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agriculture Archives - Page 9 of 29 - The Global Plant Council

New strategy identified to curb a fungal infection affecting more than 150 crops

By | Agriculture, Fruits and Vegetables, News, Plant Health

Tomatoes, bananas, cabbages, melons, pumpkins and cucumbers… are just some of the 150 crops of commercial interest that are victims of Fusarium oxysporum, one of the most important pathogens in the world due to the millions of dollars in losses it is responsible for and its ability to attack different types of plants. Although it can go unnoticed in the soil for more than 30 years, when it detects the roots of a host plant, it grows towards them, colonizing its vascular system and causing crops to wilt.

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Recount of Farmers-Scientists panel on Gene-Edited crops

By | Agriculture, Blog, Research

Wikifarmer and the Global Plant Council organized a joint webinar that brought together leading speakers in the field of new breeding technologies and gene-edited crops. With a focus on geographical specificities, each expert shared their unique perspectives and expertise, aiming to inspire advancements in the agricultural industry and pave the way for sustainable and productive crops in the future.

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alfalfa

Uncovering the Mysteries of Alfalfa Seed Dormancy Through Multispectral Imaging Analysis

By | Agriculture, News

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a legume grown in many parts of the world as a source of animal fodder. It is prized in the forage industry for its high protein content and biomass yield. Recently, alfalfa protein has found applications in aquaculture, pet food industry and human diet. Furthermore, it is seen as an environmentally beneficial crop, with positive impacts on biodiversity and soil nitrogen conservation.

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‘Devastating’ fungal infections wiping out crops and threatening global food security, experts warn

By | Agriculture, News, Plant Health

Scientists have warned of the ‘devastating’ impact that fungal disease in crops will have on global food supply unless agencies across the world come together to find new ways to combat infection. Worldwide, growers lose between 10 and 23 per cent of their crops to fungal infection each year, despite widespread use of antifungals. An additional 10-20 per cent is lost post harvest. Academics predict those figures will worsen as global warming means fungal infections are steadily moving polewards, meaning more countries are likely to see a higher prevalence of fungal infections damaging harvests.

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Understanding the long-term impact of climate change on Indian crops

By | Agriculture, Climate change, News

Over the past few decades, it has become obvious that climate change, and consequent extreme weather events, can wreak havoc on crop yields. Concerningly, there is a large disparity in agricultural vulnerability between developed and developing countries. In a new study, researchers have looked at major food grains in India to understand the long- and short-term effects of climate change on crop yields.

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Understanding crop pest evolution may boost biocontrol

By | Agriculture, News, Plant Health

Researchers have reconstructed the evolutionary history of a highly specific olfactory receptor in the Egyptian cotton leafworm, a crop pest. This receptor plays an essential role in moth reproduction because it allows males to recognise the female sex pheromone. The scientists determined that the receptor appeared around 7 million years ago and that eight amino acids underlie receptor-pheromone binding. Their findings can guide the development of biocontrol strategies directed against this pest.

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Impact of fall armyworm pest in Sub-Saharan Africa worsened by COVID-19, study reveals

By | Agriculture, News, Plant Health

The impact of the fall armyworm pest on maize crops and communities in Sub-Saharan Africa were worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to paper. Drawing upon recent empirical literature on the pest since it was first reported in Africa in 2016, scientists from Nairobi, Kenya, highlighted how it was responsible for up to 58% of maize losses worth up to US $9.4 billion.

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