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UrduResearch being conducted at the University of Seville is working to boost green agriculture through microbial applications
Tag: FERTILIZERS/PEST MANAGEMENT
Phytol may be promising for eco-friendly agrochemicals to control root-knot nematodes
Root-knot nematodes (RKNs, Meloidogyne spp. ) infect a broad range of plants, including several agriculturally important species such as cotton, soybean and corn, as well as various vegetables and ornamentals. These parasites cause roots to develop galls that result in…
New discoveries on deadly fungus – might be a key for treatment
Aspergillus fumigatus kills as many people as malaria and tuberculosis, but is less known. It is found “everywhere”, for example in the soil or in our compost, but is not normally dangerous to healthy people. Those who die from it…
Going back in time restores decades of quiet corn drama
URBANA, Ill. – Corn didn’t start out as the powerhouse crop it is today. No, for most of the thousands of years it was undergoing domestication and improvement, corn grew humbly within the limits of what the environment and smallholder…
Weed invaders are getting faster
A new study shows invasive plants are adapting to new habitats and new climates at an increasing pace – and especially so in tropical environments
Households in Zimbabwe affected by fall armyworm are 12% more likely to experience hunger
CABI has led the first study to explore the income and food security effects of the fall armyworm invasion on a country — revealing that in Zimbabwe smallholder maize-growing households blighted by the pest are 12% more likely to experience hunger
Deforestation favors an increase in the diversity of antibiotic-resistant soil bacteria
Study analyzed some 800 million DNA sequences extracted from 48 soil samples collected in Pará State and northern Mato Grosso State, both of which are part of the Amazon biome
Analysis of “virtual” pollinator trade reveals global dependence on biodiversity for food consumption
Virtual pollination trade uncovers global dependence on biodiversity of developing countries
Study offers insights into management of invasive paperbark trees
WESTMINSTER, Colorado – March 10, 2021 – The paperbark tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia) was introduced to the U.S. from Australia in the 1900s. Unfortunately, it went on to become a weedy invader that has dominated natural landscapes across southern Florida, including…
Forget the fly swatter: Biologists map genes to fight stable flies
Stable flies cause $2B in agriculture losses each year — and they’re so annoying
Precision Toxicology consortium to protect human health from effects of harmful chemicals
A major research project to shape regulation and policy on chemical safety without the use of animal testing has been launched with the aid of €19.3M funding from the European Commission. Led by the University of Birmingham and involving 15…
Unveiling the cause of onion center rot
Since 1983, the bacteria Pantoea ananatis has been known to infect several important crops including onions, rice, and corn. It was unclear, however, what molecules were involved. A new study, published in mBio , has identified one of the culprits:…
Fruit fly research part of effort to protect human health from toxic chemicals
Clemson researchers are a part of the international PrecisionTox consortium which aims to shape regulation and policy on chemical safety without the use of animal testing
Chemical signal in plants reduces growth processes in favor of defense
Beta-cyclocitral produced by plants after herbivore attack increases defense responses while inhibiting the production of metabolites for growth
A plant’s place in history can predict susceptibility to pathogens
Found around the world, powdery mildew is a fungal disease especially harmful to plants within the sunflower family. Like most invasive pathogens, powdery mildew is understudied and learning how it affects hosts can help growers make more informed decisions and…
Insatiable demand for cannabis has created a giant carbon footprint
Colorado State University researchers provide the most detailed accounting to date of the industry’s greenhouse gas emissions
Food security: Irradiation and essential oil vapors for cereal treatment
A combined treatment of irradiation and essential oil vapors could effectively eliminate insects, bacteria and mold in stored grains
Protein discovery could help enable eco-friendly fungicides
Findings explain how plants use RNA to defend against fungal invaders
Chickpea genetics reduce need for chemicals
In recent years, hummus has become a pop culture food phenomenon, drawing praises from dieticians for the health benefits and chefs for the flavor. However, the core ingredient, the chickpea, has had its production threatened. The chickpea has played a…
Ghosts of past pesticide use can haunt organic farms for decades
Although the use of pesticides in agriculture is increasing, some farms have transitioned to organic practices and avoid applying them. But it’s uncertain whether chemicals applied to land decades ago can continue to influence the soil’s health after switching to…
Study points to the challenges of harvest-time weed seed controls in Pacific Northwest
WESTMINSTER, Colorado – March 02, 2021 – Herbicide-resistant weeds have fueled a growing demand for effective, nonchemical weed controls. Among the techniques used are chaff carts, impact mills and other harvest-time practices that remove or destroy weed seeds instead of…
Study explores link between forestry management and pesticides in aquatic species
Toxic traces found in mussels, clams, and oysters in Oregon’s coastal zone
Rice plant resists arsenic
Chinese-German research team discovers plant variant that largely neutralises the toxin
UT Plant Sciences’ Senseman receives highest honor from WSSA
Department Head Scott Senseman named WSSA Fellow
Pesticide imidacloprid threatens future for key pollinator
An insecticide used to control pest infestations on squash and pumpkins significantly hinders the reproduction of ground-nesting bees — valuable pollinators for many food crops, a new University of Guelph study has revealed. This first-ever study of pesticide impacts on…
Rare bee found after 100 years
Rainforest degradation, wildfire reducing species
Effort to understand agricultural nitrogen in U.S. and China receives joint funding
CAMBRIDGE, MD (February 22, 2021)–A collaborative project to identify ways to improve sustainability of nitrogen management in food, water, and energy systems in China and the United States has received funding from the United States and China’s National Science Foundations.…
Release of nutrients from lake-bottom sediments worsens Lake Erie’s annual ‘dead zone,’
Photo and map Robotic laboratories on the bottom of Lake Erie have revealed that the muddy sediments there release nearly as much of the nutrient phosphorus into the surrounding waters as enters the lake’s central basin each year from rivers…
Spotted lanternfly: Research accelerates in effort to contain invasive pest
New collection showcases growing body of knowledge on spotted lanternfly biology and management
Termite gut microbes could aid biofuel production
Wheat straw, the dried stalks left over from grain production, is a potential source of biofuels and commodity chemicals. But before straw can be converted to useful products by biorefineries, the polymers that make it up must be broken down…
Silencing the alarm
An enzyme in the saliva of certain insects prevents their food plants from warning neighboring plants of an attack
QUT Panama disease breakthrough sparks US funding
QUT researcher Distinguished Professor James Dale and his team have successfully developed a line of Cavendish bananas resistant to Panama disease tropical race 4 (TR4)
All the colours of the dingo: not just a yellow dog
There is no coat colour that distinguishes dingoes from dingo-dog hybrids, a study involving UNSW Sydney has found. The Centre for Ecosystem Science research suggests that animals assumed to be dingo-dog hybrids based on their coat colour and culled may…
Application of potassium to grass used as cover crop guarantees higher-quality cotton
In an article, Brazilian researchers show that besides simplifying operational logistics and improving production, fertilization of the grass used as a cover crop can reduce fertilizer use in the long run.
Researchers solve riddle of plant immune system
Team led by the University of Göttingen describes influence of molecular mechanisms
Invasive flies prefer untouched territory when laying eggs
A recent study finds that the invasive spotted wing drosophila ( Drosophila suzukii ) prefers to lay its eggs in places that no other spotted wing flies have visited. The finding raises questions about how the flies can tell whether…
Variable weather makes weeds harder to whack
URBANA, Ill. – From flooded spring fields to summer hailstorms and drought, farmers are well aware the weather is changing. It often means spring planting can’t happen on time or has to happen twice to make up for catastrophic losses…
Fingerprint for the formation of nitrous oxide emissions
Scientists succeeded in studying emissions of the greenhouse gas N2O under the influence of environmental impacts in an unprecedented level of detail
Ultimately, beneficial fungi could be more effective than pesticides against nematodes
Over the past 30 years, the use of soil fumigants and nematicides used to protect cole crops, such as broccoli and Brussel sprouts, against cyst nematode pathogens in coastal California fields has decreased dramatically. A survey of field samples in…
New eco-friendly technique protects rice plants against devastating fungal infection
Researchers have developed a new technique to protect rice seeds against fungal infections that can ruin up to half of all rice crops in the world. The biocontrol method, which involves inoculation of flowers with a different fungus that doesn’t…
Research identifies more sustainable, cost-effective approach to treating citrus canker
An important bacterial disease that affects citrus trees and causes lesions, citrus canker has been effectively controlled by spraying copper. However standard management techniques involve spraying excessive amounts of copper and water without consideration for the size of the trees.…
CABI study updates safer options for fall armyworm control in Africa
CABI scientists have updated the first major study of potential biological controls that could be used in the fight against the devastating fall armyworm in Africa. The research offers new insight into evidence of their efficacy in the field and increased
Fungus that eats fungus could help coffee farmers
Coffee rust is a parasitic fungus and a big problem for coffee growers around the world. A study in the birthplace of coffee – Ethiopia – shows that another fungus seems to have the capacity to supress the rust outbreaks…
Flower diversity may mitigate insecticide effects on wild bees
Research team led by the University of Göttingen emphasizes the benefits of diversifying flower resources
Land-use to solve climate change: a focus on livestock
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture, forestry and other land uses (AFOLU sector) cover the 24% of global emissions, representing the second hot spot in the contribution to climate change after the energy sector. The main drivers are CO2 emissions…
Soil health is as environmentally important as air and water quality, say microbiologists
In a new report from the Microbiology Society, experts from around the UK and Ireland urge microbiologists to engage with farmers and other stakeholders to improve soil health
Stealing the spotlight in the field and kitchen
January 20, 2021 – Plant breeders are constantly working to develop new bean varieties to meet the needs and desires of the food industry. But not everyone wants the same thing. Many consumers desire heirloom-type beans, which have great culinary…
New study compiles four years of corn loss data from 26 states and Ontario, Canada
Plant pathologists working at universities across 26 corn-producing states in the United States and in Ontario, Canada, compiled data about annual corn reductions caused by diseases. Estimated loss from each disease varied greatly by region. “This group of plant pathologists…
Large mammals make soil more fertile in tropical forests
A study conducted by scientists at São Paulo State University demonstrates that animals like peccaries and tapirs boost soil levels of nitrogen, an essential element to plant growth.
How plants produce defensive toxins without harming themselves
Defense and autotoxicity: Researchers elucidate the biosynthesis and mode of action of diterpene glycosides in wild tobacco