Researcher delivers talk on advances in plant pathogen diagnostics

The Department of Plant Pathology, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), in association with the Indian Society of Plant Pathologists (INSOPP), organised a lecture on the ‘Emerging Role of Illumina and Nanopore Sequencing Technologies in Plant Pathogen Diagnostics’.

Dr Harvinder Bennypaul, research scientist at the Centre for Plant Health, Sidney, Canada, and an alumnus of the Department of Plant Pathology, was the speaker. Dr Bennypaul, a renowned expert in the field, discussed modern sequencing technologies, specifically Illumina and nanopore, and how these were revolutionising the diagnosis of plant diseases. These advanced techniques, he highlighted, enabled rapid, accurate detection of various plant pathogens. The lecture underscored the potential of these technologies to transform plant pathology research by providing faster diagnostic tools that were essential for managing plant health at a global scale. One of the key points discussed was how these sequencing methods could aid in the regulation of the introduction of exotic pests into new regions.