Rapid detection of the oak wilt pathogen (Bretziella fagacearum) using loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP).

A real-time LAMP assay targeting the internal transcribed spacer of Bretziella fagacearum detects the oak wilt pathogen with a detection limit as low as 1 pg/µL in under 20 min.

• Why it matters: Oak wilt diagnosis is currently limited by slow or difficult methods, making rapid, accurate molecular testing important for timely sanitation and tree-management decisions.
• What they did: The authors developed a LAMP diagnostic using primers and probes against the rDNA internal transcribed spacer region and validated it on pure isolates and environmental samples from branch sapwood, leaf petioles, nitidulid sap beetle vectors, and degraded fungal mats.
• The result: The assay is thoroughly validated to specifically detect B. fagacearum and is demonstrated to detect the fungus from routinely collected sample types, supporting faster forest health surveillance.