Update: New Pest & Disease Records (18 May 11)

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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. A new red spider mite from the African oil palm from Brazil (Acari: Tetranychidae). Flechtmann, C. H. W.; Noronha, A. C. S. (2011) Systematic and Applied…
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Update: New Pest & Disease Records (5 May 11)

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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 records of the jumping plant-louse Acizzia jamatonica (Kuwayama) (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Psyllidae) in Slovakia and Greece. Lauterer, P.; Bartoš, R.; Milonas, P. (2011) Plant Protection Science…
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Climate change and the fight against plant diseases

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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…
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Update: New Pest & Disease Records (20 Apr 11)

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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,…
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Plant Clinics boost fight against diseases and pests

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“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…
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Update: New Pest & Disease Records (6 Apr 11)

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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…
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Hessian fly heading for the sack

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Wheat crops suffer millions of dollars’ worth of damage each year due to the hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor. The most effective control method is genetic resistance, when wheat resistance genes cause death of the attacking larvae by activating a defense response against avirulent hessian flies. Unfortunately this has led to flies that can overcome resistant…
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How will climate change affect plant health?

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As weather patterns shift around the world due to changing climates, so this brings new challenges to crop protection. Pests and diseases can become a problem in new areas, or appear earlier, making it necessary to change crop protection practices. Conversely, some pests and diseases may become less of a problem as conditions become less…
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