Biopesticides can be used to degrade aflatoxin in crops
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 25% of global food crops are contaminated with different types of fungal toxins, such as aflatoxins, highly toxic and carcinogenic substances produced by certain species of the fungus Aspergi.....»»
Can music help plants grow? Study suggests sound may boost plant-promoting fungus
Playing a monotonous sound stimulates the activity of a fungus that promotes plant growth, according to a study released on Wednesday, raising the possibility that playing music could benefit crops and gardens......»»
New method achieves first-ever imaging of pathogens on lettuce leaves in real-time
As the global population surpasses 8 billion, the challenge of producing sufficient food becomes increasingly pressing. The Netherlands stands as the world's second-largest food exporter, efficiently cultivating a wide variety of crops. However, plan.....»»
Injecting manure into growing cover crops can cut pollution, support corn crops
Nitrogen in the soil, where plants can readily utilize it, benefits crop growth and health. However, nitrogen leaving the soil—whether through leaching into the groundwater table, flowing with surface runoff into streams or escaping into the air as.....»»
Researchers explore environmental impacts of genetically modified crops
Genetically modified (GM) crops are widely used around the world, but their effects on the environment need to be better understood......»»
Study shows treed borders around crops provide a base for pollinating, pest-eating hoverflies
Planting and maintaining a border of trees around agricultural fields will help a family of flies that, in turn, is important to crops, according to a recent University of Alberta study......»»
Increasing protein in staple crops could help alleviate global protein shortage
A Mississippi State biologist's research in improving global nutrition and sustainability is featured this week in New Phytologist......»»
Human urine could be used as eco-friendly crop fertilizer: Study
Bacterial communities in soil are as resilient to human urine as synthetic fertilizers—making recycling the bodily fluid as a fertilizer for agricultural crops a viable proposition, according to a new study......»»
Vaporizing plastics recycles them into nothing but gas
Polypropylene and polyethylene can be broken down simultaneously. Enlarge (credit: Derek Berwin) Our planet is choking on plastics. Some of the worst offenders, which can take decades to degrade in landfills, are polypro.....»»
How to detect and stop bot activity
Bad bot traffic continues to rise year-over-year, accounting for nearly a third of all internet traffic in 2023. Bad bots access sensitive data, perpetrate fraud, steal proprietary information, and degrade site performance. New technologies are enabl.....»»
How plants keep viruses from passing to their progeny
Scientists have learned how plants keep viruses from being passed to their offspring, a finding that could ensure healthier crops. The discovery could also help reduce the transmission of diseases from mothers to human children......»»
Greenhouse gains: Cucumbers genetic upgrade through innovative pollen tech
Genetic modification in horticultural crops, particularly within the Cucurbitaceae family, is often hindered by complex tissue culture requirements and environmental pressures such as climate change. Traditional transformation techniques, like Agroba.....»»
An unexpected protein connection in maize growth and defense could enhance crop resilience
Maize (corn) is one of the most important staple crops in the world and has been extensively studied. Yet, many aspects of the genetic mechanisms regulating its growth and development remain unexplored......»»
Fungi to the rescue: South African scientists use innovative approach to protect apple trees
Gardeners the world over dread the appearance of aphids on their plants. There are around 4,000 species of these sap-sucking insects and about 250 are pests that can wreak havoc on crops in a garden or orchard......»»
Scientists discover nonstomatal control of water loss in critical crops
Scientists have discovered that certain plants can survive stressful, dry conditions by controlling water loss through their leaves without relying on their usual mechanism—tiny pores known as stomata......»»
Device malfunctions from continuous current lead to discovery that can improve design of microelectronic devices
A new study led by researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities is providing new insights into how next-generation electronics, including memory components in computers, break down or degrade over time. Understanding the reasons for degrada.....»»
Researchers identify novel approach to minimize nitrogen loss in crops
While agriculture producers apply nitrogen fertilizer to supply nutrients to their crops, they can't always keep those nutrients in the soil for maximum efficiency, often losing them into the atmosphere or water supply as nitrates and nitrous oxide......»»
Vietnam farmers lose their blooms as floods claim crops
Vietnamese farmer Do Hong Yen estimates she lost tens of thousands of dollars when her valuable peach blossom crop was swamped by muddy waters in Hanoi's worst flooding in two decades......»»
Unlocking plant defense: Bacterial hijacking exposed
Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum poses a severe threat to agriculture worldwide, affecting numerous crops. The pathogen's arsenal of type III effectors (T3Es) enables it to manipulate host defense mechanisms, aiding infection. One majo.....»»
A roadmap for using viruses to enhance crop performance
Humans, livestock and companion animals benefit from virus-based vaccines and gene therapies, but crops do not. This paradox is highlighted by an international research group led by the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Plants (IBMCP) wi.....»»
Groundwater use can be accurately monitored with satellites using remote sensing platform, new study finds
Drought is a widespread concern in the Western U.S., and water managers across the region are developing groundwater management plans to conserve the essential resource. Groundwater is often pumped to the surface to irrigate crops, and meters that me.....»»