Table 1.
Comparison of main techniques for the detection of plant diseases and their characteristics. PCR: polymerase chain reaction; FISH: fluorescence in-situ hybridization; ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; IF: immunofluorescence; FCM: flow cytometry; CFU: colony forming unit (adapted from [34]—licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution).
| Techniques | Limit of Detection (CFU/mL) | Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCR | 103–104 | Mature and common technology, portable, easy to operate | Effectiveness is subjected to DNA extraction, inhibitors, polymerase activity, concentration of PCR buffer, and deoxynucleoside triphosphate |
| FISH | 103 | High sensitivity | Autofluorescence, photobleaching |
| ELISA | 105–106 | Low cost, visual color change can be used for detection | Low sensitivity for bacteria |
| IF | 103 | High sensitivity, target distribution can be visualized | Photobleaching |
| FCM | 104 | Simultaneous measurement of several parameters, rapid detection | High cost, overwhelming unnecessary information |