Update: New Pest & Disease Records (08 Aug 12)
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 incidence of the grass moth Classeya tenuistriga as a maize seedling pest, the first report of Blueberry red ringspot virus affecting Korean highbush blueberries and three new species of Aspergillus section Flavi isolated from almonds and maize in Portugal.
US drought could spark a global food crisis
The US is currently facing its most severe drought of the past 50 years, raising questions about the implications for global food security. The US is a major producer of grain, including maize and soybean, which have both been adversely affected by the drought, causing a knock-on effect for the global market. The predicted reduction…
Solution to devastating weed draws closer for sub Saharan Africa
Striga, commonly known as witchweed, is a group of parasitic weeds found in over a third of cereal crops in sub Saharan Africa (SSA). Crops typically yield at least 40% less when they are parasitised by Striga, causing an estimated US$ 7 billion loss and reducing the food security of millions.
Update: Plant Health News (01 Aug 12)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including the fight against black sigatoka in Dominica, discovery of fireblight in Estonia, and CIMMYT’s introduction of a variety of wheat tolerant to Ug99 in Bangladesh. Click on the link to read more of the latest plant health news!
Maize disease in Kenya no longer a mystery and being controlled
Update [March 2013]: More information about the pests and viruses associated with Maize Lethal Necrosis disease can be found on the Plantwise Knowledge Bank. In January this year, ProMed-mail reported an undiagnosed disease of maize that had been destroying farmers’ crops in the Rift Valley of Kenya since the previous September. The Ministry of Agriculture…
Banana genome revealed to aid crop yield improvement.
Scientists working at CIRAD, a French research centre, have sequenced the banana genome for the first time. The researchers have been able to trace the evolution of the banana, as well as study the current genetic make-up of the species. This will help future research into why this crop is so susceptible to pests and…
Update: New Pest & Disease Records (26 July 12)
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 identification of a new citrus disease in China, the first incidence of Banana bunchy top virus in Benin, and the first time that leaf spot disease has been caused by…
Update: Plant Health News (18 July 12)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including new varieties of sorghum resistant to Striga, a new fungus attacking citrus in China, and a greater insight into how cyst nematodes attack soybeans. Click on the link to read more of the latest plant health news!
Update: New Pest & Disease Records (12 July 12)
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 three new nematode species found in the rhizosphere of potatoes in China, the first record of the mushroom brown blotch Pseudomonas tolaasii in Serbia, and two species of ambrosia beetle found for…
Climate change to affect agriculture
With the Rio +20 conference occurring just last month, the world leaders have been encouraged to take notice of the global poverty and environmental concerns. Climate change was a key issue and with the population set to reach 9 billion by 2050, the impact this will have on food security is of paramount importance, especially…