RNA silencing is an adaptive, inducible antiviral defence mechanism in the host against invading viruses. The adaptive antiviral function is characterized by the formation of virus-derived small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) during viral infection. As a counter defense strategy, a number of plant viruses evolve viral suppressors to target antiviral silencing.

Existing theory, empirical, clinical and field research all predict that reducing the virulence of individuals within a pathogen population will reduce the overall virulence, rendering disease less severe. Here, we show that this seemingly successful disease management strategy can fail with devastating consequences for infected hosts. We deploy cooperation theory and a novel synthetic system involving the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. In vivo infections of rice demonstrate that M.

Researchers in the US, led by one of Indian origin, have developed a genetic manipulation technique that results in more efficient use of sunlight in photosynthesis by plants.

This book summarizes the achievements as well as some of the challenges faced while implementing integrated systems research to support the sustainable development of smallholder farming in the uplands of the Mekong region.

The present study was conducted in 2009–10 with the objective to monitor the effect of restorative soil management practices on biological soil quality. The experiment was initiated in 1995 in a strip–split–split plot design with three replications. Sorghum and castor were grown in two-year rotations.

Original Source

This report on the State of Indian Agriculture 2015-16 seeks to present a comprehensive analysis of the recent growth and performance of the agriculture and allied sectors and also to analyze the major emerging challenges. 

Sustainably feeding the world’s growing population is a challenge, and closing yield gaps (that is, differences between farmers’ yields and what are attainable for a given region) is a vital strategy to address this challenge. The magnitude of yield gaps is particularly large in developing countries where smallholder farming dominates the agricultural landscape. Many factors and constraints interact to limit yields, and progress in problem-solving to bring about changes at the ground level is rare.

University of Guelph plant scientists have shown for the first time how an ancient crop teams up with a beneficial microbe to protect against a devastating fungal infection, a discovery that may be

David Haak, an assistant professor of plant pathology, physiology, and weed sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, developed a bioinformatics program using deep sequencing data t

University of Adelaide researchers have made a breakthrough in investigating salt tolerance in plants which could lead to new salt tolerant varieties of crops, and also answer unresolved questions

Pages