New Potato-threatening Pathogens Reported for First Time in Pennsylvania and the U.S. January17, 2024
Introduction:
(Potato News Today) Potato crops across the state of Pennsylvania and in the U.S. may face the threat of newly identified pathogen strains, according to Penn State researchers who made the finding and aim to develop management strategies. They published their work in the journal Systematic and Applied Microbiology.
As Katie Bohn reports in an article published on the Penn State website, the researchers collected potato stems or tubers that exhibited symptoms of black leg or soft rot — including wilting, stunting, black lesions and rotting tubers, among others, — from 26 potato fields in Pennsylvania. These diseases, which can lead to crop loss, are caused caused predominantly by bacteria in the Pectobacterium species and more recently the Dickeya species.
The researchers isolated, cultured and identified 456 samples of bacteria infecting the potatoes, including six species of Pectobacterium and one strain of Dickeya that previously had not been reported in Pennsylvania. One species of Pectobacterium previously had not been reported in the U.S.
Carolee Bull, corresponding author and professor of bacterial systematics and plant pathology, of plant pathology and of environmental microbiology, said the findings could inform methods for detecting and quantifying the pathogens causing blackleg and soft rot in Pennsylvania and beyond.
“In addition to surveillance, these insights could also help us better understand disease epidemiology,” Bull said. “For example, the pathogens may have different optimum temperatures for growing or for producing these symptoms in the potatoes. So, the severity of the disease may change depending on different climate conditions.”
World's Largest Database of Weeds Lets Scientists Peer into the Past, and Future, of Global Agriculture
January 23, 2024
(Eurekalert) A new database of weeds that can help scientists understand how traditional agricultural systems were managed throughout history, could also provide insights into how global trends like the climate crisis could affect the resilience of our modern day food systems.
The database is the culmination of 30 years of collaborative research from archaeologists and ecologists working at the Universities of Sheffield and Oxford. It catalogues nearly 1000 species of weeds growing in traditional agricultural regimes in Europe, Western Asia and North Africa.
The open access resource, created and published by academics continuing the research project through the Oxford University Research Archive, offers researchers worldwide the opportunity to compare archaeobotanical data with ’traditional’ farming systems.
The database catalogues the functional traits of weeds growing amongst arable cereal and pulse crops for all 928 weed species. The aim of the project was to be able to compare past and present farming systems through the weeds that grow alongside arable crops.
Plant ecologist, John Hodgson, who worked at what is now the University of Sheffield’s School of Biosciences, was involved in the research from the 1990s. He said: “The data gives archaeologists and plant ecologists a way to understand the past and predict the future together.
Transforming Food Systems Could Create Multi-trillion Dollars of Economic Benefits Every Year January, 2024
Introduction:
(Eurekalert) Transforming food systems around the world would lead to socio-economic benefits summing up to 5 to 10 trillion USD a year, shows a new global policy report produced by leading economists and scientists of the Food System Economics Commission (FSEC). The most ambitious and comprehensive study of food system economics so far underlines that food systems are currently destroying more value than they create and that an overhaul of food system policies is urgently needed. On the other hand, the cost of transformation would be much lower than the potential benefits, offering a better life to hundreds of millions of people.
“The costs of inaction to transform the broken food system will probably exceed the estimates in this assessment, given that the world continues to rapidly move along an extremely dangerous path. It is likely that we will not only breach the 1.5°C limit, but also face decades of overshoot”, states Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and FSEC Principal. “The only way to return back to 1.5°C is to phase out fossil-fuels, keep nature intact and transform food systems from source to sink of greenhouse gases. The global food system thereby holds the future of humanity on Earth in its hand”, he adds.
Food systems powerful means to potentially save 174 million lives from premature death
In the report, the scientists provide the most comprehensive modelling of the impacts of two possible futures for the global food system to date: our `Current Trends’ pathway, and the `Food System Transformation’ pathway.
Using CRISPR Technology, Researchers Succeed in Growing Tomatoes that Consume Less Water Without Compromising Yield January 30, 2024
Introduction:
(Eurekalert) A new discovery by Tel Aviv University has succeeded in cultivating and characterizing tomato varieties with higher water use efficiency without compromising yield. The researchers, employing CRISPR genetic editing technology, were able to grow tomatoes that consume less water while preserving yield, quality, and taste.
The research was conducted in the laboratories of Prof. Shaul Yalovsky and Dr. Nir Sade and was led by a team of researchers from the School of Plant Sciences and Food Security at Tel Aviv University’s Wise Faculty of Life Sciences. The team included Dr. Mallikarjuna Rao Puli, a former postdoctoral fellow supervised by Prof. Yalovsky, and Purity Muchoki, a doctoral student jointly supervised by Prof. Yalovsky and Dr. Sade. Additional students and postdoctoral fellows from TAU’s School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, along with researchers from Ben Gurion University and the University of Oregon, also contributed to the research. The study’s findings were published in the academic journal PNAS.
The researchers explain that in light of global warming and the diminishing of freshwater resources, there is a growing demand for agricultural crops that consume less water without compromising yield. Naturally, at the same time, because agricultural crops rely on water to grow and develop, it is particularly challenging to identify suitable plant varieties.
A New Study Shows How
Africa Could Grow More Rice February 7, 2024
Introduction:
(Eurekalert) Africa’s rice sector has major opportunities to increase its yield gains through improved agronomic practices while avoiding massive land conversion, a study by international scientists including a Husker co-investigator finds. The production advances can be important in meeting Africa’s projected food needs and reducing dependence on imports, the researchers concluded.
Rice demand in Africa is projected to more than double over the next 25 years due to population growth and increased rice consumption. At present, Africa imports nearly 40% of its rice.
“Nearly 15 million hectares of rice are waiting for yield improvement in Africa, but no yield gain can be achieved without better agronomy,” said Patricio Grassini, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln professor of agronomy who coordinated the team working on the research study, “Intensifying rice production to reduce imports and land conversion in Africa,” published in Nature Communications.
Agronomic practices involving improved land development, soil and plant nutrition, weed control and water management, as well as moderate cropland expansion, “could give the region a more optimistic future,” said Kazuki Saito, a former researcher at the Africa Rice Center who is currently at the International Rice Research Institute, who also contributed to the research.
Something that may affect future dietary patterns: Eating Too Much Protein is Bad for Your Arteries February 19, 2024
Introduction:
(Eurekalert) PITTSBURGH, Feb. 19, 2024 – University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers discovered a molecular mechanism by which excessive dietary protein could increase atherosclerosis risk. The findings were published in Nature Metabolism today.
The study, which combined small human trials with experiments in mice and cells in a Petri dish, showed that consuming over 22% of dietary calories from protein can lead to increased activation of immune cells that play a role in atherosclerotic plaque formation, driving the disease risk. Furthermore, the scientists showed that one amino acid – leucine – seems to have a disproportionate role in driving the pathological pathways linked to atherosclerosis, or stiff, hardened arteries.
“Our study shows that dialing up your protein intake in pursuit of better metabolic health is not a panacea. You could be doing real damage to your arteries,” said senior and co-corresponding author Babak Razani, M.D., Ph.D., professor of cardiology at Pitt. “Our hope is that this research starts a conversation about ways of modifying diets in a precise manner that can influence body function at a molecular level and dampen disease risks.”
According to a survey of an average American diet over the last decade, Americans generally consume a lot of protein, mostly from animal sources. Further, nearly a quarter of the population receives over 22% of all daily calories from protein alone.
That trend is likely driven by the popular idea that dietary protein is essential to healthy living, says Razani. But his and other groups have shown that overreliance on protein may not be such a good thing for long-term health.
Potassium Depletion in Soil Threatens Global Crop Yields February 19, 2024
Introduction:
(Eurekalert) Potassium deficiency in agricultural soils is a largely unrecognised but potentially significant threat to global food security if left unaddressed, finds new research involving researchers at UCL, University of Edinburgh and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.
The study, published in Nature Food, found that more potassium is being removed from agricultural soils than is being added, throughout many regions of the world. It also gives a series of recommendations for how to mitigate the issue.
Potassium is a vital nutrient for plant growth that helps with photosynthesis and respiration, the lack of which can inhibit plant growth and reduce crop yields. Farmers often spread potassium-rich fertilisers over their fields to replenish the depleted nutrient, but supply issues can inhibit its use, and there are lingering questions about its environmental impact.
The researchers report that globally, about 20% of agricultural soils face severe potassium deficiency, with particular regions likely to experience more critical shortages, including 44% of agricultural soils in South-East Asia, 39% in Latin America, 30% in Sub-Saharan Africa and 20% in East Asia, largely due to more intensive agricultural practices.
Conclusion:
The researchers put forward six recommendations for policies and practices to prevent potential crop yield declines, safeguard farmers from price volatility and address environmental concerns. The recommendations include:
1. Setting up a global assessment of current potassium stocks and flows to identify the most at-risk countries and regions
2. Establishing national capabilities for monitoring, predicting and responding to potassium price fluctuations
3. Helping farmers maintain sufficient soil potassium levels with further research about the yield implications of limited potassium in various crops and soils
4. Evaluating the environmental effects of potash mining and developing sustainable application practices
5. Developing a global circular potassium economy that minimises the use and maximises the reuse and recycling of the nutrient
6. Increasing intergovernmental cooperation through the UN and other agencies to develop global policy coordination akin to what’s been developed for nitrogen
Potato Discovery Could Lead to Tastier and Healthier Chips and Fries by Matt Davenport
February 22, 2024
Introduction:
(Futurity) Researchers have discovered a key mechanism behind the darkening and potential health concerns associated with cold-stored potatoes.
The findings hold promise for the development of potato varieties that could be stored under cold temperatures and lead to healthier and tastier chips and fries.
These snacks have a market worth billions of dollars in the US. In Michigan—the nation’s leading producer of potatoes for chips—the potato industry is valued at $240 million annually.
But farmers can’t grow the crops year-round and snack makers need a constant supply of fresh spuds to meet their demands. Preserving spuds in cold storage ensures chip and fry producers have what they need, but the low temperatures also trigger a process called cold-induced sweetening, or CIS, which converts starches to sugars.
Processing tubers loaded with sugars results in darkened fries and chips. It also generates acrylamide, a carcinogenic compound formed during high-temperature processing, which has been linked to health concerns including an increased cancer risk.
Intel Ignite Tel Aviv Partners with Hebrew University Startup 'Rumafeed' for Innovative Potato Project March 4, 2024
Introduction:
(Eurekalert) Hebrew University is thrilled to announce that "Rumafeed," a startup associated with Hebrew University and Yissum, led by Prof. Haim Rabinowitch, has been chosen by Intel Ignite Tel Aviv to partner with Holit on a Proof of Concept (POC). Their project has achieved a remarkable transformation of potato leaves, turning what is currently considered biological waste into a valuable product – animal fodder and silage with excellent digestibility compared to traditional fodder, along with excellent nutritional value.
Additional Extract:
While significant portions of the biomass of crops such as wheat, corn, and soy are utilized, Prof. Rabinowitch was aware that valuable components of important crops like potatoes and tomatoes are discarded due to the accumulation of toxic substances known as glycoalkaloids in the foliage.
Modern biology tools provide a solution by halting glycoalkaloid synthesis even under optimal conditions. Through this innovative approach, the project has successfully transformed what was once considered biological waste into a valuable feed. Notably, potato leaves have been found to be more digestible than traditional fodder, and feeding experiments have demonstrated normal and even superior development compared to standard hay feed for livestock.
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he conventional method of growing potatoes involves vine-killing 10-20 days before harvesting the tubers, primarily achieved through the application of herbicides. Hence, posing environmental hazards and economic challenges. Up to this point, RumaFeed varieties farming follows the same cultivation methods as standard practice. However, it offers a unique solution in subsequent steps. Instead of disposing of the haulm by killing and trashing it, RumaFeed harvests and transforms the haulm into high-value fodder or silage, requiring no additional investments in resources. This environmentally friendly approach provides a highly nutritious alternative for animal feed, contributes to the income of potato growers, and mitigates environmental.
Global estimates suggest that integrating RumaFeed varieties could generate 150-200 million tons of high-quality feed, enabling more extensive production of human food and raw materials without compromising critical areas or natural values.
