Agricultural crops will no longer be sent overseas for pest identification tests.

These plant pest and disease pathogen tests are now done here at the new and advanced molecular laboratory, an investment by the Fijian Government.

The $500,000 state-of-the-art facility at the Koronivia Research Station was opened by the Minister for Agriculture, Mahendra Reddy, yesterday.

“The new molecular laboratory is designed to bring significant benefits for detection, identification, quantification and successful management of plant pest and diseases by farmers and important stakeholders now and into the future,” he said.

The scientific term for this study is called the Polymerize Chain Reaction (PCR).

Mr Reddy said real-time Polymerize Chain Reaction (PCR) was considered the gold standard method for detection of plant pathogens, as it allows high sensitivity and specificity in the detection of one or several pathogens in a single assay.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the most widely used nucleo based method for the detection of plant viruses.

“Molecular methods are no long- er available, only to specialised centers, but also play an important role in the diagnosis of common infections seen in ambulatory practice,” he said.

“It is especially for the detection of pathogens that are difficult to cultivate, especially viruses that PCR has become the reference method.

“In the area of bacteriology, molecular methods have been applied to resistance testing, the detection of infection due to fastidious bacteria, the more rapid detection of serious bacterial infections compared to conventional methods and the detection of bacterial infection after antibiotics have been administered.”

Set featured imageHe said with the rise in global warming currently experienced around the world, the effect of climate change was significantly impacting crop production with the rise of unwanted pets and disease pathogens in Fiji.

He said the lab would ensure farm produce were safe and healthy, and sustain food security.

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