Damyang-gun Provides On-site Technical Support for Horticultural Crop Virus Diagnosis

Introduction of Rapid Diagnostic Kits to Minimize Damage to Farms

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 27th that it has launched on-site technical support to prevent losses to farms caused by viruses in horticultural crops.

Since there are no developed treatments for viral diseases in horticultural crops, the best measure is to prevent the spread by quickly diagnosing and removing infected plants or thoroughly controlling vector insects at the early stage of outbreak.

Accordingly, the county Agricultural Technology Center plans to introduce diagnostic kits that can detect virus infections on-site within 10 minutes for seven Solanaceae species including tomato and chili pepper, which are vulnerable to viruses, and four Cucurbitaceae species including melon and watermelon, and provide on-site technical support.

To this end, on the 20th, a demonstration session on how to use the virus diagnostic kits was held at the town and township agricultural consultation offices, and the kits will be used to immediately diagnose suspected virus-infected samples in the field to minimize farm damage.

For items difficult to diagnose with the virus diagnostic kits, the Damyang-gun Agricultural Technology Center’s Pest and Disease Diagnosis Laboratory provides precise analysis services using gene amplification technology (PCR).

Additionally, the county is promoting a pilot project for comprehensive virus prevention technology in facility horticultural crops by applying integrated vector blocking techniques to prevent viruses.

A county official said, “We will be able to quickly confirm infection status through simple diagnosis of major horticultural crops,” adding, “We will do our best to support minimizing farm damage caused by viruses.”