Latest news with #Phytophthora
Daily Mirror
24-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Mould and pests won't ruin strawberry plants if you dust soil with 1 ingredient
Strawberries are grown for their vibrant colour and sweetness, but the plants are vulnerable to a number of problems. Strawberries are amongst the simplest fruits to cultivate, particularly for novice gardeners, but without proper care, they can fall prey to environmental problems – such as grey mould and leather rot – or be devoured by pests. To produce vibrant and ripe strawberries without any complications, gardeners are being encouraged to sprinkle their soil with one common ingredient: cinnamon. According to home 'hacks, tips, and tricks' TikTok creator @creative_explained, cinnamon can assist your plants in six different ways. Most crucially, it helps prevent mould and fungi from developing in your soil and eliminates troublesome bugs. Adding cinnamon to your plants takes just a few seconds and will make your strawberries grow succulent, healthy, and flourishing throughout the entire season. How does it work? The home hack creator explained: "Cinnamon has anti-fungal properties that prevent mould and fungi from appearing from the soil. Plus, you know those annoying gnats in the soil, well guess what? Cinnamon gets rid of them too." According to Gardening Know How, "damping-off disease" is a fungal problem that affects young seedlings just as they begin to develop. Dusting with cinnamon can help prevent this by destroying the harmful fungus, reports the Express. Making a cinnamon solution to spray onto affected plants is another efficient method to reduce the symptoms of fungal infestations. "Under laboratory conditions, scientists have shown that the elements in cinnamon powder inhibit the development of grey mould (Botrytis cinerea) and various species of Phytophthora. "Spraying a mixture of ground cinnamon solution and water onto infected plants can be an effective way to alleviate the symptoms of fungal infestations," reported experts at Plantura. What makes cinnamon a pest deterrent? "What makes this method so effective is that the aromatic powder can break the gnats' reproduction cycle. This way, they cannot hatch or reproduce," explained the expert. Strawberry plants often attract other pests such as aphids, fruit flies, leafhoppers, caterpillars, beetles, spider mites, thrips, and whiteflies. Cinnamon also proves effective against ants and slugs, but it's crucial to remember that not all bugs will be deterred by this solution. How to make the cinnamon plant spray Use one teaspoon of ground cinnamon and pour it into a spray bottle Then add five litres of warm water to the bottle Let it sit for a few hours, and then you're done
CTV News
20-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Rare disease threatens Nova Scotia Christmas trees
Some Nova Scotia Christmas tree growers are concerned about a fungus known as root rot. The dangerous and deadly tree disease Phytophthora, commonly known as root rot, is killing thousands of Nova Scotia Christmas trees. The Christmas tree industry pumps more than $50 million into the Nova Scotia economy each year, as growers have been forced to deal with mild winters, which provide the perfect breeding ground for root rot to spread. 'Last spring, we started seeing some rot, so I got a specialist to look at it,' Christmas tree grower Colin Hughes said. 'We sent some off to get tested and it was confirmed it was root rot.' Hughes said experts have told him the disease came from young infected seedlings brought into the province and are killing most of his Fraser Fir trees, but not the more common Balsam Fir. 'We probably have about 15,000 Fraser Fir trees in the ground right now, and that seems to be where the problem is.' Root rot prevents trees from absorbing water and other nutrients found in the soil. 'We never had to deal with it in our more northern climate, because we always had frost that would go six to eight inches deep, and that would freeze out the spore stage of the disease,' said Matthew Wright from the Canadian Christmas Trees Association. 'This particular disease has a swimming spore stage, so it depends on wet soils to swim to the roots, and it only attacks roots when they are actively growing in the spring or fall,' said Wright. Hughes says it's too soon to know if root rot could spread further and what kind of impact that could have on the Christmas season. He is seeking advice on how to monitor the situation closely. 'All I know is, I have Balsam Firs growing right alongside a dying Fraser Fir, and our Balsams are doing very well,' said Hughes. With December less than five months away, all of Nova Scotia's Christmas trees will need to stay healthy so they can be ready for holiday season.
CTV News
17-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Root rot attacks some Nova Scotia Christmas trees
Root rot (Phytophthora) is taking aim at some of Nova Scotia's Christmas tree lots. 'Last spring we started seeing some rot and so I got a specialist in to get a look at it and we sent some off to get tested and confirmed it was root rot,' says tree grower, Colin Hughes. So far only Fraser fir trees seem to be affected and not the more common balsam firs. It's believed the root rot came from young trees brought into the province 'I've got balsams growing right alongside a dying Fraser and our balsams are doing very well, so we have got our fingers crossed with our native balsams,' Hughes says. 'This was seed or seedlings that we purchased from nurseries and brought them here.' That's a bit of a blessing for Hughes who bought 15,000 Fraser fir trees in response to demand. He said local producers can't grow enough trees to satisfy the market. Root rot attacks the roots of trees and prevents them from absorbing water and nutrients until they wilt and die. 'We've never had to deal with it in our more northern climates largely because we always had frost that would go 6 to 8 inches deep and that would freeze out the spore stage of the disease,' says Canadian Christmas Tree Association committee member, Matthew Wright. He says climate change is playing a roll in root rot's spread. Warmer winters are providing the right conditions for phytophthora to take hold. 'This particular disease has a swimming spore stage so it depends on a wet soil to actually swim to the roots and it only attacks roots when they're actively growing in the spring or fall,' said Wright. Colin Hughes said all he can do is watch and hope his losses are minimal and his balsams stay healthy. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Irish Examiner
16-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Scientists to launch mobile app to detect potato blight at early stages
Potato blight, one of the world's most devastating crop diseases, could soon be detected using mobile phones, thanks to a new app being developed by Welsh scientists. Spearheaded by a research team at Aberystwyth University, the DeepDetect project aims to develop a mobile phone app that uses artificial intelligence to provide early warnings of diseases in potatoes. Potato crops are highly susceptible to diseases caused by pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, and nematodes. Late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, can wipe out entire fields, and lead to enormous costs and food shortages. It is responsible for 20% of potato crop losses and €4bn in economic losses worldwide. Traditionally, disease detection in crops has relied on manual inspection, a method that is time-consuming, expensive, and often subjective. DeepDetect aims to change that by harnessing the power of machine learning to deliver accurate diagnoses directly to farmers' smartphones. Dr Edore Akpokodje, a lecturer in computer science at Aberystwyth University, said: 'Our goal is to empower farmers with a tool which is not only scientifically robust but also practical and easy to use, and which delivers instantaneous, location-specific disease forecasts straight to their phones. "By integrating farmer feedback from the outset, we will ensure that this technology is grounded in real-world needs and challenges.' The project also aims to reduce the environmental and financial burden of widespread preventive spraying. Dr Akpokodje added: 'Addressing the challenge of early diagnosis of potato plant disease would boost productivity and reduce costs for farmers, while supporting more sustainable and targeted disease management. "By decreasing reliance on pesticides, this approach benefits both the environment and the long-term resilience of the potato industry. The technology also has the potential for wider application across other crops, driving innovation in agricultural practices.' Dr Aiswarya Girija from the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences at Aberystwyth University said: Potatoes are the fourth most important staple crop globally, and optimal production is essential for a growing global population. Potato blight is therefore not just a farming issue — it's a food security issue. 'As well as threatening the stability of food supplies, potato blight drives up production costs and reliance on environmentally harmful fungicides. The system we plan to develop will be capable of detecting early signs of disease before they become visible to the human eye, allowing for timely and targeted interventions.' The first stage of the DeepDetect project is a comprehensive feasibility study, including market research to understand the limitations of current early warning systems. The project team will then create an AI-powered prototype using image datasets of healthy and diseased potato leaves. Once the prototype has been developed, the team will conduct focus groups and workshops with farmers and agronomists to refine the model and ensure usability. Read More The red tape that stalled farm loans — and the road back for Microfinance Ireland
Business News Wales
15-07-2025
- Health
- Business News Wales
Welsh Scientists to Develop AI App for Early Detection of Potato Blight
Potato blight, one of the world's most devastating crop diseases, could soon be detected using mobile phones thanks to a new app being developed by Welsh scientists. Spearheaded by a research team at Aberystwyth University, the DeepDetect project aims to develop a mobile phone app that uses artificial intelligence to provide early warnings of diseases in potatoes. Potato crops are highly susceptible to diseases caused by pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, and nematodes. Late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, can wipe out entire fields, and lead to enormous costs and food shortages. It is responsible for 20% of potato crop losses and £3.5 billion in economic losses worldwide. Traditionally, disease detection in crops has relied on manual inspection, a method that is time-consuming, expensive, and often subjective. DeepDetect aims to change that by harnessing the power of machine learning to deliver accurate diagnoses directly to farmers' smartphones. Dr Edore Akpokodje, a Lecturer in Computer Science at Aberystwyth University, said: 'Our goal is to empower farmers with a tool which is not only scientifically robust but also practical and easy to use, and which delivers instantaneous, location-specific disease forecasts straight to their phones. By integrating farmer feedback from the outset, we will ensure that this technology is grounded in real-world needs and challenges.' Potatoes are a vital crop globally and in Wales, where over 17,000 hectares are dedicated to potato farming. The project also aims to reduce the environmental and financial burden of widespread preventive spraying, which currently costs Welsh farmers up to £5.27 million annually. Dr Akpokodje added: 'Addressing the challenge of early diagnosis of potato plant disease would boost productivity and reduce costs for farmers, while supporting more sustainable and targeted disease management. By decreasing reliance on pesticides, this approach benefits both the environment and the long-term resilience of the potato industry. The technology also has the potential for wider application across other crops, driving innovation in agricultural practices.' Dr Aiswarya Girija from the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences at Aberystwyth University said: 'Potatoes are the fourth most important staple crop globally, and optimal production is essential for a growing global population. Potato blight is therefore not just a farming issue – it's a food security issue. 'As well as threatening the stability of food supplies, potato blight drives up production costs and reliance on environmentally harmful fungicides. The system we plan to develop will be capable of detecting early signs of disease before they become visible to the human eye, allowing for timely and targeted interventions.' The first stage of the DeepDetect project is a comprehensive feasibility study, including market research to understand the limitations of current early warning systems and identify the needs of Welsh farmers. This stage will begin with the project team speaking to stakeholders and members of the public on the Aberystwyth University stand at the Royal Welsh Show. The project team will then create an AI-powered prototype using image datasets of healthy and diseased potato leaves. Once the prototype has been developed, the team will conduct focus groups and workshops with farmers and agronomists to refine the model and ensure usability. The outcomes of this feasibility study, which is funded by the Welsh Government Smart Flexible Innovation Support (SFIS) programme, will lay the groundwork for a national Early Warning System for potato blight, with potential to expand the technology to other crops and regions in the future.
