- Jeff - If we combine this article with the post of two
weeks ago regarding the mysterious disease killing wheat in Kansas, we
have to wonder: could plant pathogens have been dispersed in various areas
of the country with the intentional effect of bankrupting US growers? Monitoring
for plant pathogen attacks is no different than monitoring for intentional
livestock or human outbreaks - we look for different illnesses all occurring
at one time. The same holds true for plant agraterrorism.
-
- I think the government needs to look at the various plant
outbreaks as possibly intentional releases. At present, it appears each
outbreak is being looked at as a separate entity. Let us hope that monitoring
for other plant disease outbreaks proves the wheat and watermelons are
the only ones.
-
- If more occur, we may have to connect some dots.
-
- This is a time when both plant and livestock outbreaks
need careful scrutiny.
-
- Patty
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- From: ProMED-mail Source: NBC2 news
-
-
- Mysterious Disease Killing Watermelon Crop
By Jessica Ritter
6-29-4
Florida is the second largest producer of watermelons in the United States
but, this year, south west Florida farmers are battling what scientists
are calling a mysterious disease, which could cost growers up to USD 50
million this season.
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- Dr Patty Roberts says the unknown disease is wiping out
watermelon crops across the state. Roberts, a researcher from the Institute
of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, has no idea how
it arrived. She and her partners were trying to conduct an unrelated experiment
when their own crop was infected. Many Immokalee growers may be forced
out of business.
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- According to Roberts, some affected fields are losing
100 per cent of their production. With few clues to go on, scientists say
it's very likely this situation will get worse.
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- Consumers can identify an infected melon by examining
the rind. Healthy watermelons have a nice, white rind on the inside, but
infected ones are yellow.
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- http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=937&z=3&p=
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- ProMED-mail
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- There are a number of vine-decline diseases of cucurbits.
According to Roberts, the disease in Florida is of unknown etiology, and
it has been named mature vine decline and fruit rind necrosis. Further
research is required to determine the etiology of the disease. Useful references:
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- http://www.in.gov/oca/grants/valueadd/ExecSummaryMWVD.pdf
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- http://cals.arizona.edu/PLP/plpext/diseases/vegetables
/watermelon/watermelonvd.htm - Mod.DH
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- Patricia A. Doyle, PhD Please visit my "Emerging
Diseases" message board at: http://www.clickitnews.com/ubbthreads/postlist.php?
Cat=&Board=emergingdiseases
Zhan le Devlesa tai sastimasa
Go with God and in Good Health
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