Wood does a lot of good
It was the bane of the rubber tree, as the fungus Phytophthora literally ate into its every part. With the discovery of antifungal wood extracts, …
Zimbabwe baobab trees dying due to mysterious disease
This could cause a potential food crisis in the country which is in the throes of drought
The fly that got away
The American serpentine leaf miner that infiltrated into India about two years ago is destroying agricultural crops
Shoot to protect
With the creation of a new variety of rice plant which is resistant to bacterial leaf blight, genetic engineering has once again made one of …
Fall Armyworms affect 750,000 acres of maize in Africa, put food security at threat
It may take more than two years before hybrids resistant to the FAW are bred and commercialised in Africa
New centre to help farmers become climate resilient
The centre would focus on real-time structured surveillance for insect-pests and diseases using GPS-tagging techniques
New global standard adopted for making trade in plants and seeds safer
There is an increasing risk that pests carried by seeds could establish themselves and spread after planting
The lull sets in
Scientists warn that conditions are favourable for another sal borer epidemic. State forest departments are unprepared
Stage set for armageddon
Two wheat genes that confer absolute resistance to lethal Ug99 stem rust strain identified
In the red
Left at the mercy of brokers who dictate the market terms, many cultivators of Gloriosa superba have consumed the plant's poisonous tubers to …
So long, Suvin
The finest and longest staple cotton in the world, and part of India's cotton heritage, is on the verge of disappearing
Orange tumbles
Nagpur orange’s survival hinges precariously on its return to sustainable cultivation. Farmers have woken up to this, but will the government?
Alphonso’s last call?
The world’s best mango is perishing in coastal Maharashtra, which grows most of the crop. The culprits are climate change and unsustainable …
Into the ginger trap
Farmers from Kerala make big bucks by growing ginger in Karnataka but leave behind a trail of pollution
A plant breeder comes into his own
Awards are finally coming to K Vinod Prabhu, 54, a plant breeder, for his work on building resistance in wheat, mustard and rice through the …