Report from Technology Foundation STW, Nov. 14, 2005.
Soil sampling and processing for stem nematode (Ditylenchus
dipsaci) detection in onion fields is labor-intensive. The nematodes are
damaging to onions in the Netherlands. The Laboratory for Nematology
(University of Wageningen) and a company called Blgg hav developed a molecular
technique to detect the stem nematode and white rot in soil samples.
The Blgg agricultural laboratory will start using the new system in November
2005. The test conclusively demonstrates the presence of both the stem nematode
and onion white rot.
"With this new method, the analysis of soil samples under the microscope will be
made superfluous. It will soon be possible to detect nematodes extracted from
the soil samples according to their individual DNA ’barcode’. The grower can
then decide whether or not he wants to grow onions on the plot of land tested."
according to the report.