Plant pathogens cause significant losses to agricultural yields, and increasingly threaten food security (Paini et al., 2016), ecosystem integrity, and societies in general (Boyd et al., 2013; Fisher et al., 2012; Flood, 2010; Strange & Scott, 2005). Xylella fastidiosa is one of the most dangerous plant bacteria worldwide, causing several diseases with profound impacts on agriculture and the environment (Purcell, 1997). Primarily occurring in the Americas, its recent discovery in Asia and Europe demonstrates that Xf’s geographic range has broadened considerably, positioning Xf as a re-emerging global threat that has caused socio-economic and cultural damage (Stokstad, 2015; Almeida, 2016). Xf can infect over 560 plant species worldwide (EFSA, 2018), and its early detection is critical for its eradication. The work carried out demonstrates that changes in plant functional traits retrieved from airborne imaging spectroscopy and thermography can reveal Xf infection in olive trees before symptoms are visible. The accuracy of disease detection, confirmed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay (qPCR), exceeds 80% when high-resolution fluorescence quantified by 3D simulations and thermal stress indicators were coupled with photosynthetic traits sensitive to rapid pigment dynamics and degradation. Visually asymptomatic trees originally scored as affected via spectral plant trait alterations developed Xf symptoms at almost double the rate of the asymptomatic trees classified as not affected by remote sensing. Then, the fact that spectral plant trait alterations caused by Xf infection are detectable pre-visually at the landscape scale is demonstrated, which is a critical requirement to help eradicate one of the most devastating plant diseases worldwide.
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Agricultural run-off and subsurface drainage tiles transport a significant amount of nitrogen and phosphorus leached after fertilization. alchemia-nova GmbH in collaboration with University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna developed two multi-layer vertical filter systems to address the agricultural run-off issue, which has been installed on the slope of an agricultural field in Mistelbach, Austria. While another multi-layer addressing subsurface drainage water is implemented in Gleisdorf, Austria. The goal is to develop a drainage filter system to retain water and nutrients. Both multi-layer filter systems contain biochar and other substrates with adsorption properties of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus). The filter system can be of practical use if an excess of nutrients being washed out is of concern in the fields of the practitioner by keeping the surrounding waters clean. This approach may result in economic value by re-using the saturated biochar as fertilizer and improving the soil structure, thus increasing long-term soil fertility. Link: https://wateragri.eu/a-bio-inspired-multilayer-drainage-system/
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No 858735This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No 858735. FACTSHEET NANOCELLULOSE MEMBRANES FOR NUTRIENT RECOVERY Key information Functionalized nanocellulose membranes can take up nitrate and phosphate. These membranes can be put in a water treatment unit. As the membranes are biobased, degradable materials, they can after use be added to the soil, thus returning the leached nutrients back for their original purpose providing fertilizers (nutrient recycling).
Because variables such as temperature and humidity have a profound effect on the activity of crop pests, diseases and natural enemies, the ability to monitor environmental conditions within a crop has always been important for crop protection.