Simplified Sample Preparation and Lateral Flow Immunoassay for the Detection of Plant Viruses

Lateral flow immunoassays (LFA) are widely used for decentralized testing, but their application for in-field plant virus diagnostics is often limited by tedious sample preparation. Here, we present a simplified dipstick LFA for the detection and monitoring of cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV) as a model plant pathogen. The assay employes a monoclonal mouse antibody for capture and a polyclonal rabbit antibody conjugated to 80-nm gold nanoparticles for detection. Conventional sample and conjugate pads are omitted, allowing the test strips to be dipped directly into wells containing plant extract and antibody-gold conjugate. In addition, no plastic casing was necessary, which significantly reduces waste. It was shown that CCMV concentrations as low as 4 µg/L or 400 pg per sample could be reliably detected in 15 minutes. Specificity tests confirmed that other plant viruses, cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) and tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), did not produce false positive results. Furthermore, we describe a field-compatible sampling procedure using a manual punch and a disposable syringe. This step combines sample grinding, extraction, and conjugate reconstitution within the syringe frit, enabling the analysis of punched leaf discs without laboratory equipment. When applied to CCMV-infected cowpea plants, the assay revealed systemic infection before visual symptoms became apparent. This work demonstrates that simplified LFAs combined with innovative sampling techniques can provide sensitive, specific, and rapid diagnostics for crop monitoring and support early intervention strategies in agriculture.