50% Peanut Yield Loss Halted
Virginia Tech's new sensor detects deadly Sclerotinia blight just 5 days after infection, saving farmers $37.4 million annually
Researchers at Virginia Tech have made a breakthrough in protecting peanut crops from a devastating fungal disease. Sclerotinia blight has been known to cause up to 50% yield loss in peanut plant populations in recent years. However, a new low-cost sensor developed by the researchers can detect the disease as early as five days after infection, reducing the risk of yield loss.
The sensor detects high concentrations of oxalic acid, a chemical produced by plants infected with the fungus Sclerotinia minor. This early detection is critical, as physical symptoms of the disease may not appear for two months after infection, by which time it may be too late to prevent its spread.
The development of the sensor is a significant milestone for peanut farmers, particularly in southeastern Virginia, where farmers harvested about 30,000 acres of peanuts in 2024, bringing in a cumulative $37.4 million. The sensor has the potential to help farmers detect and prevent the spread of the disease, reducing the risk of yield loss and protecting their livelihoods.
## What changed The traditional method of detecting Sclerotinia blight involves time-consuming physical inspections, often when it's already too late to stop its spread. However, with the new sensor, farmers can detect the disease early and treat the plant with a fungicide to help prevent spread to healthy parts of the plant.
## Why it matters The stakes are high for peanut farmers, as Sclerotinia blight can survive for years in the soil, making it difficult to get rid of the disease. Early detection is critical to preventing its spread and reducing the risk of yield loss. The development of the sensor is a significant step forward in protecting peanut crops and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the industry.
The lead author of the paper describing the development and testing of the sensors is Frank Erukainure, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering. His work on the project earned him the 2026 Boyd-Scott Graduate Research Award, one of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers' top honors for graduate scholarship.
