Fresh from the Field, Sept. 20, 2018

'CUPS' Protects Citrus From Greening and Hurricanes

A system designed to protect citrus trees from the deadly greening disease withstood the ravaging winds of Hurricane Irma last year, University of Florida (UF) scientists say. With reinforcements installed after the storm, they’ll likely withstand even more dangerous storms. Using Citrus Under Protective Screening, or “CUPS,” growers can keep the Asian citrus psyllid away from their trees. During the four years of the CUPS experiment, UF/IFAS researchers have seen no psyllids or greening on the citrus grown in the screened-in environment.

NIFA supports this research through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative.

Read the full article at UF NewsWise. USDA Photo.

Climate-Induced Soil Changes may Cause More Erosion and Flash Flooding

A University of California- Riverside (UCR) team of researchers predicts a climate-induced reduction in large soil pores, which may intensify the water cycle and contribute to more flash flooding and soil erosion by the end of the 21st century. This is the first study to show that the development of macropores is influenced by climate at short timescales and it reinforces the hypothesis that climate change will probably intensify the water cycle.

NIFA supports this research through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative.

Read the full story at UCR News. USDA Photo.

Plant Virus Alters Competition Between Aphid Species

In the world of plant-feeding insects, who shows up first to the party determines the overall success of the gathering; yet viruses can disrupt these intricate relationships, according to researchers at Penn State University. 

"We found further evidence that viruses manipulate more advanced organisms to improve their own fitness," said Mitzy Porras, a recent doctoral graduate in entomology, working with Tomas Carlo,associate professor of biology, and Ed Rajotte, professor of entomology. In other words, their ability to pass on their genome to the next generation of viruses.

NIFA supports this research through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative.  

Read the full story at Penn State News. Image: J. Smith / Penn State