Which is the world’s worst agricultural pest?
They have caused famines that killed millions; they have precipitated the release of hundreds of megatonnes of carbon; they even turned the UK into a nation of tea-drinkers. And today they are still destroying around 40 per cent of the crops that we grow worldwide. Agricultural pests and diseases have a lot to answer for.
Understanding and managing aflatoxicosis outbreaks in Kenya
Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus are important fungal pathogens that infect a wide range of cereals, oil seeds and nuts. They produce toxic metabolites called aflatoxins (mycotoxins with carcinogenic and teratogenic properties) that can contaminate food products. Although strictly regulated around the world, aflatoxin contamination in developing countries is poorly regulated. In addition, limited management…
Colorado Beetle Threatening Potato Crops in Finland
Finland is experiencing a longer and warmer summer than normal which is threatening their potato crops. The warmer temperatures have led to increases in the prevalence of the Colorado potato beetle which has been attempting to establish in Finland for the past decade. The Colorado potato beetle itself is a highly effective reproducer and necessitates…
Update: New Pest & Disease Records (2 Nov 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. Description of Bursaphelenchus kiyoharai n. sp. (Tylenchina: Aphelenchoididae) with remarks on the taxonomic framework of the Parasitaphelenchinae Rühm, 1956 and Aphelenchoidinae Fuchs, 1937. Kanzaki, N.; Maehara,…
Boosting Yields with Banana Compost
In Egypt a new ‘banana compost’ has been trialled with positive results. The compost increases crop yields whilst reducing water and fertiliser use. This new cultural method of crop management could soon be commercially produced to help Egyptian farmers Banana plants only fruit once in their lifetime and are normally burned by farmers afterwards 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…
Improved understanding of Striga resistance in rice
A group of scientists from the Netherlands, UK and Africa have studied upland NERICA rice cultivars to identify those that exhibit multi-level striga resistance. In two separate research papers, the 18 NEw RICe for Africa (NERICA) cultivars and their parents were screened for pre- and post- attachment striga resistance. One particular cultivar NERICA 1 was…
Anti-Terror Measures Allow Pest Explosion
Since 9/11 the number of invasive pests and plant diseases managing to slip into the USA has risen dramatically. Border checkpoints normally act as a first line of defence against these pests and diseases, however the increased emphasis on anti-terrorism measures has led to agricultural issues being ignored. This costs the USA a staggering $120…
Breakthrough in Crop Defence Mechanism
New research at Washington State University shows that barley plants are able to recognise stem rust spores (Puccinia graminis) and begin to activate their plant defences within just 5 minutes of the spore touching the leaf surface. This goes against the previously held view that pathogens had to penetrate a plant in order to trigger…
Update: New Pest & Disease Records (19 Oct 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. First report of blue mold caused by Penicillium oxalicum in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) in Mexico. Picos-Munoz, P. A.; Garcia-Estrada, R. S.; Carrillo-Fasio, J. A.; Leon-Felix, J.;…