. Energy News .




.
FARM NEWS
Researchers Demonstrate Control of Devastating Cassava Virus in Africa
by Staff Writers
St. Louis MO (SPX) Aug 09, 2012

File image.

An international research collaboration recently demonstrated progress in protecting cassava against cassava brown streak disease (CBSD), a serious virus disease, in a confined field trial in Uganda using an RNA interference technology. The field trial was planted in November 2010 following approval by the National Biosafety Committee of Uganda.

The plants were harvested in November 2011 and results were published in the August 1, 2012 issue of the journal Molecular Plant Pathology . These results point researchers in the right direction as they develop virus-resistant cassava varieties preferred by farmers in Eastern Africa.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, more than 250 million people derive at least 25 percent of their daily calorie intake from the starchy cassava tuberous roots. In the East African countries of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Rwanda, Burundi and Malawi, 63 percent of households also sell cassava products to earn income for their families. It is estimated that in the next 15 years, cassava will constitute the second most important source of income for more than 125 million people in East Africa.

Cassava brown streak disease is a major problem because it destroys the edible tuberous roots, but visual symptoms on leaves and stems are sometimes difficult to detect. This means unexpected losses for farmers at harvest, with potential devastating impact on families that depend on cassava for food security. Since farmers preserve cassava cuttings in the fields for the next crop, the disease is passed on to the next growing season.

Around the Lake Victoria region in Uganda, where an epidemic of the disease is rapidly spreading, many farmers have been forced to abandon the cultivation of cassava. The urgency posed by this disease demands that appropriate tools be employed and interventions applied to solve the problem.

Researchers at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and two partner institutions in Africa, the National Crops Resources Research Institute in Uganda (NaCRRI) and the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), are working to solve the problem for African farmers through a collaborative project called Virus Resistant Cassava for Africa (VIRCA).

The VIRCA project has been developing cassava with enhanced resistance to cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) and cassava mosaic disease (CMD).

"The collaboration is showing progress toward helping smallholder farmers combat these devastating diseases," said Dr. Anton Bua, the Ugandan Cassava Research Team Leader in charge of field trials and communication for the project in East Africa.

"In Uganda, we eat cassava two or three times per day. Restoring and improving cassava productivity will be critical to the continued economic progress of the country and the region," said Dr. Titus Alicai, project lead, National Crop Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI).

Experts with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have expressed concern that CBSD is on the verge of becoming an epidemic in parts of Africa. A press release issued by the FAO last November called for an urgent increase in funding, research, training, surveillance and other measures to help African farmers and breeders. The concern is strong because cassava contributes to household incomes and food security more than any other single crop in some countries.

VIRCA is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Howard Buffett Foundation, the Monsanto Fund and USAID from the American People.

Related Links
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Farming Today - Suppliers and Technology




.
.
Get Our Free Newsletters Via Email
...
Buy Advertising Editorial Enquiries




.

. Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle



FARM NEWS
Hong Kong tests babies over Japanese milk formula
Hong Kong (AFP) Aug 9, 2012
Hong Kong said Thursday it will test babies who have consumed Japanese-made infant formulas found to have insufficient levels of iodine, after the products were ordered off the city's shelves. Officials found the Wakodo and Morinaga brands lacked enough iodine, and warned they could have "adverse health effects" on babies' thyroid glands and brains. "We urge parents to take their babies ... read more


FARM NEWS
Test flight over Peru ruins could revolutionize archaeological mapping

Interview With Scott Braun About NASA's Upcoming Hurricane Campaign

France orders Google to hand over Street View data

Space Technologies Tackle Human and Environmental Security Problems

FARM NEWS
Raytheon completes GPS OCX iteration 1.4 Critical Design Review

Mission accomplished, GIOVE-B heads into deserved retirement

Boeing Ships 3rd GPS IIF Satellite to Cape Canaveral for Launch

GPS Can Now Measure Ice Melt, Change In Greenland Over Months Rather Than Years

FARM NEWS
Birds do better in 'agroforests' than on farms

New bird species discovered in 'cloud forest' of Peru

WSU researcher sees how forests thrive after fires and volcanoes

New Hampshire leads U.S. in tree cover

FARM NEWS
Senegalese villagers vow to fight biofuels project

AREVA invests in bio-coal

German National Academy of Sciences issues a critical statement on the use of bioenergy

U.S, Australian navies focus on new fuels

FARM NEWS
SolarCraft Brings Solar to Altamont Apartments

Walmart Unveils 100th Solar Installation in California

Tecta Solar Completes Solar Photovoltaic Installation at Augustine Casino

REC rolls out its industry-leading certification program for solar installers in the US

FARM NEWS
Off-shore wind power project considered

Clegg: Gov't 'committed' to renewables

Obama whips up wind power attack on Romney

Mexico goes ahead with wind power project

FARM NEWS
53 rescued from China coal mine: state media

Huge Australian coal mine wins conditional approval

Russia expands presence on Spitsbergen

Australia scraps coal port expansion

FARM NEWS
Tibetan sets himself alight in China: group

Workshop blast in east China kills 13

China's passion for fashion catapults blogger to stardom

China accuses US of prejudice on religious issues


Memory Foam Mattress Review

Newsletters :: SpaceDaily Express :: SpaceWar Express :: TerraDaily Express :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News

.

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2012 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement