The third day of the Advanced Training in Plant Health: From Field Surveillance to Molecular Technologies, organized by the Faculty of Agriculture (Faperta) UGM in collaboration with the World Vegetable Center, took place on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. This session provided an in-depth focus on Molecular Diagnostics & Bioinformatics, introducing participants to cutting-edge molecular diagnostic technologies alongside bioinformatics practices that form a crucial foundation for plant disease research.
The program began with an introductory lecture on major vegetable viruses and molecular detection methods. Topics covered DNA/RNA basics, PCR, RT-PCR, qPCR, and RPA, as well as the use of FTA cards for rapid field sampling. Participants were also introduced to emerging diagnostic technologies such as LAMP and CRISPR, along with principles of primer design for molecular analysis.
Laboratory sessions followed, guided by Dr. Owen Cheng and Ms. Jo Chang (WorldVeg), who taught RNA and DNA purification techniques from infected plants and preparation of clean virus isolates. The next session emphasized RNA extraction protocols specific to virus diagnostics, facilitated by Dr. Cheng, Dr. Ady Bayu Prakoso giving participants hands-on experience in handling plant samples.
Further training included qPCR practice, focusing on real-time detection principles, Ct value interpretation, and applications in resistance selection by Dr. Cheng and Widhi Dyah Sawitri, S.Si., M.Agr., Ph.D. Participants also joined a greenhouse session led by Dr. Cheng and Dr. Ram Khadka (WorldVeg), involving mechanical inoculation of tomato plants with potyvirus isolates and observation of disease symptom development.
The program concluded with bioinformatics and phylogenetics, introducing the use of NCBI databases, BLAST sequence analysis, diagnostic primer design, and phylogenetic tree construction. Participants engaged directly with Geneious software and other bioinformatics tools, guided by Dr. Lourena Maxwell (WorldVeg) and Dr. Prakoso (UGM).
Day 3 reaffirmed the importance of integrating molecular technologies and bioinformatics to support accurate and sustainable plant disease diagnostics. The training contributes to SDG 2: Zero Hunger by enhancing food security through improved plant disease control, SDG 4: Quality Education via international knowledge transfer and researcher capacity building, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure through the application of advanced molecular and bioinformatics technologies in agriculture, SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals by fostering collaboration between UGM Faculty of Agriculture and the World Vegetable Center in research and human resource development, and SDG 15: Life on Land by strengthening early detection systems for plant diseases that support biodiversity protection and sustainable farming practices.
Author: Beny Nabila Happy Fauziah
Editor: Tantriani
Documentation: Media Unit of Faperta UGM