TFNet News Compilation (Page 213)

by Nikita Mehta, Livemint   India is working on sequencing the genome of the country’s beloved summer fruit, the mango.   A number of government institutions are involved in the genome sequencing of several crops including fruits and vegetables, minister of state for science & technology and earth sciences Y.S.Continue Reading

by Joann C. Adkins, Phys.org   In just a few weeks, redbay ambrosia beetles will be on the move in Florida, a major concern for the state’s multimillion dollar avocado industry. Florida International University (FIU) researchers believe a combination of drones and dogs could be game-changers in the fight toContinue Reading

A genetic study of papaya sex chromosomes reveals that the hermaphrodite version of the plant, which is of most use to growers, arose as a result of human selection, most likely by the ancient Maya some 4,000 years ago.   The study, reported in the journal Genome Research, homes in onContinue Reading

by Alyson Horn, ABC   A new taskforce and extra staff will work to contain the threat of an outbreak of Panama disease in Queensland’s far north. A farm at Tully was quarantined earlier this monthand tests confirmed on the weekend the existence of Panama disease tropical race 4. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk saidContinue Reading

by Sarina Locke, ABC   Horticultural exporters say they’re being locked out of billions of dollars of trade in Asia and the Pacific export markets.   Australia’s domestic fruit and vegetable market is oversupplied, and there is a growing list of Asian countries that have stopped importing because of pestsContinue Reading

by Xanthe Clay, The Telegraph   Citrus is the hero fruit of the winter months. February and March have precious little to offer that is home grown, bar rhubarb and the last of the stored apples. But while they might not be local, I refuse to feel guilty about loadingContinue Reading

Researchers from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia (UNC) have discovered a link between the pheromones of the guava weevil and the smell of the fruit, paving the way for a new alternative method of pest control.   The insect, also know as Conotrachelus psidii Marshall, was shown to be influenced byContinue Reading

Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi and her New Zealander counterpart Murray McCully have agreed to enhance the two countries’ relationship in many sectors including agriculture, trade, investment and defence.   The agreements were reached when the two concluded the 7th Indonesia-New Zealand Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) in Auckland on Tuesday.Continue Reading

by Lim Chia Ling, The Star Online   Visit any night market, fruit shop or supermarket and chances are you will find very few varieties of bananas being sold. For a crop that has been cultivated since ancient times in Malaysia (reputedly its place of origin), the lack of choiceContinue Reading

With the mango season only a few months away, Pakistan is working towards maximising its exports to the European market, aiming to increase the number by more than 40% over the previous year.   A senior official at the Ministry of National Food Security and Research said arrangements have beenContinue Reading

Two virus-tolerant varieties of papaya seeds promise to increase the fruit yield for farmers in western India.   The city-based regional station of Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) has developed ‘Pune Selection-3’ and ‘Pune Selection-1’ lines of papaya seeds that have shown tolerance to Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) – globallyContinue Reading