(Haenam = Yonhap News) Reporter Jo Geun-young = The Haenam County in South Jeolla Province, famous for its sweet potatoes, has applied for a patent for a gene analysis technology that can quickly diagnose black rot, a major disease affecting sweet potatoes. According to Haenam County on the 10th, the patent applied for this time involves analyzing sweet potato black rot using the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method, which is characterized by its high species specificity for the pathogen, allowing for quick, accurate, and simple diagnosis. The Haenam County Agricultural Technology Center and Microgen Inc. jointly developed an analysis kit that includes key components such as primers and DNA polymerases necessary for detecting black rot. This allows for the early detection of the presence of pathogens in the soil or sweet potato samples. Sweet potato black rot is known to have a high likelihood of occurring in hot and humid environments and is difficult to control once it has developed. With this technology development, it is expected that preemptive preventive measures can be taken before the disease occurs, significantly contributing to reducing damage to farms and improving the quality of sweet potatoes. In particular, the county has been operating a "pre-diagnosis soil service" since January this year to prevent black rot in advance. The collected soil samples are subject to precise testing for the presence of pathogens, and the diagnosis results are quickly communicated via text message or email within two weeks of receipt. chogy@yna.co.kr