Bioscientists at the University of Warwick's Crop Centre have successfully translated advanced diagnostics research into an innovative practical tool for the horticulture sector.
Onions are one of the UK's most popular vegetables, with the average person eating around 10kg each year. Around 60% of onions consumed in the UK are home-grown, so protecting yields from disease is critical not only for growers, but for the wider food supply chain.
One of the most significant threats to onion crops is Fusarium basal rot, a soil-borne disease caused by specialised strains of Fusarium fungi that infect crops through the roots and can lead to major yield losses. There is currently no effective cure once the disease is established, making early detection and prevention critical.
The new soil diagnostic service, delivered in partnership with ADAS Biotechnology, directly addresses this challenge, and is now available commercially.
Project lead Professor John Clarkson explains: "Accurate detection and quantification of Fusarium strains in soil has historically been extremely difficult and has limited growers' ability to manage their risk of Fusarium basal rot effectively. We addressed this challenge by introducing an innovative 'enrichment' step, where soil samples are placed into a growth medium that encourages Fusarium to develop, before DNA is extracted and analysed. This step significantly improved detection sensitivity and enabled growers to make earlier assessment of disease risk in the field before they plant."
The work forms part of a two-year DEFRA and Innovate UK-funded project, supported by major onion growers and agronomists. The project has explored multiple approaches to disease detection, including imaging techniques and the development of an 'electronic nose' in collaboration with Professor James Covington from the University of Warwick School of Engineering, to identify volatile gas signatures of Fusarium disease in stored onions.
