Water mold research leads to greater understanding of corn diseases

Corn is a staple feed and biofuel crop with a value close to $3.7 billion in the Michigan economy alone. However, knowledge about seedling pathogens in Michigan corn fields is limited. A group of scientists in the Department of Plant,…

Calcium added to acidified prepartum diets for dairy cows benefits future reproduction

URBANA, Ill. – Achieving an appropriate calcium balance in dairy cows is critical near calving, but not only to ensure a healthy transition to lactation. According to a new study from the University of Illinois, calcium added to acidified prepartum…

To avoid cassava disease, Tanzanian farmers can plant certain varieties in certain seasons

A nutty-flavored, starchy root vegetable, cassava (also known as yuca) is one of the most drought-resistant crops and is a major source of calories and carbs for people in developing countries, serving as the primary food for more than 800…

Decoding plant chatter could lead to stronger crops

Researchers will use a $2.25 federal grant to study how cells communicate within plants, and between plants and pathogens, to develop crops that are resilient to disease and other stresses. The work also could play a role in reengineering plants and microbes to improve biofuel production.

Swarm of tiny drones explores unknown environments

Researchers have presented a swarm of tiny drones that can explore unknown environments completely by themselves. This work, presented in Science Robotics on 23 October, forms a significant step in the field of swarm robotics. The challenge comes from the…

Neural network technique identifies mechanisms of ferroelectric switching

Innovations in material science are as essential to modern life as indoor plumbing – and go about as unnoticed. For example, innovations in semiconducting devices continue to enable the transmission of more information, faster and through smaller hardware – such…

New portable DNA sequencer quickly and accurately diagnoses wheat viruses

New Portable DNA Sequencer Quickly and Accurately Diagnoses Wheat Viruses Blasts cause significant loses in wheat crops. Recently Bangladesh was devastated by an invasion of South American races of wheat blast fungus, which occurred for the first time in the…

Resistance to antibiotics doubles in 20 years, new study finds

(Barcelona, October 21, 2019) Resistance to commonly-used antibiotics for treating harmful bacteria related to a variety of stomach conditions has more than doubled in 20 years, new research presented today at UEG Week Barcelona 2019 has shown. The study, which…

Next-generation sequencing used to identify cotton blue disease in the United States

St. Paul, MN (October, 2019)–Cotton blue disease, caused by Cotton leafroll dwarf virus (CLRDV), was first reported in 1949 in the Central African Republic and then not again until 2005, when it was reported from Brazil. In 2017, cotton blue…

Alfalfa and potassium: It’s complicated

Has anyone ever told you to eat a banana when you have a muscle cramp or eye twitch? That’s because bananas have potassium. Potassium is an important nutrient for humans, and an even more important nutrient when it comes to…