Salman, A., Department of Physics, SCE-Sami Shamoon College of Engineering, Beer-Sheva, Israel
Tsror, L., Department of Plant Pathology, Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research Organization, Bet Dagan, Israel
Pomerantz, A., Department of Virology and Developmental Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
Moreh, R., Department of Physics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
Mordechai, S., Department of Physics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
Huleihel, M., Department of Virology and Developmental Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel

Soil-borne fungi are considered as major pathogens to many plants and can cause a severe economic damage. Early detection and identification of these pathogens is very important and might be critical for their control. The available methods for identification of fungi like molecular biology, serological tests and PCRs tests (polymerase chain reaction) are time consuming and not always very specific. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectroscopy, is considered to be a comprehensive and sensitive method for detection of molecular changes in intact cells. In the present study we used FTIR-ATR as a sensitive and effective assay for the detection and discrimination between different fungal genera. Our results showed significant spectral differences between the various examined fungi genera. These results proved the possibility of discrimination between these fungi on the genus level. © 2010 - IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved.