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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. 3 (2026)

Development of a polyclonal antibody-based immunoassay for early detection of leaf blight pathogen in groundnut

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.11465
Submitted
25 August 2025
Published
02-07-2026 — Updated on 09-07-2026
Versions

Abstract

Immunological methods are highly useful for detecting plant pathogens even before the appearance of visible symptoms. Among the available immunoassays, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is widely employed for the detection of viral and fungal pathogens because of its high sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility. The present investigation aimed to standardise a polyclonal antibody-based detection system for the early and specific identification of the groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) leaf blight pathogen, Alternaria alternata. The optimum dilutions of antigen and antisera were determined to be 1 : 1000 and 1 : 100 respectively, with a titre value of 1 : 10. Using this standardised approach, leaf blight infection in groundnut plants could be detected up to six days before the onset of visible symptom expression. Such early prediction of infection is highly significant, as it provides scope for adopting remedial measures at the right time, thereby preventing the spread of the disease and minimising crop losses. This study highlights the practical application of ELISA for pathogen surveillance and demonstrates the potential of polyclonal antibodies in developing immunodiagnostic tools for large-scale screening of groundnut germplasm. This approach can support integrated disease management strategies and contribute to improved crop health and sustainable groundnut productivity.

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