Integrating New Technologies for Striga Control

Integrating New Technologies for Striga Control
Author: Gebisa Ejeta
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 356
Release: 2007
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9812771506

Witchweeds (Striga species) decimate agriculture in much of Africa and parts of Asia, attacking the major cereal grains and legumes, and halving the already very low yields of subsistence farmers. Several years of research have provided promising technologies, based on the fundamental biology of the parasiteOCohost associations, for dealing with this scourge. However, there is an apparent realization that these technologies will fail because highly successful weeds such as Striga evolve resistance to all types of controls unless proven methods are integrated with each other for a more sustainable solution. Integration is often an anathema to basic scientists who typically deal with single variables and solutions. However, key leaders in the development of the new knowledge-based control strategies, already in the field and under development, recently joined forces to develop strategies and projects in order to integrate the technologies in a symposium in Ethiopia in November 2006. The encouraging results are described in this peer-reviewed book, authored by leaders in the field who have been supplying the basic biology, genetics, biochemistry, and molecular information that have offered insights and generated technologies in how to deal with Striga."

Integrating New Technologies for Striga Control

Integrating New Technologies for Striga Control
Author: Gebisa Ejeta
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 356
Release: 2007
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9812707085

Witchweeds (Striga species) decimate agriculture in much of Africa and parts of Asia, attacking the major cereal grains and legumes, and halving the already very low yields of subsistence farmers. Several years of research have provided promising technologies, based on the fundamental biology of the parasite?host associations, for dealing with this scourge. However, there is an apparent realization that these technologies will fail because highly successful weeds such as Striga evolve resistance to all types of controls unless proven methods are integrated with each other for a more sustainable solution.Integration is often an anathema to basic scientists who typically deal with single variables and solutions. However, key leaders in the development of the new knowledge-based control strategies, already in the field and under development, recently joined forces to develop strategies and projects in order to integrate the technologies in a symposium in Ethiopia in November 2006. The encouraging results are described in this peer-reviewed book, authored by leaders in the field who have been supplying the basic biology, genetics, biochemistry, and molecular information that have offered insights and generated technologies in how to deal with Striga.

Weed Biology and Management

Weed Biology and Management
Author: Inderjit
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 550
Release: 2013-11-11
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9401705526

Weeds hold an enigmatic and sometimes-controversial place in agriculture, where they are generally reviled, grudgingly tolerated, and occasionally admired. In most cases, growers make considerable effort to reduce the negative economic impact of weeds because they compete with crops for resources and hinder field operations, thereby affecting crop productivity and quality, and ultimately the sustainability of agriculture. Weed control in production agriculture is commonly achieved through the integration of chemical, biological, and mechanical management methods. Chemicals (herbicides) usually inhibit the growth and establishment of weed plants by interfering with various physiological and biochemical pathways. Biological methods include crop competition, smother crops, rotation crops, and allelopathy, as well as specific insect predators and plant pathogens. Mechanical methods encompass an array of tools from short handled hoes to sophisticated video-guided robotic machines. Integrating these technologies, in order to relieve the negative impacts of weeds on crop production in a way that allows growers to optimize profits and preserve human health and the environment, is the science of weed management.

Plant Breeding Reviews, Volume 29

Plant Breeding Reviews, Volume 29
Author: Jules Janick
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 469
Release: 2007-01-02
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0470052414

Plant Breeding Reviews presents state-of-the-art reviews on plant genetics and the breeding of all types of crops by both traditional means and molecular methods. Many of the crops widely grown today stem from a very narrow genetic base; understanding and preserving crop genetic resources is vital to the security of food systems worldwide. The emphasis of the series is on methodology, a fundamental understanding of crop genetics, and applications to major crops. It is a serial title that appears in the form of one or two volumes per year.

Parasitic Plants

Parasitic Plants
Author: M. Press
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 308
Release: 1995-11-30
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0412371200

Parasitic plants are of great economic importance and cause huge crop losses worldwide. They present unique biological aspects and control problems. This title provides full coverage relating to the biology, diversity and control of parasitic flowering plants and will be of great use to plant scientists, agricultural and environmental scientists.

A Technical Manual for Parasitic Weed Research and Extension

A Technical Manual for Parasitic Weed Research and Extension
Author: J. Kroschel
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 285
Release: 2013-12-01
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9401000050

Parasitic weeds of the families Cuscutaceae, Orobanchaceae and Scrophulariaceae are considered to be among the major problems facing agriculture in the Tropics and Subtropics. In the last decades, enormous efforts have been made and success achieved by scientists all over the world in gaining a better understanding of their biology and ecology as well as of control methods. However, no substantial reduction of infestation has been achieved in the past and control strategies specific to the different parasites, crops and farming systems must be further developed or adapted and realised among a wider farming population with suitable extension methods. This `Technical Manual' provides up-to-date methodologies for various aspects of research and extension related to parasitic weed species of the genera Striga, Alectra, Orobanche and Cuscuta. It has the intention to support scientists and extension workers of international and national research and extension institutes and universities, who are either new to the subject or plan to apply further techniques they are not yet familiar with.

Biological Control in IPM Systems in Africa

Biological Control in IPM Systems in Africa
Author: P. Neuenschwander
Publisher: CABI
Total Pages: 438
Release: 2003
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1845933389

Annotation. Biological control has made a major contribution to integrated pest management (IPM) in Africa, but its documentation has been scattered and often under-reported. This book provides a review of the most important studies, including not only successes, but also on-going challenges. The focus is on arthropod pests and weeds, but diseases are also covered where significant. In 24 chapters, case studies and promising research results are presented that cover biocontrol by naturally occurring agents, by exotic agents or by seasonal manipulation. This book provides a valuable resource for scientists worldwide. It is particularly useful for pest control professionals working in Africa.