Challenges and future perspectives in diagnostic technologies for edible plants
- Case studies on the application of advanced diagnostic tools in outbreaks affecting edible plants

Keywords: Microbial diagnostics, IoT, biosensors, chemical sensors, E-CRISPR, spectral detection, pathogen detection, real-time monitoring, point-of-care testing, next-generation sequencing.

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.