News, Events, Articles
Welcome to PHS Web 2.0
20 Apr 2010
Welcome to the new version of the Plant Health Solutions website, we hope you like it. We have made quite a few changes behind the scenes to make the site more dynamic and easier to keep up to date. Although we have tried to ensure that all old pages are redirected to new versions, it is possible that some bookmarked links are now no longer valid - the information will still be there, you may just have to navigate to it manually.
New Bacterial Canker Project
01 Apr 2010
Bacterial canker has been an on-going problem for HNS growers for many years; it also causes losses to stone fruit growers. It is caused by either Pseudomonas syringae pv. morsprunorum (Psm) or P.s. pv. syringae (Pss). Psm is host specific to Prunus spp., whereas pv. syringae has a wide host range, with the potential for cross infection between a number of different species and genera. Although the stem canker phase is the most economically important, these pathogens may also cause leaf spots/shot-holes, shoot die-back and flower blights. The project aims to identify management options which will help in the control of bacterial canker, focusing on the elimination or reduction of primary inoculum on propagation nurseries.
PHS to tackle bacterial problems in herbaceous perennials
01 Apr 2010
HDC is funding a new project to look at bacterial disease problems in herbaceous nursery stock. Over the last few years sporadic losses of up to 100% have occurred in a number of different subjects. During the first year nurseries will be surveyed for bacterial diseases. The results will be used to set priorities for the work in subsequent years which will comprise trials work and detailed epidemiological investigations. Interested herbaceous HNS growers who think they may have bacterial disease problems now or have had in the past are asked to contact Steve Roberts.
Science into Practice: Controlling Brassica black rot with biologicals
12 Feb 2010
Results from one of our recent HDC-funded projects (FV 335) have been highlighted in Horticulture Week. Black rot is caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris. The Science into Practice article highlights one aspect of the project in which we examined the effects of biologicals and natural products on the transmission of the pathogen from seed to seedling. Link to the article
Diversity of Xanthomonas from brassicas in Nepal
10 Feb 2010
A new scientific paper on the occurence and diveristy of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) in Nepal has been published in Plant Disease. The paper reports the results of race-typing and genetic fingerprinting of Xcc isolates from cabbage and cauliflower crops growing in Nepal. The work was a collaborative effort between Plant Health Solutions, and scientists at Warwick-HRI, Copenhagen University and the Nepal Agricultural Research Council. Full story... Link to the full paper...