Update: New Pest & Disease Records (20 Feb 13)

strawb
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 report of Ralstonia solanacearum causing tomato bacterial wilt in Mexico, occurrences of a new fruit rot of peach caused by Hyphodermella rosae in northern Iran and the first…
Read Further

New Type of Invasive Whitefly Recorded In South Africa

strawb
A species of whitefly that transmits cassava mosaic virus has been detected in South Africa for the first time. The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci is a cryptic species complex containing some important agricultural pests and virus vectors. The term ‘cryptic species complex’ means that Bemisia tabaci is considered to be a complex of at least 24 different…
Read Further

What CABI Is Doing To Tackle Major Coffee Rust Outbreaks In Central America

strawb
Guatemala has declared a state of agricultural emergency after coffee rust fungus has affected approximately 193,000ha of coffee, equating to 70% of the national crop. As a result of the outbreak, Guatemala is releasing $13.7m (£8.7m) in emergency aid to help farmers buy pesticides and to inform farmers on ways to manage the disease. Honduras…
Read Further

Update: New Pest & Disease Records (06 Feb 13)

strawb
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 identification and characterisation of Citrus yellow vein clearing virus, the spread dynamics and agricultural impact of Sorghum halepense and the first report of black scurf on carrot caused by binucleate Rhizoctonia AG-U.
Read Further

Plantwise Photo Of The Month – February

strawb
To read more about plant clinics in Nepal and to watch a video of a plant clinic in action, click here. To find out more about plant pests and diseases in Nepal visit the Plantwise Pest Distribution map 
Read Further

Update: New Pest & Disease Records (23 Jan 13)

strawb
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 report of Alfalfa mosaic virus and Soybean dwarf virus on soybean in North Dakota, storage rot of dragon fruit caused by Gilbertella persicaria and a new wilt disease of banana…
Read Further

Update: New Pest & Disease Records (09 Jan 13)

strawb
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 Conotrachelus weevil species associated with guava, Epitrix flea beetles threatening potato production in Europe and Fusarium causing shoot canker of kumquat in China.
Read Further

Julien Lamontagne-Godwin at a cacao depot in North Kivu, DRC

strawb
Whenever I am working in Democratic Republic of Congo, I always link up with our partner ESCO, a regional cacao producer and exporter, also active in Uganda.
Read Further

Update: New Pest & Disease Records (26 Dec 12)

strawb
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 Fusarium chlamydosporum causing wilt disease of guava in India, a new record of stored product pest Lepinotus reticulatus from China and the first report of the invasive stink bug Bagrada hilaris from New Mexico.
Read Further

Social Media Used To Facilitate Research Into UK Ash Dieback

strawb
This Friday scientists from The Sainsbury Laboratory in the John Innes Centre in Norwich will publish the first RNA sequence data on the ash dieback fungus Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus (asexual anamorphic stage Chalara fraxinea). The data will be released via the OpenAshDieback website to a system called GitHub designed for ‘social coding’ of software so that the information can…
Read Further