 |
|
Grazing animals help spread plant disease
December 30, 2008CORVALLIS, Ore. - Researchers have discovered that grazing animals such as deer and rabbits are actually helping to spread plant disease - quadrupling its prevalence in some cases - and encouraging an invasion of annual grasses that threaten more than 20 million acres of native grasslands in California.
The findings run contrary to what had been predicted by other theories, which had suggested that "consumers" such as deer would help to contain or reduce disease. They point once again to the complexity of natural ecosystems and the many ways in which plants, animals and even viruses interact with each other.
The work will be published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, by researchers from Oregon State University, Cornell University and the University of North Carolina.
"We usually think of a disease and its host as very tightly coupled, like a flu virus that infects humans," said Elizabeth Borer, an assistant professor of zoology at OSU. "But in natural ecosystems we're finding it's not nearly that simple, and to understand how plant pathogens work we have to consider the entire food web and many plant/animal interactions of which we are barely aware."
The work is of particular importance, researchers said, because so many elements of ecosystems are undergoing rapid change, from human manipulation, climate change, increase or decrease in various species, new invasive species, and other factors. Any one of those changes could have ripple effects with seemingly unrelated diseases or other issues that are poorly understood - an increase in the abundance of white-footed mice, for instance, has been shown to increase Lyme disease risk in humans.
In this study, scientists examined the effect of herbivores and omnivores such as mule deer, rabbits and feral pigs on the prevalence of barley and cereal yellow dwarf viruses, which can infect more than 100 crop and non-crop plant species, reducing their growth and seed yield. This virus is a major concern for cereal crop production around the world.
In places where most plant eaters were kept out of test plots, the prevalence of this virus was only about 5 percent. It rose to 18 percent, a 3.6-fold increase, in areas that the animals grazed.
The grazers did not directly spread the plant virus, researchers said. Rather, they increased the amounts of annual grasses that are preferred by the aphids which play a role in transmission of this viral plant disease. That allowed for a much greater prevalence of the virus in areas where grazing took place.
"Even in complex natural communities, alternations to food web composition such as consumer invasion or extinction can lead to significant impacts that cascade through entire communities, including changes in infection risk," the researchers wrote in their report.
Oregon State University
"We usually think of a disease and its host as very tightly coupled, like a flu virus that infects humans," said Elizabeth Borer, an assistant professor of zoology at OSU. "But in natural ecosystems we're finding it's not nearly that simple, and to understand how plant pathogens work we have to consider the entire food web and many plant/animal interactions of which we are barely aware."
The work is of particular importance, researchers said, because so many elements of ecosystems are undergoing rapid change, from human manipulation, climate change, increase or decrease in various species, new invasive species, and other factors. Any one of those changes could have ripple effects with seemingly unrelated diseases or other issues that are poorly understood - an increase in the abundance of white-footed mice, for instance, has been shown to increase Lyme disease risk in humans.
In this study, scientists examined the effect of herbivores and omnivores such as mule deer, rabbits and feral pigs on the prevalence of barley and cereal yellow dwarf viruses, which can infect more than 100 crop and non-crop plant species, reducing their growth and seed yield. This virus is a major concern for cereal crop production around the world.
In places where most plant eaters were kept out of test plots, the prevalence of this virus was only about 5 percent. It rose to 18 percent, a 3.6-fold increase, in areas that the animals grazed.
The grazers did not directly spread the plant virus, researchers said. Rather, they increased the amounts of annual grasses that are preferred by the aphids which play a role in transmission of this viral plant disease. That allowed for a much greater prevalence of the virus in areas where grazing took place.
"Even in complex natural communities, alternations to food web composition such as consumer invasion or extinction can lead to significant impacts that cascade through entire communities, including changes in infection risk," the researchers wrote in their report.
Oregon State University
Plant Disease Current Events and Plant Disease News RSSIowa State University researcher discovers key to vital DNA, protein interaction
A researcher at Iowa State University has discovered how a group of proteins from plant pathogenic bacteria interact with DNA in the plant cell, opening up the possibility for what the scientist calls a "cascade of advances."
New 'biofactories' produce rare healing substances in the endangered Devil's claw plant
Deep in Africa's Kalahari Desert lies the "Devil's claw," a plant that may hold the key to effective treatments for arthritis, tendonitis and other illnesses that affect millions each year.
Plant protein 'doorkeepers' block invading microbes, study finds
A group of plant proteins that "shut the door" on bacteria that would otherwise infect the plant's leaves has been identified for the first time by a team of researchers in Denmark, at the University of California, Davis, and at UC Berkeley.
Iowa State researchers contribute climate model to study that finds some winds decreasing
Declining wind speeds in parts of the United States could impact more than the wind power industry, say Iowa State University climate researchers.
New wheat disease could spread faster than expected
Both plant and human diseases that can travel with the wind have the potential to spread far more rapidly than has been understood, according to a new study, in findings that pose serious concerns not only for some human diseases but also a new fungus that threatens global wheat production.
Does hotter mean healthier?
Phytophthora blight, caused by Phytophthora capsici, is a major plant disease that affects many crop species worldwide, including chile peppers in New Mexico. Farmers' observations suggested that Phytophthora capsici caused less damage in pepper crops of the hot pepper varieties than low-heat pepper varieties.
New hybrid plants could prompt more prodigious pepper production in Southwest
By themselves or as an ingredient in a variety of foods, including salsa, America's top-selling condiment, peppers have found a warm spot in the hearts and stomachs of U.S. consumers.
People only eat 1 when the chips are brown
Dr. Don Henne isn't wasting his degree when he's standing by the deep fryer waiting for potato slices to turn brown. He's conducting research that will help the potato industry and consumers.
Laurel Wilt of Redbay and Sassafras: Will Avocados be Next?
Scientists with the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station (SRS), Iowa State University, and the Florida Division of Forestry have provided the first description of a fungus responsible for the wilt of redbay trees along the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
Humans fostering forest-destroying disease
Enjoying your August vacation? Well, (as they say in the summer movies) there's a killer in the woods. Its strike has been consistently quiet, sudden, and deadly.
More Plant Disease Current Events and Plant Disease News Articles
 |
American Horticultural Society Pests and Diseases: The Complete Guide to Preventing, Identifying and Treating Plant Problems by Pippa Greenwood (Author), Andrew Halstead (Author), A.R. Chase (Author), Daniel Gilrein (Author) The unrivaled practical handbook for the identification, treatment and prevention of plant problems. Guidance from the experts in the Identification, treatment, and prevention of plant pests, diseases, and disorders. Whether you need to identify a pest, want to know how to prevent plant problems, or are looking for alternatives to pesticides, you will find the answers in AHS Pests & Diseases. How do you know if an insect is beneficial or destructive? AHS Pests & Diseases identifies valuable insects and pest predators as well as the troublemakers. Can you identify a problem if you don't know the name of a plant? The illustrated catalog of plant problems is grouped according to whether leaves, stems, flowers, roots, or fruits are attacked. Simply compare the photographs with the... |
 |
Mineral Nutrition and Plant Disease by Lawrence E. Datnoff (Author), Lawrence E. Datnoff (Editor), Wade H. Elmer (Editor), Don M. Huber (Editor) This comprehensive book examines how mineral nutrition affects plant disease. Minerals improve the overall quality and health of plants. Knowing how each individual mineral affects a plant is beneficial for efficiency in production and sustaining the ecosystem. From a plant pathology perspective, Mineral Nutrition and Plant Disease brings the discussion of plant disease diagnosis and management to a new level. Mineral nutrients are important in production agriculture and horticulture because they can often be the first line of defense against plant diseases. It is an area of knowledge that can be misunderstood or overlooked in the study of diseases and their diagnosis. This reference succeeds in organizing what we know and explaining the interactions at work. Mineral Nutrition and Plant... |
 |
Comparative Epidemiology of Plant Diseases by Jürgen Kranz (Author) Comparison is a powerful cognitive research tool in science since it does "across studies" to evaluate similarities and differences, e.g. across taxa or diseases. This book deals with comparative research on plant disease epidemics. Comparisons are done in specifically designed experiments or with posterior analyses. From the apparently unlimited diversity of epidemics of hundreds of diseases, comparative epidemiology may eventually extract a number of basic types. These findings are very important to crop protection. Plant disease epidemiology, being the ecological branch of plant pathology, may also be of value to ecologists, but also epidemiologists in the areas of animal or human diseases may find interesting results, applicable to their areas of research. |
|
Guide for the Control of Plant Diseases by Director/Div of Agr Info | |
 |
Bayer 2-in-1 Insect Protection with Fertilizer Plant Spikes #701710A by Bayer 10 Pack, 2 In 1, 8-11-5 Plant Spikes, Control Insects Plus Provides Slow Release Feeding, Lasts Up To 8 Weeks, For Potted Indoor Or Outdoor Ornamental Plants. |
 |
General Concepts in Integrated Pest and Disease Management (Integrated Management of Plant Pests and Diseases) by A. Ciancio (Author), A. Ciancio (Editor), K.G. Mukerji (Editor) The first volume of the Integrated Management of Plant Pests and Diseases book series presents general concepts on integrated pest and disease management, organized in three sections. Section one (modeling, management, environment) includes chapters on infection models, resurgence and replacement, plant disease epidemiology and effects of climate change in tropical environments. Followed by two reviews on IPM in post-harvest and carrot crops. The second section (emerging technologies) includes remote sensing and information technology, integrated by reviews on Bacillus thuringiensis and the role of mycorrhizae in IPM. In the third section (molecular aspects) the management of insect-borne viruses with transmission interference, some novel products for biological control and advances in... |
 |
Serenade Disease Cont32 Oz Rtu by Agra Quest Effective broad spectrum control of common garden diseases. Approved for organic gardening by the EPA/USDA. OMRI listed. Treat, pick and eat fruits and vegetables the same day. Non-toxic to birds, bees, beneficial insects, fish and wildlife. |
 |
Epakitin for Dogs and Cats, 150 gm by Vetoquinol Epakitin, a new nutritional supplement from Vétoquinol USA, Inc., safely and effectively supports kidney function and helps slow down the progression of chronic kidney disease. Easy to use in cats and dogs Helps pets feel better and live longer Great-tasting, easy-to-administer powder Can be used alone, mixed with regular food or in combination with a prescription renal diet Chronic Kidney Disease is one of the leading causes of death in dogs and cats. In North America, it is estimated that 8% of cats aged 10 years or more suffer from CKD. CKD affects approximately 2.4% of dogs aged 10 years or older. The diagnosis of Chronic Kidney Disease is generally based on low urine density and the increase of creatininemia, uremia and hyperphosphatemia, as well as clinical symptoms. By the... |
 |
Plant Disease Epidemiology: Facing Challenges of the 21st Century: Under the aegis of an International Plant Disease Epidemiology Workshop held at Landernau, France, 10-15th April, 2005 by S. Savary (Editor), B.M. Cooke (Editor) Plant disease epidemiology deals with diseases in plant populations. During the past century, it has become a vibrant field of science, achieving significant conceptual innovations with an important impact on the management of plant diseases. Plant disease epidemiology mobilises concepts and methods from ecology, genetics, environmental physics, botany, and mathematics. It deals with cultivated and non-cultivated plants in environments where human activities may have had an impact. Now, plant disease epidemiology faces important questions. Global climate is changing at a rapid rate: will it render plant diseases more, or less, harmful to man-made ecosystems? There is much debate on this issue, partly because climate has sometimes very large effects on the local environment of growing... |
 |
Your Health and Victories in Medical Research! Defeating Rabies. Let no one deprive a boy of the character building companionship of his dog. But no one should fail to know when protection against rabies should be given. This dangerous virus disease is fatal unless protection is given in the form of vaccine. An animal bite should always be reported to a physician immediately. He will decide whether or not to use the life-saving vaccine discovered by Pasteur. Mother of penicillin is the 'mycelium' shown here, rolling like a carpet off a large rotary filter in the Squibb penicillin plant. The mycelium is that part of the mold which produces the precious droplets of penicillin. As far back as 1940, scientists at the Squibb Institute for Medical Research were producing penicillin from the earliest cultures of this miraculous mold. Later, Squibb scientists established the empiric chemical formula for penicillin - a most important discovery. ..... 1946 Squibb Ad, A5248A. life19460128 This Item is an original Magazine ad, taken from a vintage magazine of the year indicated. The ad is suitable for framing and displaying in your home or office. The scan of this item was taken through plastic film, however it is an accurate representation of the item. The nominal size is 10.5 inches by 14 inches. |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |