Articles tagged with Plant Diseases
Purdue University researchers are working on a new technique called MAGIC to identify gene combinations that increase disease resistance and stress tolerance in crops. By analyzing the genetic diversity of maize, they aim to engineer plants that can withstand most diseases and improve crop yields.
Researchers discovered a pathway plants use to defend against pathogens, involving a signaling cascade that triggers the production of anti-microbial compounds. This understanding could lead to improved crop disease resistance.
NCCAM has added three new Centers of Excellence for Research on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), focusing on the biological effects of plant-derived compounds on various health conditions. The centers will investigate mechanisms and effects of compounds like curcumin, resveratrol, and grape polyphenols in preventing or tre...
Botanists at Oregon State University have discovered a single plant gene that causes resistance to one disease, while producing susceptibility to a different disease. This unusual phenomenon may help scientists better understand the pathways of genetic disease resistance and susceptibility in plants.
A QUT research project will expand its focus on improving the production and nutritional value of bananas, aiming to control diseased banana planting material in East Africa. The project's success could make a major difference to the health of the region's population.
Plant diseases such as Dutch elm disease and dogwood anthracnose threaten urban tree health, while environmental stresses like flooding and pollution harm their vitality. Urban forestry experts emphasize the importance of managing these issues for community well-being.
The three most important and damaging cacao diseases, black pod, frosty pod, and witches' broom, are threatening global chocolate production. According to plant pathology professor Randy Ploetz, black pod could reduce yields by an additional one million metric tons per year in West Africa.
Researchers found that 27 of 29 weed species can harbor Xylella fastidiosa, a bacterium causing Pierce's disease in grapes. Environmental conditions significantly impact bacterial growth, highlighting the need for targeted weed control measures to prevent disease spread.
Research on aquatic plant diseases has created environmentally sound methods of control, including using plant pathogens to manage invasive species. The symposium will address the biology, ecology, and control of aquatic plant diseases in freshwater and marine environments.
Researchers characterized bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pathovar campestris (Xcc) responsible for 'black rot' disease. The study identified 75 genes involved in its virulence, shedding light on the molecular mechanisms behind the disease.
A newly identified gene, BOS1, has been found to regulate plant response to both biological and non-biological stresses. This gene provides resistance to the gray mold disease that destroys up to 30% of tomato and strawberry crops annually.
A WSU ecologist's research shows that induction of plant resistance to pathogens can also make plants more susceptible to certain insects. Salicylate, a natural plant chemical, plays a key role in this phenomenon.
Researchers at Cornell University have discovered a gene that codes for an enzyme producing nitric oxide, a hormone triggering plant's defense against pathogens. The discovery provides new insights into the biochemical and genetic pathways enabling plants to protect themselves from disease.
Researchers found that ethylene is vital for plant protection against microorganisms, enabling plants to detect and respond to infections. Modified ethylene-insensitive tobacco plants were more susceptible to diseases due to the lack of ethylene's protective mechanism.
Researchers found naturally occurring fungi effective in controlling plant mites and powdery mildew diseases without chemical pesticides. This breakthrough reduces costs and environmental damage associated with traditional pest control methods.
A study by Cornell University ecologists found that invasive plants have 77% fewer diseases in their native habitats compared to adopted habitats. The researchers suggest looking for weed-control pathogens both in native and adopted habitats to control invasive plant species.
A University of Toronto professor has identified a key protein in the fight against plant disease, which could lead to genetically engineered crops resistant to various diseases. The discovery was made using a mutant strain of weed that lacks this protein, revealing its role in triggering systemic acquired resistance.
Researchers have learned that Pseudomonas syringae attacks healthy tomato plants by attaching itself to the plant cell, inserting a microscopic tube and sending a pathogenic protein into the cell. The plant cell detects alien proteins and mounts a defense using a molecular surveillance system.
Researchers at OHSU are conducting a four-year study to determine whether ginkgo biloba can delay or prevent the early stages of Alzheimer's disease in people 85 years and older. The study aims to recruit 200 subjects who do not display signs of mental impairment and will use written, verbal, and MRI tests to assess cognitive function.
Researchers have designed an innovative approach to chemotherapy that utilizes genetic material to selectively destroy cancerous cells. By combining complementary DNA sequences, a prodrug and catalyst can be triggered to release a cytotoxic agent.
Researchers found 46% of Peruvian plant extracts inhibited Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the TB bacterium. This discovery could lead to developing new pharmaceuticals to combat the disease.
Global warming accelerates human disease outbreaks, malnutrition, and environmental degradation due to increased pollution and crop losses. As populations grow, crowded cities will become breeding grounds for diseases like dengue fever, while waterborne illnesses spread unchecked.
Researchers at Weizmann Institute have discovered the 3-D interaction between galanthamine and brain enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which breaks down neurotransmitter acetylcholine in Alzheimer's disease. This finding may lead to a new family of drugs with reduced side effects.
Invasive pests are harming California's agricultural industry, ornamental plants, and wildlife. The glassy-winged sharpshooter spreads Xylella fastidiosa, causing Pierce's disease in grapevines and almond leaf scorch disease, while yellow starthistle infests 22% of the state, replacing desirable vegetation.
A mercury poisoning illness known as Minamata disease has resurfaced in the Amazon rainforest, affecting thousands of people. The disease, which causes severe neurological damage, is linked to consumption of methyl mercury-contaminated fish.
Sorghum ergot is a serious fungal disease affecting hybrid seed production, causing significant losses in crop yields and food insecurity. Global cooperation among scientists and agencies is underway to develop strategies for fungicidal control, host-plant resistance, and ecology of ergot.
A new, aggressive strain of the late blight fungus, US-8, is devastating potato fields in the US and Canada, resistant to metalaxyl, a commonly used fungicide. The fungus reproduces rapidly, producing massive numbers of spores that can infect stored potatoes, leading to widespread crop loss.
Researchers at the University of Florida found that urban development in Florida is increasing the spread of Upper Respiratory Tract Disease among gopher tortoises. The disease destroys respiratory and olfactory senses, leading to malnutrition and starvation.
A University of Delaware scientist has identified a critical dispatcher gene NDR1 that coordinates the defense response in Arabidopsis thaliana against a broad range of attackers. The gene may ultimately help researchers design hardier, more disease-resistant crops.
Researchers have found that fatty acids from various plants and fungi can prevent MS-like symptoms in animal models. Dr Harbige's team thinks certain fatty acids work by dampening the immune system's damaging effects, but more rigorous clinical trials are needed to confirm.
A recent study reveals that the potato famine fungus has resurfaced 150 years after its devastating impact on Ireland, with virulent and fungicide-resistant strains causing widespread damage. Researchers have identified several options for managing the blight, including DNA fingerprinting and simplified enzyme assays.
A group of genes has been discovered that makes wild tomatoes resistant to wilt disease, allowing breeders to speed up the development of new disease-resistant varieties. The findings also enable the design of genetically engineered crops with optimal resistance properties.
Scientists at Purdue University have uncovered the mechanism by which disease-resistant plants recognize disease-causing microbes. The discovery reveals that a protein-protein interaction between an enzyme called Pto kinase and a protein produced by the bacterium alerts the plant's defense mechanisms, leading to effective resistance.
Researchers have developed a new method to examine mitochondria in the living brain using PET scanning, linking mitochondrial energy deficits to Parkinson's disease. They found that mild mitochondrial damage converts glutamate from a transmitter to a toxin, leading to nerve cell death.