New diagnostic tools for plant doctors

Plant diseases cause major economic losses for farmers worldwide. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates indeed that pests and diseases are responsible for about 25% of crop loss. To solve this issue, new methods are needed to detect diseases and pests early. Agronomists Martinelli et al. review advanced detection methods such as novel sensors that detect plant odours, and spectroscopy and biophotonics that are able to diagnostic plant health and metabolism.