Weed Seed Detection in Plant Quarantine: Practices and Emerging Molecular Technologies

Abstract

Over the years, the rapid and widespread spread of weeds across international borders has become a major threat to agriculture and native ecosystems. Seeds of invasive species are often transported via commodity trade, making rapid and accurate identification essential. This review aims to explore current practices at plant quarantine centers worldwide for detecting weed seeds and to examine potential molecular techniques that could revolutionize this process in the future. Book chapters, scholarly research articles, conference proceedings, and previously published literature on weed seed detection approaches and plant quarantine inspections in various countries were reviewed, examined, and compared to identify the tools and techniques currently used or potentially developed. The literature survey revealed that countries employ diverse strategies for issuing phytosanitary certificates for import and export commodities, adhering to agreements established by global and regional plant protection organizations. Both traditional morphology-based techniques and advanced molecular tools were identified in these practices. Weed seeds present particular detection challenges at quarantine ports, including physiological dormancy that undermines germination-based tests, morphological similarity to crop seeds, and zero-tolerance phytosanitary thresholds for certain noxious species. The review identified various deviations and advanced methods for detecting weed seeds in import and export commodities, aiming to determine the most appropriate or suitable technique for plant quarantine services in worldwide.