Unleashing the power of colloidal gold immunochromatographic assays for plant virus diagnostics

The colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay (GICA) has become a popular method for the rapid detection of plant viruses. This assay format uses antibodies labeled with colloidal gold to capture and detect specific viral antigens in plant samples. GICA offers several advantages over traditional laboratory-based methods, including speed, ease of use, cost-effectiveness, and accessibility, making it an attractive option for plant virology diagnostics. Because plant viruses can cause significant economic losses in agriculture and horticulture, early detection is essential for effective management and control. Conventional laboratory-based methods such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and polymerase chain reaction are sensitive and specific but require specialized laboratory equipment and training and can be time-consuming and costly. On the other hand, colloidal gold nanoparticles, specific antibodies and carefully designed components are integrated to allow visual detection of target viruses. This makes it an invaluable tool for plant disease management and monitoring that is simple and easy to perform and provides results within minutes. This review article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the application of colloidal gold immunochromatographic assays for the rapid detection of plant viruses.