P-646 - The development of focused ultrasound extraction (FUSE) for DNA release from plant tissues to enable rapid pathogen detection

Early and accurate detection of plant pathogens is essential to safeguard global food systems and biodiversity. While molecular diagnostics offer the sensitivity and specificity needed for effective surveillance and detection, current sample preparation methods remain a critical bottleneck because they are often slow, labor-intensive, and inconsistent, limiting the full potential of molecular detection methods. Here, we demonstrate the use of a novel technique, Focused Ultrasound Extraction (FUSE), to rapidly release DNA from challenging plant samples, including leaves and woody tissue. FUSE uses high-pressure, acoustic pulses to lyse cells and liberate nucleic acids in seconds, without chemical lysis or mechanical homogenization. Our results show that FUSE can extract DNA in as little as 12 seconds, reducing sample processing time and equipment needs. Furthermore, the quality of the released DNA improved the reliability and efficiency of PCR based detection compared to standard extraction methods. This approach offers a promising pathway to improve the speed, accessibility, and scalability of molecular pathogen detection in both field and laboratory settings for enhanced prevention and control of plant disease outbreaks.