How plant diseases attract plant pests
In the same way that mosquitoes transmit the malaria-causing parasite, Plasmodium, between humans, some species of leafhopper transmit phytoplasma bacteria between plants. Phytoplasmas are bacterial pathogens that infect the plant phloem and require sap-sucking bugs to transport them to other plants. Researchers at the John Innes Centre on Norwich Research Park have found that leafhoppers…
Ozone pollution negatively affects crop yields
It is predicted that, as levels of the air pollutant, ozone, continue to increase, they will be highest in areas of the world with the most rapidly increasing population levels. This is bad news for crop growers in developing countries, as it has been found that high concentrations of ground-level ozone can have a negative…
The papaya mealybug reaches Malaysia
Distribution of the papaya mealybug (screenshot from the interactive distribution map at www.plantwise.org) © CABI Native to Mexico, the papaya mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus) is controlled in its home range by endemic natural enemies, like the parasitoid Acerophagus papayae. When the papaya mealybug invaded a number of countries in the neotropical region, including the Caribbean, US…
Update: Plant Health News (09 Nov 11)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest news stories about plant health: Chile starts kiwifruit inspections for Psa-V disease Fresh Fruit Portal, 8 November 2011 Crop parasite may spread with global warming Business Weekly, 7 November 2011 Preventing Epitrix potato flea beetles FWi – Arable News, 7 November 2011 How parasites modify plants to…
Update: Plant Health News (27 Oct 11)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest news stories about plant health: Finland: Colorado beetles could spend winter in fields Fresh Plaza, 25 October 2011 Kenya restricts banana seedling movements to contain disease FreshFruitPortal.com, 24 October 2011 Building capacity to overcome wheat rusts CIMMYT’s blog, 25 October 2011 Breakthrough for flood-tolerant crops Farmers Weekly, 21…
Update: Plant Health News (31 Aug 11)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest news stories about plant health: Herbicide choice for high blackgrass dormancy Farmers Weekly, 30 August 2011 NZ: pest costs potato industry US$101M FreshFruitPortal.com, 30 August 2011 Banana threatened by old, new pathogens African Agriculture, 29 August 2011 Yellow leaf spot resource Australian Government Grains Research & Development Corporation, 29 August 2011…
Update: Plant Health News (4 Aug 11)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest news stories about plant health: Researchers know their onions… NFU, 3 August 2011 Cotton ‘topping’ cuts bollworm infestations, study finds SciDev Net, 2 August 2011 Crop grazing shows promise as disease tool Grains Research and Development Corporation, 1 August 2011 EU sees the light on Epitrix NFU, 1 August 2011…
Update: Plant Health News (22 Jul 11)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest news stories about plant health: British wasps protect lettuce and celery from pests Plant Science, 20 July 2011 Modelling the root of crop disease Plant Science, 18 July 2011 USDA Restricts the Importation of Commercial and Noncommercial Quantities of Rice from Countries Where Khapra Beetle Is Known to Occur USDA-APHIS Newsroom, 14…
Predicting the effects of global warming on insect pests
It has been estimated that presently pests cause 30-50% of yield losses to agricultural crops in developing countries and these rates are likely to increase with climate change. Although much attention has been given to the impacts of climate change on insect abundance and severity in temperate regions, little is known about potential impacts in…
Update: New Pest & Disease Records (13 July 11)
We’ve selected a few of the latest new geographic, host and species records for plant pests and diseases from CAB Abstracts. Click on the links to view the abstracts. A new disease in mango caused by Trichothecium roseum. ShiLan, H.; ZengLiang, L.; XiaoMei, L.; YiXian, X.; JinJiPankaj, P.; Sirohi, A.; Jain, R. K.; Singh, K. (2011) Journal…