Category

Agriculture

Image: The chocolate tree age. Credit: Daniel Tineo, CC-BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Mapping maternal lineages of fine aroma cocoa through chloroplast DNA

By | Agriculture, News

A genomic analysis of fine aroma cocoa from northern Peru revealed genetic divergence and evolutionary patterns within Theobroma cacao. The study identified 3 distinct genetic groups and estimated divergence times, suggesting that fine aroma cocoa diversified during the Pleistocene. The findings offer insights into cacao’s genetic structure and could aid in breeding and conservation efforts.

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Image: The experimental area in Fülöpháza, Central Hungary.  Chronic precipitation treatments (along with decreasing aridity: severe drought, moderate drought, control and water addition) simulates changes in precipitation that have occurred several times historically. The image shows severe drought management, which excludes all rainfall from late June to late August. Prior to chronic treatments, half of the plots were exposed to an extreme treatment which simulated a drought unprecedented since the beginning of regional measurements. Credit: HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research

How reduced rainfall threatens plant diversity

By | Agriculture, News

A new study highlights how increasing aridity reduces plant species richness in drylands, with extreme droughts amplifying this effect. Using a seven-year experiment, researchers found that while rainfall boosts diversity, dominant species can obscure this relationship. These insights improve biodiversity forecasts, crucial for conservation as climate change intensifies water availability shifts.

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Image: Black pepper. Credit: by Rachel Benn from Pixabay

Noticing the Treasure – The Orphan Crops with Pocket-Sized Machines

By | Agriculture, Blog, ECRi, Plant Science, Post

Orphan crops, as the name implies, are often ignored. Yet, they have great potential to improve global food security. These underutilised plants, primarily grown in Africa, Asia, and South America, are staples in local diets but receive minimal attention in modern agriculture. Due to limited research and breeding advancements, they remain vulnerable to biotic and abiotic stresses.

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Image by Jai79 from Pixabay

Genetic test will help safeguard quinoa from downy mildew

By | Agriculture, News

Scientists have developed a diagnostic tool to identify quinoa plants resistant to downy mildew, aiding breeders in creating resilient varieties. The tool also ensures quinoa seed shipments are disease-free, preventing outbreaks. As quinoa’s popularity rises, the tool offers insights into the pathogen’s spread, enhancing management strategies for sustainable production.

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Image: tropical forest. Credit: Antonios Ntoumas / Pixabay

Land use in tropical regions: Biodiversity loss due to agricultural trade three times higher than thought

By | Agriculture, News, Plant Science

Intensive land use for agriculture in tropical regions, driven by international trade, has caused over 90% of biodiversity loss since 1995, far exceeding previous estimates of 20-30%. Research using satellite data highlights hotspots like Brazil, Indonesia, and Madagascar. Solutions include transparent supply chains, fair pricing, and promoting sustainable domestic agriculture.

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Image: Agricultural land near river confluences can help soak up water and slow down the advance of flooding during extreme weather events. Credit: Tokyo Metropolitan University

Agricultural land near where rivers meet can mitigate floods, study suggests

By | Agriculture, News

Eco-DRR (Disaster Risk Reduction) leverages farmland to mitigate floods by storing excess water, reducing damage. Analysis of 1917 Japanese municipalities (2010–2018) revealed farmland near river confluences significantly reduces flood risk. This eco-friendly approach supports food security, biodiversity, and disaster mitigation, offering a sustainable solution amid climate challenges.

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