Real-time PCR applied to study on plant pathogens: potential applications in diagnosis - a review

Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) technique incorporates traditional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) efficiency with the production of a specific fluorescent signal, measuring the kinetics of the reaction in the early PCR phases and providing quantification of specific targets in various environmental samples. There are an increasing number of chemistries to detect PCR products, which are widely used in plant pathology as they cluster into the amplicon sequence non-specific and sequence-specific techniques. In this review, we illustrate a general description of major chemistries and discuss some considerations for assay development as it applies for a wide range of applications in epidemiological studies. The technique has become the gold standard for early detection of pathogens and a fundamental tool in the research laboratory.