The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded a $300,000 Project Grant under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) CFDA 10.310 program to the Regents of the University of California at Riverside (UC Riverside). The grant aims to develop a transformative technology that leverages cutting-edge tools, including ultra-sensitive nanoprobes, CRISPR gene-editing, and high-throughput lab-on-a-chip devices. This innovative system has the potential to simultaneously analyze hundreds of avocado samples within minutes, detecting the Avocado Sunblotch Viroid Disease (ASBVD) at incredibly low concentrations. The project has far-reaching benefits, as this rapid, reliable, and cost-effective detection method could serve as a model for developing similar solutions for a wide range of plant and animal diseases, contributing significantly to the advancement of agricultural disease management practices.
Generated 3/18/25, 5:19 AM