Update: Plant Health News (31 Jul 13)

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Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including reports of citrus greening (huanglongbing) in Paraguay, the discovery of genes resistant to Phytophthora sojae in soybeans and a computer model that gives early warning signs of crop failure. Click on the link to read more of the latest plant health news!
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Update: Plant Health News (16 Jul 13)

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Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including intelligent greenhouses for more efficient agriculture in Chile, pesticide free farming in India and the Global Food Security Index showing promise in developing nations. Click on the link to read more of the latest plant health news!
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Update: Plant Health News (03 Jul 13)

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Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including the discovery of a gene conferring resistance to the Ug99 wheat stem rust pathogen, a locust plague threatening food security in Madagascar and a research project that aims to double rice production in Africa. Click on the link to read more of…
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Update: Plant Health News (05 Jun 13)

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Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including cassava’s huge potential as a 21st century crop in Africa, the discovery of nematode resistant wheat and Brazil to launch biofungicide against witch’s broom. Click on the link to read more of the latest plant health news!
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Bees aid early detection of fireblight in orchards

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Fireblight is a bacterial disease caused by the species Erwinia amylovora that affects fruit trees including apple and pear. It also affects other members of the rose family, including roses, crabapples and hawthorn. The disease can quickly spread through a plant, killing it within a few months, and can devastate entire orchards within a season.…
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Update: Plant Health News (08 May 13)

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Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including the risk of Septoria attack if sprays are delayed, an internet data portal plan from the banana industry and new plant protein discoveries that could ease global food and fuel demands. Click on the link to read more of the latest plant health…
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European Union Vote To Restrict Neonicotinoid Insecticide Use

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After a European Commission vote yesterday (Monday 29th April 2013), Europe will enforce the world’s first continent-wide ban on neonicotinoid insecticides after concerns about their non-target impact on bee pollinators. The vote by the 27 European Union member states on whether to suspend the use of neonicotinoid insecticides was supported by 15 nations. The UK…
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Update: Plant Health News (24 Apr 13)

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Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including the multiple pressures that threaten pollinating insects, microwave technology to prevent pest diffusion and the UN to use the plant gene pool to improve agriculture. Click on the link to read more of the latest plant health news!
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A Sting In The Tale- EFSA Assesses The Risks of Neonicotinoids To Bees

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Bees represent a proportion of the insects that contribute to the pollination of crops, and the potential impact of observed declines in bees on crop yields, as well as their importance as pollinators of wild flowers, has resulted in significant attention and controversy in determining the causes of bee declines. No single factor has been…
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Pesticide use does not guarantee increased yields

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The ongoing decline of pollinators has caused a global concern. Factors contributing to this decline include among others, use of pesticides, habitat destruction such as bush burning, bee diseases and pests (Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) and Varroamite), and climate change.  Research in Ghana has revealed that cocoa and oil palm production is on the decline…
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