Update: New Pest & Disease Records (11 October 2022)

We’ve selected a few of the latest new geographic, host and species records for plant pests and diseases from CAB Abstracts. Records this month include the first report of Corynespora cassiicola causing target spot on cotton in South India and the first report of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma fragariae’ infecting hazelnut in Italy.
Read Further

Update: New Pest & Disease Records (7 September 2022)

We’ve selected a few of the latest new geographic, host and species records for plant pests and diseases from CAB Abstracts. Records this month include a new distribution record of palm whitefly Aleurotrachelus atratus in India and the first report of coffee canker disease caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata in China.
Read Further

4 mango disorders that can affect yields

mangoes
Having been cultivated for centuries, mango is an important crop throughout tropical regions globally. A wide range of fresh mango cultivars are now consumed worldwide and are available all year round, making it a valuable commodity. In 2020, the global export of mangoes, guavas and mangosteens rose to approximately 2.2 million tonnes.
Read Further

Update: New Pest & Disease Records (5 August 2022)

We’ve selected a few of the latest new geographic, host and species records for plant pests and diseases from CAB Abstracts. Records this month include the first report of Pestalotiopsis biciliata causing dieback on Quercus coccifera and Pistacia lentiscus in Tunisia and the first report of Sida leaf curl virus and associated betasatellite from tobacco.
Read Further

Update: New Pest & Disease Records (8 July 2022)

Phagmidium duchesneae
We’ve selected a few of the latest new geographic, host and species records for plant pests and diseases from CAB Abstracts. Records this month include two new species of Plasmopara affecting wild grapes in the USA and the first report of rust disease on Potentilla indica caused by Phragmidium duchesneae in Japan.
Read Further

What’s on the horizon?

Ant
Pests do not recognise borders. With the increased movement of people and goods, comes the increased risk of pests moving from one geographic area to another. For this reason, it is important to identify and categorize species that are likely to enter a particular geographic area from another geographic area. CABI’s Horizon Scanning Tool (HST)…
Read Further

Plant clinics improve food security in Rwanda, says new study

Astonishingly, an estimated 40% of crop loss worldwide can be attributed to pests. This statistic that is especially devastating in developing areas where crops are a source of food, income and livestock feed amongst other uses and could be prevented if methods were available.
Read Further

Soil microbiome linked to disease resistance in crops

A recent study has unearthed the mystery of how plant disease resistance is linked to the soil microbiome. This new area of research will open up new possibilities for a more sustainable food production system and help combat global food security threats.
Read Further

Smelling plant diseases: New technology identifies plant diseases remotely in the field

Researchers at North Carolina State University have published an exciting study on a novel technology which allows farmers and extension workers to identify plant diseases remotely in the field using airborne chemical fingerprints. The newly developed handheld sensory device, which can be plugged into a smartphone, samples the airborne levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)…
Read Further

It’s here: the new Plantwise Knowledge Bank!

screenshot of the Plantwise Knowledge Bank homepage
We are pleased to announce the release of the newly designed and dynamic Plantwise Knowledge Bank. The new website is now mobile responsive and has a cleaner, more user-friendly homepage. Our improved design allows for easier navigation and its responsive layout has made it suitable for desktop, mobiles and tablets.
Read Further