All Agriculture articles – Page 12
-
NewsSmart bacteria could transform global agricultural food production
An interdisciplinary team are to receive almost half a million pounds to fund the development of a ‘smart bacterium’ that can dynamically reprogramme how crops respond to environmental stresses in real-time.
-
NewsHigh-efficacy adjuvanted subunit vaccine against variant infectious bursal disease virus in chicks
Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is an acute, highly contagious disease caused by the infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), primarily affecting chicks. Notably, the emergence of new mutant strains that exacerbate the disease can cause serious economic losses to the global poultry industry. To date, there is no commercial vaccine against ...
-
NewsUnderground Atlas: First global map of fungal biodiversity reveals 90% conservation gap
The Underground Atlas is the first digital map predicting Earth’s underground mycorrhizal fungal biodiversity. The work analyzed 2.8 billion DNA sequences from 130 countries revealing that over 90% of mycorrhizal biodiversity hotspots lie outside protected areas.
-
NewsNew study brings vaccine hopes for deadly Nipah virus
Researchers have tested experimental Nipah vaccines in pigs, aiming to cut off the virus at one of its key transmission routes. The study describes the development of three vaccine candidates using different viral surface proteins.
-
NewsCertain fungi can boost the micronutrient content of bread wheat
New research indicates that bread wheat’s micronutrient content can be increased by cultivating it with a specific type of fungus. Crops grown with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis developed larger grains with greater amounts of phosphorus and zinc.
-
NewsCassava witches’ broom disease takes flight in South America
Cassava witches’ broom disease is quickly spreading across Northeastern South America, threatening a critical food staple for millions of people in Brazil and the continent.
-
NewsResearchers explore ways to better safeguard romaine supply from E coli outbreaks
E. coli outbreaks in romaine lettuce have long been a public health concern. and now a new paper suggests that a combination of efforts in the field, and even postharvest techniques, can minimize risk to human health.
-
NewsBiologicals vs. biostimulants: study clarifies crop input confusion
Scientists have published a commentary on use of biologicals and biostimulants in agriculture, calling for more nuanced labelling and regulation.
-
NewsHow do traditional and biodegradable microplastics affect agricultural ecosystems?
With biodegradable plastics viewed as potential alternatives to traditional plastics in agriculture, researchers investigated the differences in their impacts on agricultural fields and the health of the crop-soil system.
-
NewsAvian flu has major economic costs for dairy industry
A new paper shows that the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus causes severe mastitis and decreased milk production in dairy cows, a drop-off that may extend beyond the clinical outbreak period.
-
NewsDual lifestyle plant fungus turns ally, protecting cereal crops against harmful Fusarium infections
A plant-friendly fungus that colonises cereal crops can protect the plants against harmful fungal infestations, a new study reveals.
-
NewsSimple rules govern soil microbiome responses to environmental change
New research shows that a deceptively simple mathematical model can describe how the soil responds to environmental change. Using just two variables, the model shows that changes in pH levels consistently result in three distinct metabolic states of the community.
-
NewsNitrogen may limit natural climate solutions
A global inventory reveals nitrogen is in shorter supply than previously thought in natural areas, which could limit carbon storage in plants and soils.
-
NewsBacteria gene discovery enhances key antibiotic production for farming and medicine
Monensin is a vital antibiotic used in agriculture and medicine. By analyzing the genome of Streptomyces cinnamonensis, the team discovered that specific genes (fadD, fadE, fadB, fadA) in the fatty acid degradation pathway significantly boost monensin synthesis.
-
NewsCan biodegradable mulch films harm soil health?
A new study validates the long-term ecological safety of biodegradable plastic mulch films in temperate maritime climates, breaking the traditional belief that “mulch films increase yield at the cost of soil fertility”.
-
NewsH5N1 influenza outbreaks in US cattle likely triggered by ‘milk-stealing’ behavior of lactating cows
As of June 2025, H5N1 outbreaks have been reported on more than 1,070 dairy farms across 17 US states. Researchers have solved the mystery of how H5N1 virus enters the mammary glands of dairy cows, and provide a strategy on how to control the disease.
-
NewsBeetles under climate stress lay larger male eggs: Wolbachia infection drives adaptive reproduction strategy
Researchers find that azuki bean beetles, a common pest, produce larger eggs yielding male offspring when infected with Wolbachia bacteria under elevated temperature and carbon dioxide conditions.
-
NewsScientists uncover quality and antibiotic resistance risks in livestock probiotics in China
Researchers analyzed 95 non-duplicate commercial probiotic products for livestock from across China, revealing significant issues in labeling accuracy, strain composition, and the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs).
-
NewsHow plants build the microbiome they need to survive in a tough environment
New research points to the idea that under some conditions plants can “curate” their microbiomes—selecting good microbes and suppressing harmful ones—to adapt to their environments.
-
NewsStudy reveals beneficial microbes that can sustain yields in unfertilized fields
Naturally occurring bacteria in rice roots could help reduce the reliance on chemical fertilizers for rice cultivation, paving the way for sustainable agriculture.