Van Heerden, AlishiaPham, Nam Q.Wingfield, Brenda D.Wingfield, Michael J.Muro Abad, Jupiter I.Duran, AlvaroWilken, Pieter Markus2024-08-282024-08-282024Van Heerden, A., Pham, N.Q., Wingfield, B.D. et al. 2024, 'LAMP assay to detect Elsinoë necatrix, an important Eucalyptus shoot and leaf pathogen', Plant Disease, vol. 108, no. 9, pp. 2731-2739, doi : 10.1094/PDIS-01-24-0086-RE.0191-2917 (print)1943-7692 (online)10.1094/PDIS-01-24-0086-REhttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/97896Eucalyptus scab and shoot malformation caused by Elsinoë necatrix is an emerging disease and a serious threat to the global commercial forestry industry. The disease was first discovered in North Sumatra, Indonesia, and now requires a simple and effective method for early pathogen detection. In this study, a rapid and sensitive loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was developed for E. necatrix. A unique region in a secondary metabolite gene cluster was used as a target for the assay. To test robustness of the assay, LAMP was verified in 15 strains of E. necatrix. A specificity test against 23 closely related Elsinoë species and three fungal species commonly isolated on Eucalyptus showed that the LAMP assay exclusively identified E. necatrix isolates. The assay had a high level of sensitivity, able to detect 0.01 ng (approximately 400 target copies) of pure E. necatrix DNA. Furthermore, using a simple DNA extraction method, it was possible to use this assay to detect E. necatrix in infected Eucalyptus leaves.en© 2024 The American Phytopathological Society.Eucalyptus scabShoot malformationElsinoë necatrixForestryLoop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)Scab diseaseDiagnostic assayLAMP assayPlantation forestrySDG-15: Life on landPostprint Article