Archive for the ‘Emerging/invasive pests’ Category

Jamaica: Lethal yellowing of coconut palm

Posted in Crop protection, Emerging/invasive pests, Host plant resistance, insecticides, Phytoplasma, Phytosanitary, tagged disease, jamaica on April 13, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Saturday, 09 March 2024 10:37:00

Grahame Jackson posted a new submission ‘LETHAL YELLOWING, COCONUT PALM – JAMAICA’

Submission

LETHAL YELLOWING, COCONUT PALM – JAMAICA

ProMED
http://www.promedmail.org

Source: Jamaica Observer [summ. Mod.DHA, edited]
https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2024/03/05/spread-lethal-yellowing-disease-reduced-70/

Through the work of the Coconut Industry Board (CIB), Jamaica has been able to reduce the spread of the lethal yellowing disease in the coconut industry by 70%. CIB have contributed significantly through research which has allowed the development of varieties and hybrids with optimum resistance/tolerance to lethal yellowing. In addition, increased yields are obtained from these locally developed varieties that are adapting better to the climatic conditions.

Within the region, the disease was first discovered in the Cayman Islands in 1834 and was found in Jamaica in 1884. It became a real threat to Jamaica after 1961 and became even more significant in the 1970s when some 10 million trees of the ‘Jamaican Tall’ variety were destroyed. Lethal yellowing has caused severe economic losses in Jamaica.
—
Communicated by:
ProMED

[Lethal yellowing (LY) diseases of coconut and other palms are caused by phytoplasmas of the palm lethal yellowing (16SrIV; _Candidatus_ Phytoplasma palmae strains) group. A number of LY strains have been described from the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa and southern Asia. LY has seriously jeopardised coconut industries in the respective areas. LY-type diseases like Cape St Paul wilt (CSPW) in Ghana, the “maladie de Kaincope” in Togo and Awka disease (lethal decline, LD) in Nigeria, previously included in the 16SrIV group, have been reclassified as the new group 16SrXXII (Nigerian coconut lethal decline group, _Ca._ P. palmicola strains; see link below).

Symptoms include premature nut drop, blackening of inflorescences, yellowing of fronds; death of the palm usually occurs within 4 to 6 months. The planthopper _Myndus crudus_ is suspected to be the vector in the Americas, but different vectors may be involved in the spread of LY strains elsewhere. Seed transmission of the pathogens cannot be excluded; some weed species may serve as pathogen reservoirs. Jumps of LY across apparently unaffected coconut populations have been observed, possibly due to aerial spread of infectious vector insects or human activities. Even with strict controls, including certification of nuts and their parent trees, excluding infectious vector insects requires large quarantine efforts.

While LY affects many palm species, at least for coconut palm susceptibility may vary between cultivars or even within cultivars, depending on the region where they grow. Symptoms can be suppressed by tetracycline treatments, usually applied as trunk injections. The antibiotic inhibits multiplication of the pathogens but does not eliminate them. Therefore, treatments need to be repeated regularly. Commercial control of the diseases mostly relies on phytosanitation followed by replanting with resistant varieties.

An unexplained resistance breakdown of some widely used hybrids occurred earlier in Jamaica (ProMED post 20070522.1643) and caused great concern.

Pictures
LY symptoms on coconut and other palms:
https://www.growables.org/information/TropicalFruit/images/LethalYellowingFoliarSymptoms.jpg,
https://bugwoodcloud.org/images/768×512/1504008.jpg,
https://guyanachronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Lethal-Yellowing.jpg (leaf) and
http://www.cphdforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/LethalYellowingCoconutSymptom.jpg (fruit)
_Myndus crudus_:
https://bugwoodcloud.org/images/768×512/0725079.jpg

Links
Story also at:
https://jis.gov.jm/spread-of-lethal-yellowing-disease-reduced-by-70/ and
https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20240304/spread-lethal-yellowing-disease-coconut-industry-reduced-70
Lethal yellowing information:
https://doi.org/10.1079/cabicompendium.38647,
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2016.01521,
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7348.2011.00480.x,
https://www.cphdforum.org/index.php/2015/06/03/about-lethal-yellowing-of-coconut/,
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp146 and
https://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/disandpath/prokaryote/pdlessons/Pages/LethalYellowing.aspx
16SrIV LY phytoplasma group taxonomy and species list:
https://www.uniprot.org/taxonomy/85624
16SrXXII classification of some LY-type diseases:
https://doi.org/10.1099/ijs.0.65000-0
16SrXXII LDN phytoplasma group taxonomy:
https://www.uniprot.org/taxonomy/590462
Phytoplasma resource centre:
https://plantpathology.ba.ars.usda.gov/phytoplasma.html
Information on LY vectors via:
https://bugguide.net/node/view/63
– Mod.DHA

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Zambia: FAW control with Metarhizium rileyi

Posted in Biological control, Biopesticide, Emerging/invasive pests, Insects, Pests on April 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Successful on-farm trials using Metarhizium rileyi in Zambia

The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) has wreaked havoc on Zambia’s agriculture, devastating smallholder farmers with staggering losses. But amidst the struggle, a promising solution emerges.

Through activities on the PlantwisePlus programme and the Village-based biocontrol of fall armyworm in Zambia project, funded by ACIAR, CABI has delved into combating this agricultural menace with various biological control options.

Fungus to fight fall armyworm in Zambia

Metarhizium rileyi, a highly specific fungus that kills fall armyworm, stands out among these. What’s even more remarkable? Scientists from Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI), University of Zambia (UNZA), and CABI in Zambia have identified the presence of this fungus naturally occurring in certain areas when fall armyworm started devasting maize, offering a beacon of hope in the fight against this invasive pest. In 2023, the CABI-led project, funded by ACIAR, embarked on a journey alongside key partners ZARI and UNZA. Their mission? To tackle the fall armyworm crisis head-on through village-based biocontrol initiatives. The project’s official launch marked the beginning of comprehensive field trials across various sites in Zambia.

**How effective is Metarhizium rileyi?**

The heart of these trials lies in the application of M. rileyi. The process involves using a mixture of a calculated amount of M. rileyi spores and local sand treatment and applying it in four maize sites infested with fall armyworm. Scientists applied the mixture every two weeks. To compare the efficacy of the fungus, the team also used other treatments: sand only, chemical, and no application. This innovative approach, coupled with meticulous monitoring, aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of M. rileyi as a biological control agent.

Showing farmers the efficacy of *M. rileyi* in the field

Despite facing challenges like drought in some trial sites, the results have been promising. Visual assessments revealed stark differences between treated and untreated plots, showcasing the efficacy of M. rileyi.

Notably, the fungal and chemical-treated plots exhibited substantial control over fall armyworm populations, with numerous dead specimens discovered in the fungal treatments. In the fungal-treated plots, there were also thriving populations of beneficial insects, which contributed to further pest suppression over time.

A sustainable approach

A dead fall armyworm showing the green fungus *Metarhizium rileyi*

As we reflect on these encouraging findings, it’s evident that nature holds powerful solutions to our agricultural challenges. The local presence of naturally occurring M.rileyi offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to combatting fall armyworms in Zambia and beyond. Looking ahead, continued research and collaboration are paramount. By amplifying our efforts and leveraging the potential of biocontrol, we can mitigate the impact of invasive pests, safeguarding livelihoods and fostering resilience in agricultural communities.

Find out more

PlantwisePlus in Zambia

CABI Projects: Village-based biological control of fall armyworm in Zambia

Fall armyworm portal (CABI Digital Library)

How can Metarhizium be used to address pests and diseases?

Study examines potential for collective action to fight fall armyworm with biological controls in rural Zambia

Project advocates village-based biological control of fall armyworm in Zambia

Images: courtesy of the authors

PlantwisePlus gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS), Netherlands; European Commission Directorate General for International Partnerships (INTPA, EU); the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), United Kingdom; and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, biocontrol, fungus, metarhizium, pesticide risk reduction, sustainable agriculture, zambia

Crop health, Invasive species

ons.

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Ghana: World Bank loan to rehabilitate plantations destroyed by the cocoa swollen shoot virus

Posted in agroecology, Emerging/invasive pests, Viruses, tagged Africa, agriculture, chocolate, cocoa, Ghana on April 1, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Ghana to expand cocoa rehabilitation with $200m World Bank loan

20th Feb 2024 | Source: Graphic Online

Ghana Cocoa

Ghana’s COCOBOD will use part of a $200 million World Bank loan to rehabilitate plantations destroyed by the cocoa swollen shoot virus, which causes drops in yields and kills trees, the regulator’s deputy Chief Executive in charge of operations said on Thursday, February 15, 2024.

The disease has wiped off about 500,000 hectares of farmlands and reduced cocoa output from the West African nation, the world’s second biggest cocoa producer after neighbour Ivory Coast.

Ghana’s output declined to 600,000 metric tons last year after peaking at 1.048 million tons in the 2020/21 season, as the cocoa swollen shoot virus, aging plantations, illegal mining and smuggling took a toll on the sector.

A total of $132.8 million of the loan secured by the government last year and the counterpart funding will finance Cocobod’s rehabilitation of farms and help to enhance knowledge on the virus strains, a project information document showed.

“The rehabilitation will take a minimum of five years to start getting economic production,” Cocobod’s Emmanuel Opoku told Reuters, adding that efforts had been hampered by the country’s economic crisis and the board’s limited funds.

The board will take over disease-infested farms, cut and replace sick cocoa trees, aiding growth to a fruiting stage before handing them back to farmers.

In 2018, Cocobod used part of a $600 million Africa Development Bank (AfDB) loan to rehabilitate aging plantations and those affected by the disease.

But the programme, originally meant to cover 156,000 hectares of plantations, was caught up in Ghana’s worst economic crisis in a generation during which inflation spiralled and the cedi currency depreciated sharply, Opoku said.

He said the AfDB facility benefited more than 88,000 hectares of farmlands, of which 40,000 hectares were ready to be given back to farmers in “the coming days”.

Alhassan Bukari, president of the country’s Cocoa, Coffee and Sheanut Farmers’ Association, told Reuters that rehabilitation efforts needed to be aggressive as many farmers were affected.

Ghana’s graded and sealed cocoa arrivals fell by 35% between the start of this season on Sept. 1 and Jan. 31 this year due to the intensity of the seasonal dry Harmattan wind and what Cocobod described as production.

–

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USA: State of Washington expands Japanese beetle quarantine boundaries

Posted in Emerging/invasive pests, Insects, legislation, Pests, Quarantine, tagged gardening, insects, japanese-beetle on March 12, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Wash. expands beetle quarantine boundaries

Officials determined additional measures are needed to help curb the spread.

Farm Press Staff

March 12, 2024

2 Min Read

Japanese beetle.USDA ARS

Washington state agriculture officials have expanded the boundaries of the Japanese beetle quarantine in the central part of the state after examining trapping data from the 2023 season.

While the original quarantine was established in the Grandview and Sunnyside areas, the new rule set by the Washington State Department of Agriculture expands the quarantine to encompass new areas where beetles have been caught, primarily in Sunnyside and west of Grandview.

Soil samples were added as regulated articles and the rule specifies conditions governing the movement of soil samples from quarantined areas to non-quarantined areas. The emergency rule also requires businesses located in the quarantine area selling regulated articles under WAC 16-470-710(4) or (7) to post signage developed by WSDA clearly stating that regulated articles purchased cannot be transported outside of the quarantined area.

The emergency rule amendment clarifies that under WAC 16-470-710(7), “cut flowers for decorative purposes” includes those flowers that are exposed to open-air environments during their harvest, transportation, or trade. Lastly, the amendment adds a condition for the transport of cut flowers grown in the quarantined area to areas outside the quarantined area.

https://6d156ecb47a25b7138a384f1cc0e8754.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

Emergency rules are in effect immediately and last for 120 days. Officials will also begin the process of making the emergency rule permanent.

Three-year effort

For the past three years, WSDA has taken extensive measures to reduce the spread of the beetle with the goal of eradicating it. These measures include treating area properties with a pesticide, trapping, and establishing a quarantine.

These efforts reduced Japanese beetle catches in 2023 compared to the years prior; however, detections were found over a wider area including as far away as Pasco.

Community members can help by trapping, reporting, and killing the beetles on their properties, WSDA officials said. Residents and businesses must also follow the quarantine to prevent spreading the beetles by not moving items known to transport beetles outside of the quarantine area.

Adult Japanese beetles are metallic green and brown and have little tufts of white hair on their sides. They emerge – usually from lawns or in other soil – in the spring and feed throughout the summer. From fall to spring the grubs (larvae) overwinter in the soil and slowly develop into mature adults ready to emerge again in the spring.

To limit the need to move yard debris and other plant material outside the quarantine area, WSDA has established a drop-off site available during the adult flight season, May to October. Businesses and residents can take all accepted items to the Japanese Beetle Response Yard Debris Drop-Off at 875 Bridgeview Rd., Grandview, WA 98930. There is no charge for disposal.

Those moving out of the quarantine area will not be able to take any of the regulated items with them.

For questions or to give feedback, contact Jill Wisehart at jwisehart@agr.wa.gov or 360-878-0298.

Source: Washington State Department of Agriculture

FAO: Releases 15 Case Studies on the Use of Biotechnologies

Posted in Biotechnology, CRISPR, DNA, Emerging/invasive pests, Food Security, Gene editing, GMOs, Host plant resistance, Pests, Plant breeding, Plant Pathogens, RNA, tagged agriculture, Biotechnology, Food Security, Sustainability on February 26, 2024| Leave a Comment »

FAO Releases 15 Case Studies on the Use of Biotechnologies to Meet the Needs of Smallholders

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has released a compilation of case studies showcasing the impactful use of agricultural biotechnologies to meet the needs of smallholders in developing countries, marking a significant step forward in the global efforts to achieve a sustainable agriculture and food systems.

Agricultural biotechnologies, ranging from low-tech tools like artificial insemination and tissue culture to high-tech methods such as whole genome sequencing, have emerged as a crucial part of the toolbox for transforming food systems. Recognizing their potential, FAO has been actively promoting knowledge sharing and innovation in agriculture through the application of biotechnologies.

The report covers 15 case studies that highlight successful applications of biotechnologies in diverse sectors, including crops, livestock, fisheries, forestry, and agro-industry, and a wide range of species, world regions and production systems, emphasizing that biotechnology extends beyond genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and is applicable to smallholders in developing countries. Collecting experiences worldwide, the case studies demonstrate how biotechnologies contribute to increased productivity, improved livelihoods, disease management, and the conservation of genetic resources essential for sustainable smallholder production systems.

One of the key messages emerging overall from the report, is the need for farmers to increase their yields while equally facing the current and future challenges of climate change. Which are the ingredients for success?

The report identifies four:

Partnerships
Long-term commitment
Government support
Good communication

FAO also anticipated that these case studies, presented in the context of a rapidly evolving field, will serve as a source of inspiration and guidance for those seeking to harness biotechnologies for the benefit of smallholder farmers.

Click here to read the publication.

Source: Euroseeds

Regulatory and Political Challenges of New Breeding Techniques

FAO Joins the Digital Public Goods Alliance

FAO Director-General Opens the 8th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture

Canada

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Sicily: “Tomato Fruit Blotch Virus” (ToFBV) – is threatening tomatoes

Posted in Emerging/invasive pests, Plant Pathogens, Viruses, tagged disease, sicily, virus on January 29, 2024| Leave a Comment »

A new virus is threatening tomatoes

There is some concern for Sicilian tomato productions as, despite the fact that they have not yet recovered from the damage caused by ToBRFV, they might have to face a new problem in the form of the “Tomato Fruit Blotch Virus” (ToFBV – Blunervirus solani), an insidious disease that can be easily mistaken for the Tobamovirus and therefore treated as such, leading technicians and producers astray. Once again, just like it happened for ToBRFV, it was virologist and professor Walter Davino who spread the news during a convention held a few days ago in Ragusa (Sicily). Davino is one of the global leading experts in the field.

How the ToBFV looks on tomatoes

“ToFBV, or Blunervirus solani, is a new disease we have found in the Ragusa territory. This pathogen was identified for the first time in 2018 in the Fondi area (Lazio) and has not affected us so far,” reported Davino.

Professor Walter Davino

“This is worrying, as the virus can cause quite a lot of damage. It is a peculiar pathogen as we do not know it well and, as there is little information available at international as well, there is not much we can do at the moment.”

How ToFBV spreads

“What we know about this virus is that it is insidious, as plants show no symptoms until the berries change their color, meaning they can no longer be commercialized. This, in turn, means the damage is total and that the entire production is lost. The other thing we know is that it spreads via a well-known mite – Aculopis lycopersici – which is widespread in Sicily.”

Video interview
https://www.youtube.com/embed/S550rzroLwg

“I would also like to add that there are no resistant nor tolerant plants, so all we can do is follow the usual prophylaxis to contain the pathogen in our area, plus we must make every effort to find means suitable to contain the disease.”

Spreading of the virus

The news about the presence of TiBRFV in Sicily was given in 2019, always by Professor Favino. Operators are asked not to jump to conclusions to avoid speculation.

* The images contained in this article were kindly provided by Professor Walter Davino.

Publication date: Mon 29 Jan 2024

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USA: Tar spot was confirmed in central Missouri cornfields in 2023

Posted in DNA, Emerging/invasive pests, Fungi, Plant Pathogens, tagged disease on January 17, 2024| Leave a Comment »

How far south did tar spot travel in 2023?

Problems ahead for 2024? Tar spot was confirmed in central Missouri cornfields; universities look for answers through DNA.

Mindy Ward

January 17, 2024

2 Min Read

PINNING DOWN DISEASE: Tar spot, a disease that generally does not like heat, is finding a way to survive. It’s moved south, and researchers are looking into its DNA to see exactly what is at work in Missouri cornfields.KIERSTEN WISE, BUGWOOD.ORG

Mandy Bish spent the early days of fall 2023 stopping at random cornfields in central Missouri looking for tar spot, and she found it about 90% of the time.

“It might have taken me four or five plants,” the University of Missouri Extension state plant pathologist explained, “but I could confirm it pretty rapidly.”

By season’s end, tar spot spread to an additional 25 additional counties in the state, bringing the grand total to 49 counties dealing with this fungal pathogen.

In most regions of the state, tar spot appeared later in the season, and yield losses were not observed. However, there were instances in northwest and northeast Missouri where yield losses occurred.

It boils down to environmental conditions and perhaps disease design.

Weather prompted early arrival

Bish’s phone started ringing in June 2023 with reports of tar spot in Missouri.

“I said it wasn’t tar spot because it was too early,” she said, “but I was wrong.”

During the MU Crop Management Conference in December, she explained how the risk of tar spot increases when cooler temperatures (minimum air temperature is less than 59.7 degrees F) and cooler dew-point temperatures (less than 55.6 degrees) combine over a window of time. And that was the scenario in the state for June when air and dew-point temperatures were about 6 degrees below the three-year average.

https://b72b8da1256caa7bd5ec3efa1f3d52ec.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

However, July saw warmer temperatures, with some regions reaching triple digits. “This disease does not like heat, and it got hot,” Bish said. “The disease kind of stagnated.”

A map indicating movement of tar spot in Missouri

By mid- to late August, cooler temperatures returned with a little moisture from Mother Nature and irrigation pivots. Tar spot started spreading once again across Missouri cornfields.

“One thing we know is you have to have some moisture for disease progression,” Bish explained. “So just seeing it first, you don’t need moisture, but to have a progression of the disease, you need some moisture and that’s what happened.”

With environmental conditions out of many growers’ controls, university researchers are looking into others means to slow the spread of the tar spot, right down to its DNA.

Studying the genome of tar spot

The fungal pathogen Phyllachora maydis causes tar spot. However, with the rapid spread of the disease, Bish and university researchers are wondering if the pathogen is the same in all states. Are there types (or races) of the pathogen that are more adapted to thrive in Southern climates?

University researchers are working together to answer this question. Comparing DNA from different samples of the pathogen can help scientists understand and provide researchers with more information about tar spot across the Corn Belt.

Bish said the results may provide a launching pad for opportunities to improve management of this corn disease.

About the Author(s)

Mindy Ward

Editor, Missouri Ruralist

Mindy resides on a small farm just outside of Holstein, Mo, about 80 miles southwest of St. Louis.

After graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural journalism, she worked briefly at a public relations firm in Kansas City. Her husband’s career led the couple north to Minnesota.

There, she reported on large-scale production of corn, soybeans, sugar beets, and dairy, as well as, biofuels for The Land. After 10 years, the couple returned to Missouri and she began covering agriculture in the Show-Me State.

“In all my 15 years of writing about agriculture, I have found some of the most progressive thinkers are farmers,” she says. “They are constantly searching for ways to do more with less, improve their land and leave their legacy to the next generation.”

Mindy and her husband, Stacy, together with their daughters, Elisa and Cassidy, operate Showtime Farms in southern Warren County. The family spends a great deal of time caring for and showing Dorset, Oxford and crossbred sheep.

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Posted in Emerging/invasive pests, Fungi, tagged agriculture, horticulture, vegetable-gardening on January 16, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Monday, 01 January 2024 19:54:00

Grahame Jackson posted a new submission ‘LATE BLIGHT, POTATO – INDIA: (PUNJAB)’

Submission

LATE BLIGHT, POTATO – INDIA: (PUNJAB)

ProMED
http://www.promedmail.org

Source: The Indian Express [summ. Mod.DHA, edited]
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/full-blown-late-blight-attack-damages-potato-crop-punjab-9073844/

Days after the experts from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) had cautioned farmers against late blight disease in potato crops, a full-blown attack by the disease has affected more than 50% of potato fields. Crops have suffered extensive damage leading to heavy losses, despite some farmers spraying fungicides recommended by PAU. In several districts, potatoes were rotting in the field before farmers could harvest them. Farmers do not expect to be compensated by the government.

PAU scientists cautioned farmers against using unrecommended varieties, as they are highly susceptible to this disease, which could lead to early crop loss. Maintaining proper spacing between plants within the canopy was another key aspect. Adequate spacing promotes better aeration and helps mitigate the risk of late blight development. They suggested the prompt destruction of infected crop residues to prevent spread of the disease to nearby fields. Instead of overhead sprinklers, they encouraged the use of drip irrigation where feasible and emphasised daytime irrigation so that foliage dries before nightfall and the risk of disease development is minimised.

[Byline: Divya Goyal]

—
Communicated by:
ProMED

[Late blight of potato (PLB) and tomato is caused by the fungus-like organism (oomycete) _Phytophthora infestans_ and can cause 100% crop loss. The pathogen can also affect some other solanaceous crops. In potato, it affects leaves as well as tubers; in tomato, it causes lesions and rotting of leaves, stems and fruits. The disease is favoured by cool, moist conditions. It can spread rapidly within a crop and destroy it within a few days. Under favourable conditions, epidemics in tomatoes may be even more rapid than in potatoes.

The pathogen is spread by plant material (including potato seed tubers, tomato transplants, plant debris, volunteer crop plants), mechanical means (including human and insect activities), wind and water. Disease management requires an integrated approach; it may include removal of pathogen reservoirs, crop rotation, preventative fungicide treatments of planting material, as well as fungicide sprays of crops. Farm saved or uncertified seed tubers have often been reported as sources of PLB outbreaks. Certified clean planting stock and management strategies for fungicide resistance of the pathogen are considered vital to control late blight outbreaks. Commercial crop cultivars vary in susceptibility to late blight. Development of resistant cultivars is being counteracted by the adaptability of the pathogen.

Late blight is considered an increasing problem worldwide. Considerable variation in aggressiveness between different pathogen strains has been observed, but more virulent strains are emerging frequently. The presence of both A1 and A2 mating types of the pathogen increases the chances of strains with additional fungicide resistances and increased yield losses developing.

Pictures
Late blight on potato:
https://onvegetables.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Potato-late-blight-No-halo.jpg,
https://www.thompson-morgan.com/static-images/tandm/static-articles/how-to-stop-potato-blight/what-is-potato-blight.jpg,
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/81/281344513_74bbffe5fe.jpg and
http://cdn.phys.org/newman/gfx/news/2013/keepingpacew.jpg (resistant vs. susceptible cultivars)
Late blight on tomato:
http://ipm.illinois.edu/ifvn/volume15/images/tomato_late_blight.jpg
Microscopy of PLB infected cells:
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/olympusmicd/galleries/brightfield/images/potatoblight.jpg

Links
Information on late blight:
https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/PHYTIN (with photo gallery),
https://doi.org/10.1079/cabicompendium.40970,
https://cropscience.bayer.co.uk/threats/diseases/potato-diseases/late-blight/,
https://cipotato.org/press_room/blogs/combating-late-blight/,
https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/plant-diseases/print,mgmt-late-blight-potatoes.html and
https://www.hutton.ac.uk/research/departments/cell-and-molecular-sciences/epidemiology
_P. infestans_ taxonomy & synonyms:
http://www.indexfungorum.org/Names/NamesRecord.asp?RecordID=232148 and
http://www.speciesfungorum.org/GSD/GSDspecies.asp?RecordID=232148
– Mod.DHA

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POTATO SPINDLE TUBER VIROID – RUSSIA: (AMUR)

Posted in Emerging/invasive pests, Viruses, tagged potatoes on January 16, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Monday, 01 January 2024 19:49:00

Grahame Jackson posted a new submission ‘POTATO SPINDLE TUBER VIROID – RUSSIA: (AMUR)’

Submission

POTATO SPINDLE TUBER VIROID – RUSSIA: (AMUR)

ProMed
http://www.promedmail.org

ProMED-mail is a program of the
Source: Port Amur [in Russian, machine trans., summ. Mod.DHA, edited]
https://portamur.ru/news/detail/v-priamure-vyiyavili-novyiy-dlya-regiona-kartofelnyiy-patogen//

In the Amur region, potato spindle tuber viroid has been detected, as reported by Rosselkhoznadzor [Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance]. Samples of potato tubers were sent for laboratory analysis which revealed the viroid. This “quarantine object” was discovered in the Amur region for the 1st time.

A “quarantine phytosanitary regime” was introduced in the area of 1st detection (Belogorsky district) and a “quarantine phytosanitary zone” with a total area of 275 hectares [680 acres] was established. Also, certain measures are prescribed to individual farmers who own infected potato fields.
—
Communicated by:
ProMED

[_Potato spindle tuber viroid_ (PSTVd; type member of genus _Pospiviroid_) is an important pathogen of solanaceous crops. Yield losses can be up to 65% in potato and up to 50% in tomato. Symptoms in potato may include spindly shoots; stunting of plants; severely distorted tubers (spindles); and delayed sprouting. In tomato, symptoms include leaf chlorosis and distortion; shortening of internodes; stunting of plants; and absence of flowers. Capsicum plants often display only mild symptoms. Solanaceous ornamentals and weeds are often symptomless and may serve as pathogen reservoirs for crop infections. All varieties of tomato and potato appear to be susceptible, but mild strains causing latent infections in some host cultivars exist.

PSTVd is transmitted by true seed in potato and tomato at a rate of up to 100%, depending on the host cultivar. Tomato seed is considered an international quarantine risk (ProMED post 20140122.2222560). Spread occurs also via infected plants or vegetative plant parts, pollen, mechanical means and plant-to-plant contact. PSTVd is exceptionally stable and can persist in dried sap or plant residue for considerable times. Due to the multiple potential transmission routes and the large number of host species, both epidemiology and control of PSTVd are complicated.

In Russia, PSTVd is widespread and poses problems for seed potato production (ProMED posts 20101020.3801, 20190606.6506616). A reduction in yield and quality of seed potatoes had been observed in the country since the 1980s. As PSTVd was identified to be the main cause, the pathogen has been made a national quarantine organism and is being monitored nationwide (see links below).

Pictures
PSTVd symptoms on potato:
https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/sites/gateway/files/PSTVd%20on%20Atlantic.JPG and
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0003/583842/above-ground-symptoms-of-infected-potato.jpg (compared to healthy)
PSTVd symptoms on tomato:
http://www.forestryimages.org/images/768×512/0162082.jpg and
https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/sites/gateway/files/PSTVd%20on%20Rutgers.JPG (compared to healthy)
Photo galleries of PSTVd symptoms on potato and tomato:
http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/subimages.cfm?SUB=11936 and
https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/PSTVD0/photos
Symptoms of pospiviroids on different hosts:
https://www.ipmimages.org/search/action.cfm?q=pospiviroid

Links
Information on PSTVd:
https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/PSTVD0,
https://doi.org/10.1079/cabicompendium.43659,
https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/potatoes/potato-spindle-tuber-viroid and via
http://www.apsnet.org/publications/apsnetfeatures/Pages/Viroids.aspx
Seed transmission of PSTVd (and some other viroids):
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-016-0868-z
Detection methods and quarantine risk analysis of pospiviroids:
https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2011.2330 and
https://gd.eppo.int/download/standard/258/pm9-013-1-en.pdf
PSTVd in Russia:
https://gd.eppo.int/reporting/article-616 and
https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-93-7-0752
PSTVd taxonomy via:
https://ictv.global/taxonomy
– Mod.DHA

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BACTERIAL LEAF BLIGHT, RICE – MADAGASCAR: FIRST REPORT’

Posted in Bacteria, Emerging/invasive pests, tagged disease, diseases on January 16, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:26:34

Grahame Jackson posted a new submission ‘

Submission

BACTERIAL LEAF BLIGHT, RICE – MADAGASCAR: FIRST REPORT

ProMED
http://www.promedmail.org

Source: European Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO) Reporting Service 11/2023/253 [summ. Mod.DHA, edited]
https://gd.eppo.int/reporting/article-7735

Bacterial leaf blight of rice caused by _Xanthomonas oryzae_ pv. _oryzae_ (EPPO A1 List) was considered to be absent from Madagascar, as shown by regular monitoring for rice diseases carried out since the 1980s. In December 2019, symptoms resembling those of bacterial leaf blight were observed in 2 rice (_Oryza sativa_) fields in the Central Highlands of Madagascar. Affected plants showed yellow to greyish, water-soaked lesions starting from the leaf tip and progressing along the central vein or leaf margin. At a later stage, leaves became completely desiccated and sometimes had droplets of yellow exudate at the leaf margin.

Symptomatic leaf samples were collected from both fields. Laboratory analysis (morphological, PCR, pathogenicity tests) confirmed the presence of _X. oryzae_ pv. _oryzae_. Further surveys from 2020 to 2022 confirmed the presence of the bacterium in Madagascar and a sharp increase in disease incidence.
—
Communicated by:
ProMED

[Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) of rice caused by _Xanthomonas oryzae_ pv. _oryzae_ (Xoo) causes yellowing and drying of leaves, as well as wilting of seedlings. Blight lesions caused by severe strains elongate over the entire length of the flag leaf, giving a striped appearance. Severe strains may also affect panicles. Mild strains cause only small leaf lesions and may not lead to any detectable yield loss. Various saprophytic fungi may invade the lesions, contributing to the damage. Field patches infested with bacterial blight have a whitish, ragged appearance. In Asia, for example, millions of hectares of rice paddies are severely affected by Xoo every year, with reported yield losses of up to 60%.

BLB is favoured by rain, high levels of fertilizer, high humidity, standing pools of water and warm temperatures. The bacterium is short-lived in soil and suspected to be seed borne but also to be short-lived in seeds. Grassy weeds, infected plant material (such as rice stubble or ratoons) and contaminated irrigation systems are thought to be primary pathogen reservoirs. The disease spreads by windblown rain and mechanical means (for example when transplanting seedlings or by high insect activity).

Disease management usually includes phytosanitation (control of weed and volunteer rice reservoir hosts, removal of contaminated materials), cultural measures (optimal plant spacing and fertilisers) and use of resistant crop varieties. Control of insect populations by insecticides may help reduce the unspecific spread of bacteria via their scratching and sucking wounds. Antibacterial sprays containing antibiotics are rarely used because they often provide little benefit; furthermore, agricultural application of antibiotics is strictly regulated in most countries. The related _X. oryzae_ pv. _oryzicola_ causes bacterial leaf streak of rice.

More recently, another bacterial leaf blight of rice caused by _Pantoea ananatis_ has also been identified (see links below).

Pictures
BLB symptoms on rice leaves:
http://agropedia.iitk.ac.in/sites/default/files/uas%20raichur/diseases%20of%20paddy/blb00.jpg and
http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/images/stories/bacterial-leaf-blight-4.JPG
BLB affected rice plants:
http://www.invasive.org/images/768×512/0162037.jpg
Droplets of Xoo exudate on leaf:
http://www.invasive.org/images/768×512/0162038.jpg

Links
Source publication:
https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-03-23-0411-PDN
BLB of rice, disease & pathogen information:
http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/decision-tools/rice-doctor/rice-doctor-fact-sheets/item/bacterial-blight,
https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/XANTOR (with distribution map),
https://doi.org/10.1079/cabicompendium.56956,
http://www.apsnet.org/publications/PlantDisease/BackIssues/Documents/1993Articles/PlantDisease77n01_5.pdf and via
http://www.oisat.org/pests/diseases/bacterial/bacterial_leaf_blight.html
_X. oryzae_ pv. _oryzae_ taxonomy:
http://www.uniprot.org/taxonomy/64187
_P. ananatis_ leaf blight of rice:
https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-08-22-2014-PDN and
https://doi.org/10.1007/s42161-023-01514-x
EPPO A1 quarantine list:
https://www.eppo.int/ACTIVITIES/plant_quarantine/A1_list
– Mod.DHA

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Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) Damage on Rice in the Philippines

Posted in Emerging/invasive pests, Insects, Pests, tagged Asia, Philippines on January 5, 2024| Leave a Comment »

ISSN: 2338-1345 e ISSN 2808-8948 – Vol. 11 (2) 37-46 https://ojs.bakrie.ac.id/index.php/APJSAFE/about
37
Asia Pacific Journal of Sustainable Agriculture Food and Energy (APJSAFE)

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) Damage on Rice in the Philippines

Evelyn M. Valdez1, Genaro S. Rillon1, Ravindra C. Joshi1,4*, Kennedy B. dela Cruz1, Dindo King M. Donayre1, Edwin C. Martin1, Femia R. Sandoval1, Eduardo Jimmy P. Quilang1, Minda Flor Aquino2, Maria Katrina Pascual2, Jose Mariano, Jr.2, Evergilio Aquino3,
Muhammad Faheem4 and Sivapragasam Annamalai4

1Philippine Rice Research Institute, Maligaya, Science City of Muñoz, 3119 Nueva Ecija, Philippines
2Department of Agriculture-Regional Crop Protection Center II, Ilagan City, 3300 Isabela, Philippines
3 Department of Agriculture-Regional Crop Protection Center III, PhilRice Compound, Maligaya, Science City of Muñoz, 3119 Nueva Ecija, Philippines 4 Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International – South East Asia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
*Corresponding author: rc.joshi@mail.philrice.gov.ph

Received: 3 Oct 2023 | Revised: 13 Nov 2023 | Accepted: 28 Nov 2023

Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a global invasive pest of corn, and is also common on sorghum, rice and millets, and is reported to be a larval host of 353 cultivated and uncultivated plants. FAW, a native to the tropical and subtropical regions of north, Central, and South America, continues to rapidly spread to Africa and Asia since 2016, threatening food security worldwide. In the Philippines, its first damage on corn was reported in June 2019 in Piat, Cagayan, while that on rice was in May 2021 in Gonzaga, Cagayan, and subsequently to other municipalities in Region 2. Unlike corn, however, little is known about FAW damage and host preference for rice in the Philippines. Rice, a key food security crop for the Philippines and in Asia, is amongst the key host of the FAW elsewhere (e.g., USA). The injury that the FAW will inflict in the rice plant should be known and assessed to quantify the potential yield losses, and predict when an intervention is necessary to avoid incurring potential yield losses. With this background, we conducted FAW monitoring and damage assessment in the areas reported to have FAW occurrence starting May 2021. During 2021 and 2022 assessment periods, monitoring was conducted during the months of May, June, and July. However, starting January 2023, the monitoring and damage assessments were conducted monthly with the exception for May and June wherein it was done weekly since these months coincided with the seedling stage of the rice in a majority of rice-growing areas in the Philippines and where FAW attack was reported during the previous years. FAW larval population and damage were assessed in rice seedbeds. The number of FAW larvae were counted and visual damage was estimated in a 1 m2 with three replicates.

Keywords : Fall armyworm, Rice, Damage, seedbeds, invasive species, Spodoptera frugiperda, Philipines
FAW-infested areas in the Philippines

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