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Ecology

09/04/2018 / By Edsel Cook

A common wheat virus can spread and harm perennial native grass

The days when crop diseases left other kinds of plants alone are over now, stated an article in British Ecological Society. A virus that originally ravaged imported wheat has now started infecting switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) and other non-crop species native to the U.S. The burden on farmers and researchers has redoubled: Not only do they need […]

08/27/2018 / By RJ Jhonson

Conservationists looking at fungi to restore native plant populations

More than five million species of fungi have been identified so far, but only about 300 are known to make people sick. Fungi – both the “good” and the “bad” ones – play a vital role in the ecosystem, something that conservationists from Washington State University Tri-Cities (WSU Tri-Cities) are demonstrating through their research. Tanya […]

08/26/2018 / By RJ Jhonson

The hidden world of soil pathogens: Harmful microbes not only have to contend with a farmer’s chemical attacks but their microscopic neighbors as well

Many microscopic species of fungi and bacteria in the soil infect and damage plants. This makes them the enemy of farmers who use chemical pesticides to prevent or – at least – minimize damage to crops. In a study published in the journal mBio, researchers report that for these microscopic pathogens, an angry farmer isn’t […]

08/23/2018 / By Michelle Simmons

Natural pest management: Peach farmers are reducing crop loss to stink bugs by planting grains to lure them away

Scientists from Auburn University in the U.S. found a way to manage pest naturally. They discovered that planting different grain crops attract pests away from the fruit, resulting to lesser crop loss. For the study, the research team analyzed six winter host crops and six summer host crops as possible trap crops or attractant crops for […]

08/20/2018 / By RJ Jhonson

The amount of protein found in corn depends on the type of insects that attack it

It can be hard to imagine plants proactively defending themselves from danger, but a study published in Springer Nature says they do, even going as far as modifying their own chemistry. It’s no secret that plants’ ability to defend themselves is somewhat limited. Unlike animals, they don’t have claws or teeth with which to threaten […]

08/02/2018 / By Isabelle Z.

Applied insect ecologist says that neonicotinoid insecticides are used far more heavily than necessary, causing huge ecological damage

You’re probably aware by now that the use of neonicotinoid pesticides is threatening bee populations around the world. While this remains a serious concern, one expert has stated that he feels the focus on bees has obscured even greater concerns about the use of these chemicals. Applied insect ecologist John F. Tooker says the bigger […]

06/20/2018 / By Ralph Flores

Natural is always better: Using predators to protect crops instead of herbicides boosts profit and conserves wildlife

Farmers in northwestern Michigan may have just found a way to hit two birds with one stone, figuratively speaking: They’ve been luring falcons to their farms to naturally cull pests and protect their crops, reducing their dependency on poison and pesticide use along the process. Since the 1990s, local orchardists have been using kestrels, a […]

06/18/2018 / By Michelle Simmons

Unique savanna in Brazil is being converted into cropland, losing biodiversity and endangering river basins that provide hydroelectric power

The Cerrado, a unique savanna in Brazil, is at risk of losing biodiversity because it’s being converted into cropland, as well as due to overall inefficient management, according to a study published in the Journal of Applied Ecology. It’s also the only savanna in the world with perennial rivers that provide hydroelectric power, which means […]

06/11/2018 / By Jayson Veley

A win for nature: EU supports ban of neonicotinoids proven to decimate bees

In a major win for mother nature, the European Union backed a proposal last month to ban the use of insecticides known as neonicotinoids, which studies have shown do a tremendous amount of harm to honey bees. The ban, which has been strongly supported by environmentalists, applies to the use of three active substances: imidacloprid, […]

06/05/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Researchers explain why it’s the root, not the stem, that determines the growth of crops

Most growers focus on the parts of the plant that are visible above ground, especially the stem and everything attached to it. But U.K.-based researchers beg to differ from this out-of-sight-out-of-mind mentality. In an article from Science Daily, they reported that the roots of a plant decide its growth and fertility as a crop. The […]

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