Development and Application of a Filamentous Phage-Based Rapid Detection Tool for Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum

Abstract

Bacterial wilt caused by the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex (RSSC) is a devastating plant disease with a broad host range. Early detection is critical for disease management, yet conventional methods lack speed and specificity. This study developed a rapid detection system using engineered filamentous phages (RSCq) expressing bioluminescence genes (luxAB, nanoluc, and luxSit-i). Among the constructs, RSCqluxAB demonstrated optimal performance, detecting R. pseudosolanacearum at 1.58x103 CFU/mL within 12 hours, with minimal background noise. The phage retained stability for six months at 4{degrees}C, proving suitable for field applications. These findings highlight its potential for early pathogen monitoring, quarantine enforcement, and precision agriculture, though further validation in soil/plant samples is needed.