Fresh from the Field Jan. 19, 2017

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Jan 19, 2017

Success Stories of the Week:

Virulent pathogen uses a genetic decoy to foil host’s immune defenses

P. infestans _ A potato plant infected with P. infestans, th… _ Flickr_files

Oregon State University is developing CRISPR gene-editing technology to destroy the genes in plants that cause the ongoing outbreak of sudden oak death in Oregon and California and other diseases. 

A virulent plant-disease agent called Phytophthora sojae knocks out resistance in its soybean host by sending out a “decoy” protein to confuse the plant’s immune system.

The newly uncovered mechanism may explain why the group of plant pathogens known as Phytophthora are so devastating to crops and natural ecosystems worldwide.

The study provides a vivid glimpse into the evolutionary arms race between Phytophthora species and their hosts. The researchers focused on P. sojae, which attacks soybeans, and particularly on a critical protein called a xyloendoglucanase, or XEG. Read more online.


 Photo by Wenbo Fan July 18, 2016 University of Delaware UV Oven Light


With foodborne illness outbreaks from harmful pathogens occurring, there is a need to ensure the consumption of cleaner produce.

The University of Delaware’s Haiqiang Chen is trying to accomplish a 99.7% reduction of salmonella with his new ultraviolet (UV) light oven, a product that will combine UV light with water that is stirred up to put the cleanest produce possible on the plates of consumers. Read about this work here.


News Clip:

Dead Pupa, photo by Tonilynn Baranowski, Penn State University
Dead Pupa, photo by Tonilynn Baranowski, Penn State University


Common crop chemical leaves bees susceptible to deadly viruses according to researchers at Penn State University

A chemical that is thought to be safe and is, therefore, widely used on crops — such as almonds, wine grapes, and tree fruits — to boost the performance of pesticides, makes honey bee larvae significantly more susceptible to a deadly virus, according to researchers at Penn State and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "In the lab, we found that the commonly used organosilicone adjuvant, Sylgard 309, negatively impacts the health of honey bee larvae by increasing their susceptibility to a common bee pathogen, the Black Queen Cell Virus," said Julia Fine, entomology graduate student, Penn State. Read full Penn State News article online.The results appear in the Jan. 16, issue of Scientific Reports.

Fact Report:

Virginia State University: Local Research with Global Effects

Virginia State University is working on a project to improve simultaneous removal of nitrogen and phosphorus from municipal wastewater; examine tepary bean, a Native American crop, for drought tolerance and the need for crop diversification; and many other research projects. Read the 2016 VSU Impacts Report. 


Video:

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Women Managing Cattle

Iowa Women in Agriculture

Women Managing Cattle is a program for farm women to meet, share their experiences in the cattle industry, and learn from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach specialists. Women are important in agriculture, and the cattle business is no different. The Women Managing Cattle program hopes to build relationships and educate women in the cattle business by focusing on cost of production, marketing strategies and production systems.

View the video.


Tweet of the Week:

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Billy Higginbotham

#NIFAImpacts

Texas A & M University's winter pond management can mean better fish production in the spring. There are several important winter management tips to consider for pond owners who want to produce good fishing in their private impoundments.