Development and optimisation of sensitive, specific and rapid instrumental methods to detect low levels of pathogenic microorganisms directly in planta

NIRs and electronic nose were used to perform early diagnosis of fire blight and identification of microorganisms. Micropropagated apple and pear plants were maintained in controlled environmental conditions and inoculated with the Erwinia amylovora. The analysis of volatile compounds of the control and inoculated micropropagated plants showed the possibility to perform an early diagnosis of the disease via the use of electronic nose [1]. In addition, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was used to visualize the development of the disease at a single cell level