Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have developed an innovative method for the early detection of Fusarium wilt in tomato plants by monitoring subtle changes in the plants' water use. The study demonstrates that measuring water-relation traits such as transpiration rates can identify the disease well before visual symptoms appear. This breakthrough provides a sensitive, quantitative approach to assessing disease severity, pathogen virulence, and plant susceptibility, offering breeders and researchers a powerful tool to mitigate crop losses and improve agricultural sustainability.
A study led by PhD student Shani Friedman (Goldfarb), under the supervision of Prof. Menachem Moshelion from the Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has demonstrated a new approach to detect Fusarium wilt in tomatoes at its earliest stages, long before symptoms become visible. This research offers significant implications for plant science, providing breeders and scientists a robust method to improve early disease detection and deepen understanding of plant-pathogen interactions.
Fusarium wilt, caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, is a devastating disease that results in substantial economic losses worldwide. Traditionally, the detection of plant diseases such as Fusarium wilt relies on visual assessments, which can often be subjective and inaccurate. By the time symptoms are visible, substantial damage has usually already occurred.
This study, however, takes a different approach, focusing on precise water-relation measurements using a high-throughput physiological phenotyping system. The research team employed advanced lysimeter technology to continuously monitor transpiration rates and biomass changes of tomato plants in a semi-controlled greenhouse environment. Remarkably, they observed a decrease in the plants' transpiration rates days to weeks before any visual symptoms appeared.
“This research demonstrates that water-related physiological traits like transpiration can act as sensitive, reliable early indicators of Fusarium infection,” explained Shani Friedman. “We were able to quantitatively measure how plants respond to the pathogen well before they exhibited the traditional visible symptoms of disease.”
The study's quantitative method not only detects disease early but also measures pathogen virulence and plant susceptibility. This gives researchers and farmers clear, numeric data to determine how aggressively a pathogen is affecting crops, and to assess how different tomato varieties resist or tolerate Fusarium wilt.
Dr. Shay Covo, a key collaborator from the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, emphasized the broader relevance of the findings:
“This quantitative approach opens new directions for studying plant–pathogen interactions. It enables us to understand better how pathogens influence plants at the early stages of the disease” Prof. Menachem Moshelion highlighted the potential of the methodology beyond tomato plants: “Our approach opens exciting possibilities not just for tomato plants, but for agricultural practices in general. Early detection through physiological monitoring can significantly reduce crop losses and enhance sustainable agricultural management.”
This innovative methodology has potential beyond tomatoes. The research team also successfully applied it to potato plants infected with late blight, demonstrating the versatility of their physiological monitoring system for other important plant diseases.
The research paper titled “Early Detection and Quantification of Fusarium Wilt in Greenhouse-Grown Tomato Plants Using Water-Relation Measurements” is now available in Plant Disease and can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-07-24-1523-RE.
Researchers:
Shani Friedman1, Ahan Dalal1, Dor Batat1, Saul Burdman2, Yheonatan Sela1, Matanel Hipsch1, Shilo Rosenwasser1, Evgeniya Marcos Hadad2, Shay Covo2 and Menachem Moshelion1
Institutions:
1) The Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
2) Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The research received support from the Shoenberg Research Center for Agricultural Science and the Israel Science Foundation.
For a century, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has been a beacon for visionary minds who challenge norms and shape the future. Founded by luminaries like Albert Einstein, who entrusted his intellectual legacy to the university, it is dedicated to advancing knowledge, fostering leadership, and promoting diversity. Home to over 23,000 students from 90 countries, the Hebrew University drives much of Israel’s civilian scientific research, with over 11,000 patents and groundbreaking contributions recognized by nine Nobel Prizes, two Turing Awards, and a Fields Medal. Ranked 81st globally by the Shanghai Ranking (2024), it celebrates a century of excellence in research, education, and innovation. To learn more about the university’s academic programs, research, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/en.