Climate change and the fight against plant diseases
Earlier this month, Dr Adrian Newton from the James Hutton Institute spoke about the implications of climate change for pathogen defence in plants, at the Society for General Microbiology Spring Conference in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, UK. He explained, “The communities of microbes on plants are complex and include harmless and beneficial organisms as well as…
Wheat rust and climate change – a possible connection
A possible link between wheat stripe rust and climate change was observed by researchers meeting at the International Wheat Stripe Rust Symposium, which convened in Aleppo, Syria last week. The symposium organised by the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) aimed to review the current global status of wheat stripe rust…
Update: Plant Health News (27 Apr 11)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest news stories about plant health: Missing link in plant defense against fungal disease found ScienceDaily: Latest Science News, 25 April 2011 GM banana resistant to fungus shows promise SciDev.Net, 20 April 2011 Eradication Declared In South Florida Fruit Fly Fight Growing Produce – Florida Grower, 20 April…
Update: New Pest & Disease Records (20 Apr 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 chlorotic and necrotic disease caused by Tobacco rattle virus on Capsicum annuum in Japan. Tomitaka, Y.; Fujimoto, T.; Nakata, M.; Ishikawa, R.; Usugi,…
Update: Plant Health News (13 Apr 11)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest news stories about plant health: Rising prices make corn insect control more beneficial Southeast Farm Press, 11 April 2011 Ozone reduces fungal spoilage of fruits and vegetables ScienceDaily: Latest Science News, 11 April 2011 Potential New Pest of Fruit – Spotted Wing Drosophila Weekly Crop Update, 8…
Plant Clinics boost fight against diseases and pests
“Plant clinics boost fight against diseases, pests” – this was the title of a story that appeared in the newspaper Business Daily last week. It was one of many positive articles that were written after a group of journalists were taken to visit some Plant Clinics in Kenya. The article includes examples where the Plant…
Update: New Pest & Disease Records (6 Apr 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. Characterization of Maize chlorotic mottle Virus associated with maize lethal necrosis disease in China. Xie Li; Zhang JingZe; Wang Qiang; Meng ChunMei; Hong Jian; Zhou XuePing…
Update: Plant Health News (23 Mar 11)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest news stories about plant health: Switzerland: new health provisions for the import, trade and plant production Anemia, 20 March 2011 Indian Mustard May Be Alternative to Fumigation in Cotton CropBiotech Update, 18 March 2011 Taking plants to the doctor: plant health clinics from Bolivia to Bangladesh R4D…
Update: Plant Health News (9 Mar 11)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest news stories about plant health: Mandalotus weevil study Grains Research & Development Corporation – Media release, 8 March 2011 Hidden fusarium threat revealed Farmers Weekly Interactive – Arable News, 7 March 2011 Rust Never Sleeps The Official Blog of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, 3 March…
Aid donors join forces to fight wheat rust
Emerging strains of stem rust disease of wheat, such as Ug99, are spreading out of East Africa and threatening the world’s wheat supply. But the fight against this disease received a boost this week from a collaboration between the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The organisations have…