Plant Virus Sensor for the Rapid Detection of Bean Pod Mottle Virus Using Virus-Specific Nanocavities

This study presents a miniaturized sensor for rapid, selective, and sensitive detection of bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) in soybean plants. The sensor employs molecularly imprinted polymer technology to generate BPMV-specific nanocavities in porous polypyrrole. Leveraging the porous structure, high surface reactivity, and electron transfer properties of polypyrrole, the sensor achieves a sensitivity of 143 μA ng–1 mL cm–2, a concentration range of 0.01–100,000 ng/mL, a detection time of less than 2 min, and a detection limit of 41 pg/mL. These capabilities outperform those of conventional methods, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions. The sensor possesses the ability to distinguish BPMV-infected soybean plants from noninfected ones while rapidly quantifying virus levels. Moreover, it can reveal the spatial distribution of virus concentration across distinct leaves, a capability not previously attained by cost-effective sensors for such detailed viral data within a plant. The BPMV-specific nanocavities can also be easily restored and reactivated for multiple uses through a simple wash with acetic acid. While MIP-based sensors for plant virus detection have been relatively understudied, our findings demonstrate their potential as portable, on-site diagnostic tools that avoid complex and time-consuming sample preparation procedures. This advancement addresses a critical need in plant virology, enhancing the detection and management of plant viral diseases.