Provision of the Services - Analysing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) for E-nose project

Plant pests and diseases pose a significant threat to agricultural productivity, leading to substantial economic losses. Detecting infestations or diseases in their early stages, before visible symptoms appear, is critical for swift intervention and preventing their spread. However, traditional laboratory-based methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are expensive, time-consuming, and destructive.
To address these challenges, the project will evaluate the effectiveness of three commercially available E-nose devices. E-noses are electronic sensing devices designed to mimic the human olfactory system. They analyse volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by pests and diseases, providing rapid and non-invasive detection capabilities. The primary focus of this project will be the early detection of high priority plant pests, including 'Panama disease,' 'Banana Freckle,' and 'Mango Twig Tip Dieback.'
Researchers from the Plant Biosecurity Branch of the NTG Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (DITT) with the help of the Chemistry team at Faculty of Science and Technology at CDU, will assess the accuracy of the three E-nose devices to assess their suitability under Northern Territory conditions. If successful, these devices could potentially be used by primary and horticulture industry professionals and Indigenous communities, facilitating efficient surveillance efforts and early intervention strategies.