UPLB BIOTECH develops 23 diagnostic kits

Twenty-three diagnostic kits have been developed by an institute of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).

A diagnostic kit provides quality control laboratories, research and teaching institutions with an effective tool for detecting plant, feed, and food pathogen (the causative agent of a disease) and mycotoxins (a toxic substance produced by a fungus).

Specifically, a kit allows farmers, feed millers, traders, and food manufacturers to rapidly screen their products for mycotoxin contamination before food/feed formulation, marketing, and consumption, pointed out Director Teresita Espino of the UPLB-National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH).

Dr. Espino told The STAR that the BIOTECH-developed diagnostic kits now available for plant, food, and feed pathogens and mycotoxins are those on papaya ringspot virus, Citrus tristeza virus, greening disease of citrus or leaf mottling, maize dwarf mosaic virus, peanut stripe virus, cymbidium mosaic virus, tobacco mosaic virus-orchid strain, anthurium blight organism, banana bunchy top virus, banana bract mosaic virus, banana mosaic virus, abaca bunchy top virus, abaca mosaic virus, mango anthracnose organism, flatoxin B1, aflatoxin M1, potato virus X, potato virus Y, potato virus S, potato leaf roll virus, red tide toxin from mussels, ochratorin A, zearalenone, and Furnonisn B1.

BIOTECH draws support for its research activities from funding sources, among them the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR).

Dr. Espino said the BIOTECH-developed kits can detect disease infection at the earliest possible time even in the absence of symptoms, thus, limiting spread of disease.

It is also of good use in the production of virus-free planting materials that would benefit farmers. Moreover, it is environmentally safe, easy to use, rapid, and inexpensive.

"The cost of locally produced kits is much cheaper than imported ones, thus, saving the much-needed dollar reserves in the country," Dr. Espino said. – Rudy A. Fernandez