On Day 5, workshop participants were fully immersed in PCR diagnostics in the laboratory, with hands-on exercises in traditional end-point PCR, multiplex PCR, real time quantitative PCR and isothermal DNA amplification assay. DNA extracted from FTA cards with tomato extracts from Tanzania tested positive for phytoplasma using nested PCR. Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, causal agent of bacterial canker of tomato and pepper, was identified using both qPCR and the University of Hawai’i SmartDart LAMP (isothermal DNA amplification) assay.
Participants also had time to check on results of some biochemical tests for bacterial identification.
Which bacterial isolates are facultative anaerobes?
Updating results…
Finally, Prof. Luis Canas presented his first Case Study on insect identification: Hemiptera:Homoptera.