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IMAGE: Pantaphos, which is produced by the plant pathogen Pantoea ananatis, is responsible for causing onion center rot. view more
Credit: Alex Polidore
Since 1983, the bacteria Pantoea ananatis has been known to infect several important crops including onions, rice, and corn. It was unclear, however, what molecules were involved. A new study, published in
mBio, has identified one of the culprits: pantaphos. Intriguingly, the researchers have discovered that pantaphos can also act as an herbicide and it is toxic to glioblastoma cells, making it an exciting candidate for agricultural and biomedical applications. Herbicide resistant weeds are an issue in agriculture, said William Metcalf (MMG leader), a professor of microbiology. Unfortunately, there hasn t been a new class of herbicide for over 30 years. If we can understand how pantaphos causes onion rot, we can solve a big problem.
Credit: Michael Bradshaw
Found around the world, powdery mildew is a fungal disease especially harmful to plants within the sunflower family. Like most invasive pathogens, powdery mildew is understudied and learning how it affects hosts can help growers make more informed decisions and protect their crops.
Scientists at the University of Washington and the University of Central Florida inoculated 126 species of plants in the sunflower family with powdery mildew, growing 500 plants from seeds that were collected from the wild and provided from the USDA germplasm network. Through this large-scale study, they were able to measure the various plants susceptibility to powdery mildew.
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IMAGE: INRS Professor Monique Lacroix is an expert in sciences applied to food, such as irradiation. view more
Credit: Christian Fleury (INRS)
A combined treatment of irradiation and essential oil vapors could effectively destroy insects, bacteria and mold in stored grains. A team from the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), led by Professor Monique Lacroix, has demonstrated the effect of this process on insects affecting rice. The study was published in the
Microorganisms and insects are the main enemies of stored grains. Currently, the food industry uses fumigants to destroy them. However, these compounds, which evaporate or decompose into gases into air or water, are threatening human health and the environment. When grain is fumigated, a small amount of gas is absorbed by the grain and released into the atmosphere. For food irradiation, the treatment is physical. If new molecules are produced, they are no different than those produc
Although the use of pesticides in agriculture is increasing, some farms have transitioned to organic practices and avoid applying them. But it s uncertain whether chemicals applied to land decades ago can continue to influence the soil s health after switching to organic management. Now, researchers reporting in ACS