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…
Update: Plant Health News (04 July 12)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including frosts affecting citrus in Argentina, Plum pox virus in Japan, and new disease resistant bean varieties in Rwanda. Click on the link to read more of the latest plant health news!
Plantwise plant clinics start up in China
A pilot scheme of Plantwise clinics has started in China. Huanhuan Wan and Caroline Scotter-Mainprize report on the success of the first clinic session in Southwest China. China’s first Plantwise plant clinic was successfully established in Rongjiang town, Xing’an county, Guangxi province, Southwest China on 19 May 2012. A great number of local farmers arrived…
Update: New Pest & Disease Records (27 June 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 black coconut bunch weevil found damaging coconut palms for the first time in Brazil, the first report of the lesion nematode, Pratylenchus agilis, parasitising wheat, and the first incidence…
Update: Plant Health News (21 Jun 12)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including further spread of desert locusts in West Africa following the fall of Gaddafi, scientists decoding the genome of Xanthomonas bacteria, and the ban of a neonicotinoid insecticide in France, which has been linked to colony collapse disorder in honeybees. Click on the…