Update: New Pest & Disease Records (30 Oct 13)

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We’ve selected a few of the latest new geographic, host and species records for plant pests and diseases from CAB Abstracts. Records this fortnight include the first report of Zucchini yellow mosaic virus infecting Gherkin (Cucumis anguira) in India, the invasive neotropical ambrosia beetle Platypus parallelus in the Oriental region and its pest status, and non-host…
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Could Spider Venom Be Used As A Novel Insecticide For Major Crop Pests?

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A new protein discovered in the venom of Australian tarantulas can also kill insect pests that consume the venom orally. The protein known as orally active insecticidal peptide-1 (OAIP-1) was found to be highly toxic to insects that consumed it, with a similar efficacy to the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid. In particular, the protein was found…
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Plantwise takes root in Uganda: United Nations news service report

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Update: Plant Health News (23 Oct 13)

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Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including the role of botanic gardens in food security,  how grazers and pollinators shape plant evolution and a new soil testing kit designed for smallholder farmers. Click on the link to read more of the latest plant health news!
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Have you met Martin? New Plantwise Rwanda video featured on DailyDoGooder.com

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If you have not had the opportunity to view the new Plantwise video, then please take a look. In these 3 minutes you will meet Martin, a young man working as a plant doctor near Kigali, Rwanda. Find out why he joined Plantwise and start to help farmers defend their vital crops against plant pests.…
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Something to be optimistic about this World Food Day

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Today, October 16th, marks the internationally-recognized World Food Day. Around the world, events and media coverage draw awareness to the fact that for over 870 million people, hunger is still a defining daily issue. This figure, though still severe, has fallen one third in the past two decades. Progress is certainly being made, though maybe…
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Update: New Pest & Disease Records (16 Oct 13)

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We’ve selected a few of the latest new geographic, host and species records for plant pests and diseases from CAB Abstracts. Records this fortnight include observations on the mutualism between armoured scale insects and ants, information about the Colletotrichum orbiculare species complex and the  biosecurity implications of new technology and discovery in plant virus research.
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The Hindu covers Plantwise India

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    National newspaper The Hindu publishes article discussing the positive impact of Plantwise activities in the country. With support of the M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation,  ‘plant doctors are coming to the rescue’ of farmers in India. Read full article here.
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Update: Plant Health News (09 Oct 13)

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Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including a new rice variety to cushion farmers against crop loss through blast, a checklist of scale insect pests in Iran and Asian citrus growers looking to diversity their crop with bananas. Click on the link to read more of the latest plant health…
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Water and oil do mix after all: of great discoveries and the prospects for agriculture in a desolate land

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Report by Willis Ochilo and MaryLucy Oronje After years of desolation, Turkana has come alive with its colossal water reservoir and plenty of oil to boot. Massive reservoirs of underground water and underground oil have been discovered in a remote part of Kenya – the Turkana region. Turkana is situated on the north-western part of…
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