Pests and disease-causing pathogens frequently impede agricultural production. An early and efficient diagnostic tool is crucial for effective disease management. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and the CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) have recently been harnessed to develop diagnostic tools. The CRISPR/Cas system, composed of the Cas endonuclease and guide RNA, enables precise identification and cleavage of the target nucleic acids. The inherent sensitivity, high specificity, and rapid assay time of the CRISPR/Cas system make it an effective alternative for diagnosing plant pathogens and identifying genetically modified crops. Furthermore, its potential for multiplexing and suitability for point-of-care testing at the field level provide advantages over traditional diagnostic systems such as RT-PCR, LAMP, and NGS. In this review, we discuss the recent developments in CRISPR/Cas based diagnostics and their implications in various agricultural applications. We have also emphasized the major challenges with possible solutions and provided insights into future perspectives and potential applications of the CRISPR/Cas system in agriculture.
Keywords: CRISPR-Cas; GMO; fast-track breeding; nucleic acid detection; pathogen diagnosis; plant protection; point-of-care testing; traditional strategies.