A plant virus consists of protein and a piece of genetic material ( DNA or RNA molecule ) and is very modest . A virus can not be seen with the naked eye . After contagion , it can take weeks for symptom to appear , so it often direct a foresighted metre before an transmission is observe . The Business Unit Greenhouse Horticulture of Wageningen University & Research is inquire whether the comportment of a virus in a crop can be detected originally with raman spectrometry . Researcher Corien Voorburg : " If this sensing technique works , viruses can be detect much quicker by agriculturist . "
A crop responds quickly to infection by a virus . The metabolic activity of the cells changes . WUR is enquire whether this can be detected by using a laser . The scattering of the optical maser light can be measured : this provides information about the chemical composition of the material . This technique is call raman spectroscopy . Raman spectroscopy is also used , for example , to determine the years of erstwhile paintings . The change cells on the control surface of the leaf ensure a different scattering of the light-headed beam of light . By observe these changes ( with the help of artificial intelligence ) , a virus contagion can be light upon .
To investigate the pertinency of raman spectroscopy , WUR lead experiments with tomato spot wilt virus ( TSWV ) in chrysanthemum . This virus is have major job in the sector . WUR is inquire whether the change in the leaf induce by the virus can be measured with raman spectroscopy . Voorburg : " Growers or breeder still have to send a sample to a lab for testing if they mistrust a computer virus infection . The result can often take days . "
Voorburg hopes that the engineering can eventually be used in a small hand-held equipment , so a agriculturalist in a greenhouse can scan the craw and immediately encounter an indication of whether the craw may be infected with a computer virus . " The condition in a nursery are very different than in the laboratory where we now conduct the research . In a glasshouse , a crop is exhibit to other variable , such as temperature , insects , and other varieties , which also influence the leaf content . So notice a computer virus can be more complex . But it would be worthful if this technology could ultimately be used in the glasshouse , so computer virus infection can be mark in the first place , and damage and further infections are therefore prevented . "
The inquiry into raman spectroscopy is funded by Wageningen University & Research .
Source : wur.nl
