Updated: Crop Protection Compendium

UW-Madison Libraries subscribe to the Crop Protection Compendium database from CABI, which is now available on their new interface in beta.

This online multi-media resource can be searched by keyword, or browsed by animals (arachnids, molluscs, nematodes, birds, mammals), bacteria, fungi, oomycetes, plants, protozoa, unknown aetiology, and viruses.  It includes:

* 2,800+ detailed data sheets on crops, crop pests, diseases, weeds, invasive plants, natural enemies, pesticides and biopesticides

* Information on an additional 27,000 species, including distribution maps

* 8,000+ pictures to allow for easy identification and teaching

* 200,000 article records from the CAB Abstracts database (updated weekly), including 6,500 full-text journal and conference articles

* 9,000+ term interactive glossary

Plant Management Network: journals and more

UW-Madison is a partner of the Plant Management Network, managed by the American Phytopathological Society, American Society of Agronomy, and Crop Science Society of America.  Students, staff and faculty have full access to the site, including:

• Plant Health Progress - peer-reviewed journal focusing on plant protection; covers plant disease, entomology, and nematology of crops and ornamentals.

• Crop Management - peer-reviewed journal covering crop management practices, crop nutrients, and production agriculture; focuses on maximizing crop yield and value.

• Forage and Grazinglands - peer-reviewed journal covering animal nutrition and rangeland management.

• Applied Turfgrass Science - peer-reviewed journal covering the many aspects of turfgrass management.

• Plant Disease Management Reports - More than 5,000 searchable efficacy reports on various means of pest control, such as fungicides, nematicides, and biological controls. PDMR’s purpose is to help users determine the most effective chemicals and nonchemical pest management agents and to ensure maximum effectiveness/minimum use in terms of application. Reports cover various crops, ornamentals, turf and forage.

• Arthropod Management Tests - Efficacy reports of insecticides and other means of insect control. Helps users determine the most effective chemicals and brands in managing insects and also to ensure maximum effectiveness/minimum use in terms of application rates. Reports cover crops, ornamentals, turf and forage.

• Symposium/Meeting Proceedings - A collection of proceedings on topics related to agriculture and horticulture.

• Focus on Soybean - An online portal for growers, crop consultants, and researchers seeking information on producing healthy, high-yielding soybean crops. Features webcasts from noted extension agents on soybean crop production, protection, and management.

• Focus on Potato - An online portal for growers, crop consultants, and researchers seeking information on producing healthy, high-yielding potato crops. Features webcasts from noted extension agents on potato crop production, protection, and management.

• Focus on Ag Practitioners - A one-stop portal of agricultural resources for certified crop advisers, independent consultants, and other ag practitioners.

• PMN Image Collections - A collection of more than 4,000 plant disease and agricultural images for disease identification, class illustrations, and presentations.

Andrew Bent honored by Am. Phytopathological Society

Dr. Andrew F. Bent, a faculty member in the UW-Madison department of Plant Pathology, is the 2009 winner of the Noel Keen Award for Research Excellence in Molecular Plant Pathology from the American Phytopathological Society.

This award recognizes contributions to "the understanding of molecular aspects of host-pathogen interactions, plant pathogens or plant-associated microbes, or molecular biology of disease development or defense mechanisms."

Dr. Bent's current research is focused on:

• Leucine-rich repeat (LRR) structure/function, and plant detection of bacterial flagellin
• Study and manipulation of disease resistance in soybean
• Previously unidentified biochemical responses of plants to pathogen infection

Recent publications:

Adams-Phillips. L., J. Wan, X. Tan, F.M. Dunning, B.C. Meyers, R.W. Michelmore & A.F. Bent. 2008. Discovery of ADP-ribosylation and other plant defense pathway elements through expression profiling of four different Arabidopsis-Pseudomonas R/avr interactions. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 21(5): 646-657.

Bent, A. & D. Mackey. 2007. Elicitors, effectors and R genes: The new paradigm and a lifetime supply of questions. Annual Review of Phytopathology 45: 399-436.

Bent, A.F. 2006. Arabidopsis thaliana floral dip transformation method. In: Agrobacterium Protocols (K. Wang, Ed.). Totowa, NJ: Humana Press. Methods in Molecular Biology 343: 87-103.

Briggs, A.G., L.C. Adams-Phillips, A.F. Bent. 2009. Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation and host-pathogen interactions [Meeting abstract]. Phytopathology 99(6): S16.

Dunning, F.M., W. Sun, K.L. Jansen, L. Helft & A.F. Bent. 2007. Identification and mutational analysis of Arabidopsis FLS2 Leucine-Rich Repeat domain residues that contribute to flagellin perception. Plant Cell 19(10): 3297-3313.

Bent, A.F., T.K. Hoffman, J.S. Schmidt, G.L. Hartman, D.D. Hoffman, X. Ping & M.L. Tucker. 2006. Disease- and performance-related traits of ethylene-insensitive soybean. Crop Science 43: 893-901.

Genger, R.K., G.I. Jurkowski, J.M. McDowell, H. Lu, H.W. Jung, J.T. Greenberg and A.F. Bent. 2008. Signaling pathways that regulate the enhanced disease resistance of Arabidopsis "defense, no death" mutants. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 21(10): 1285-1296.

MacGuidwin, A.E., A.F. Bent, D.I. Rouse. 2006. Active learning in "Plants, Parasites, and People" [Meeting abstract]. Phytopathology 96(6): S159-S160.

Suarez-Rodriguez M.C., L. Adams-Phillips, Y. Liu, H. Wang, S.H. Su, P.J. Jester, S. Zhang, A.F. Bent & P.J. Krysan. 2007. MEKK1 is required for flg22-induced MPK4 activation in Arabidopsis plants. Plant Physiology 143(2): 661-669.

Sun, W., F.M. Dunning, C. Pfund, R. Weingarten & A.F. Bent. 2006. Within-species flagellin polymorphism in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris and its impact on elicitation of Arabidopsis FLS2-dependent defenses. Plant Cell 18: 764-779.

Tan, X.P., B.C. Meyers, A. Kozik, M. Al West, M. Morgante, D.A. St. Clair, A.F. Bent, R.W. Michelmore. 2007. Global expression analysis of nucleotide binding site-leucine rich repeat-encoding and related genes in Arabidopsis. BMC Plant Biology 7(56).

Blight affecting tomatoes and potatoes

--------------------------------
UPDATE August 5, 2009: The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection confirms that late blight on tomato has appeared in Dane and Rock counties, the first cases of the disease in the state in six years. Full article: LATE BLIGHT ALERT
--------------------------------

Gardeners are being warned to destroy any Solanaceae plants (tomato, potato, eggplant) suspected of suffering from "late blight" disease, especially those purchased from big box stores.

The disease, associated with the Irish Potato Famine of the 1840's, is caused by the Phytophthora infestans fungus. While not harmful to humans, it is extremely contagious and deadly to plants.

Books:

• Phytophthora infestans: The cause of late blight of potato
  
• Resistance to phytophthora infestans in the potato


• Diseases, pests and disorders of potatoes: a color handbook


• Potato health management
  
• Phytophthora: identifying species by morphology and DNA fingerprints


• Illustrated glossary of Phytophthora / Glossário ilustrado de Phytophthora: técnicas especiais para o estudo de oomicetos

Conference proceedings:

• Phytophthora: Symposium of the British Mycological Society, the British Society for Plant Pathology, and the Society of Irish Plant Pathologists held at Trinity College, Dublin, September 1989


• Proceedings of the IInd International Symposium on Tomato Diseases: Kusadasi -Turkey, October 8-12, 2007
• Proceedings of the IIIrd International Late Blight Conference: Beijing, China, April 3-6, 2008

Video:

• Late blight and the Irish potato famine

UW-Madison dissertations & theses:

• Biological properties of Phytophthora infestans isolates from Wisconsin
• Characterization of RB and identification of additional genes involved in RB-mediated potato late blight resistance
  
• Genetic analysis of R9 conditioning late-blight resistance in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)


• Late blight resistance linkages in a novel cross of the wild potato species Solanum paucissectum (series Piurana)
  
• Characterization of late blight resistance and unilateral incompatibility in diploid (1EBN) solanum species
  
• Characterization of late blight resistance and unilateral incompatibility in diploid (1EBN) solanum species

UW-Madison patent:

• Late Blight Resistance Gene from Wild Potato

UW Extension Report:

• Control Late Blight of Potatoes and Tomatoes (1963)

More information:

• Plant Pathology Research Guide
• Tomato Fruit Disorders (UW Extension)
• Tomato Diseases Powerpoint (UW Extension)
• Potato Diseases Powerpoint (UW Extension)
• Plant disease hits eastern US veggies early, hard (Associated Press)

NEW e-book! Encyclopedia of Genetics, Genomics, Proteomics, and Informatics

NEW! Online reference book provided by the UW-Madison Libraries:

Encyclopedia of Genetics, Genomics, Proteomics, and Informatics

"...covers the basics and the latest in genomics, proteomics, genetic engineering, small RNAs, transcription factories, chromosome territories, stem cells, genetic networks, epigenetics, prions, hereditary diseases, and patents."

"...about 56% more words than the 1,392-page second edition of 2003. The number of illustrations increased to almost 2,000 and their quality has improved by design and four colors. In addition, cross-references among entries are expanded and the statements are supported by references: more than 14,000 journal papers and more than 3,000 books are listed."

"Target audience includes research workers in general genetics, genomics, proteomics, biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, evolution, cytogenetics, human genetics, ethics, natural philosophy; professors...; physicians, law professionals; students...; science administrators and journal editors..."

Selected entries:

• C3 Plants
• C4 Plants
• Crop Plants
• Cryptogamic Plants
• Egg Plant ( Solanum melongena )
• Elite Plants
• Embryogenesis in Plants
• Entomology
• Genetic Sterilization (sterile insect technique, SIT)
• Hevea brasiliensis (rubber plant)
• Holometabolous Insect
• Insect Control, Genetic
• Insect Resistance in Plants
• Insect Viruses
• LDP (long-day plant)
• Light Controlled Reactions in Plants
• Long-Day Plants
• Lupines (leguminous plants)
• Mineral Requirements of Plants
• MITE (mariner insect transposon-like element, miniature inverted-repeat transposable element)
• Mitochondrial Abnormalities in Plants
• Molecular Plant Breeding
• Mustards (family of cruciferous plants)
• Phosphate Response of Plants
• Plant Breeding
• Plant Defense
• Plant Disease Resistance
• Plant Genomes
• Plant Genomics Database
• Plant Hormones
• Plant Pathogenesis
• Plant Vaccines
• Plant Viruses
• Plantibody (antibody synthesized by plants)
• Polyploid Crop Plants
• Regeneration of Plants
• Sex Determination in Plants
• Short-Day Plants
• SIT (sterile insect technique)
• Social Insects
• Sterile Insect Technology (SIT)
• Transposable Elements, Plants
• Transposons-Controlling Elements, Plant
• Vermilion Eye Color of Insects
• Virus-Free Plants
• Wildfire Disease of Plants

Recent publications from UW-Madison researchers

Recent publications by researchers affiliated with the departments of Agronomy, Entomology, Horticulture, and Plant Pathology at the University of Wisconsin - Madison:

• Allen, H.K.; Cloud-Hansen, K.A.; Wolinski, J.M.; Guan, C.H.; Greene, S.; Lu, S.; Boeyink, M.; Broderick, N.A.; Raffa, K.F.; Handelsman, J. (2009). Resident microbiota of the gypsy moth midgut harbors antibiotic resistance determinants. DNA and Cell Biology 28(3): 109-117.


• Broderick, N.A.; Robinson, C.J.; McMahon, M.D.; Holt, J.; Handelsman, J.; Raffa, K.F. (2009). Contributions of gut bacteria to Bacillus thuringiensis-induced mortality vary across a range of Lepidoptera. BMC Biology 7(11).


• Cardoza, Y.J.; Vasanthakumar, A.; Suazo, A.; Raffa, K.F. (2009). Survey and phylogenetic analysis of culturable microbes in the oral secretions of three bark beetle species. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 131(2): 138-147.


• Cavagnaro, P.F.; Chung S.M.; Szklarczyk, M.; Grzebelus, D.; Senalik, D.; Atkins, A.E.; Simon, P.W. (2009). Characterization of a deep-coverage carrot (Daucus carota L.) BAC library and initial analysis of BAC-end sequences. Molecular Genetics and Genomics 281(3): 273-288.


• Contreras-Govea, F.E.; Muck, R.E.; Armstrong, K.L.; Albrecht, K.A. (2009). Fermentability of corn-lablab bean mixtures from different planting densities. Animal Feed Science and Technology 149(3/4): 298-306.


• Copas, M.E.; Bussan, A.J.; Drilias, M.J.; Wolkowski, R.P. (2009). Potato yield and quality response to subsoil tillage and compaction. Agronomy Journal 101(1): 82-90.


• Dauer, J.T.; Mortensen, D.A.; Luschei, E.C.; Isard, S.A.; Shields, E.; Van-Gessel, M.J. (2009). Conyza canadensis seed ascent in the lower atmosphere. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 149(3-4): 526-534.


• Duke, S.H.; Henson, C.A. (2009). A comparison of barley malt amylolytic enzyme activities as indicators of malt sugar concentrations. Journal of the American Society of Brewing Chemists 67(2): 99-111.


• Hatfield, R.D.; Marita, J.M.; Frost, K.; Grabber, J.; Ralph, J.; Lu, F.C.; Kim, H. (2009). Grass lignin acylation: p-coumaroyl transferase activity and cell wall characteristics of C3 and C4 grasses. Planta 229(6): 1253-1267.


• Konieczka, C.M.; Colquhoun, J.B.; Rittmeyer, R.A. (2009). Swamp dodder (Cuscuta gronovii) applied ecology in carrot production. Weed Technology 23(1): 175-178.


• Kramer, L.C.; Choudoir, M.J.; Wielgus, S.M.; Bhaskar, P.B.; Jiang, J.M. Correlation between transcript abundance of the RB gene and the level of the RB-mediated late blight resistance in potato. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions (22)4: 447-455.


• Lorenz, A.J.; Coors, J.G.; de Leon, N.; Wolfrum, E.J.; Hames, B.R.; Sluiter, A.D.; Weimer, P.J. (2009). Characterization, genetic variation, and combining ability of maize traits relevant to the production of cellulosic ethanol. Crop Science 49(1): 85-98.


• Madritch, M.D.; Greene, S.L.; Lindroth, R.L. (2009). Genetic mosaics of ecosystem functioning across aspen-dominated landscapes. Oecologia 160(1): 119-127.


• Markham, M.Y.; Stoltenberg, D.E. (2009). Red:far-red light effects on corn growth and productivity in field environments. Weed Science 57(2): 208-215.


• Pethybridge, S.J.; Gent, D.H.; Esker, P.D.; Turechek, W.W.; Hay, F.S.; Nutter, F.W. (2009). Site-specific risk factors for ray blight in Tasmanian pyrethrum fields. Plant Disease 93(3): 229-237.


• Posner, J.L.; Frank, G.G.; Nordlund, K.V.; Schuler, R.T. (2009). A constant goal, changing tactics: the Krusenbaum dairy farm (1996-2005). Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 24(1): 8-18.


• Rhemtulla, J.M.; Mladenoff, D.J.; Clayton, M.K. (2009). Historical forest baselines reveal potential for continued carbon sequestration. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 106(15): 6082-6087.


• Rotenberg, D.; Krishna Kumar, N.K.; Ullman, D.E.; Montero-Astua, M.; Willis, D.K.; German, T.L.; Whitfield, A.E. (2009). Variation in tomato spotted wilt virus titer in Frankliniella occidentalis and its association with frequency of transmission. Phytopathology 99(4): 404-410.


• Shinners, K.J., Huenink, B.M., Muck, R.E., Albrecht, K.A. (2009). Storage characteristics of large round and square alfalfa bales: Low-moisture wrapped bales. Transactions of the ASABE 52(2): 401-407.


• Sonnentag, P.J; Jeanne, R.L. (2009). Initiation of absconding-swarm emigration in the social wasp Polybia occidentalis. Journal of Insect Science. 9: 11.


• Willis, D. K.; Kinscherf, T. G. (2009). Population dynamics of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato strains on tomato cultivars Rio Grande and Rio Grande-Pto under field conditions. Journal of Phytopathology 157(4): 219-227.


• Zedler, P.H.; Anchor, T.; Knuteson, D.; Gratton, C.; Barzen, J. (2009). Using an ecolabel to promote on-farm conservation: the Wisconsin Healthy Grown experience. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability 7(1): 61-74.

Plants & insects in the National Archives

The United States National Archives contains a wealth of information in multiple formats. Search the Archival Research Catalog for topics of interest, or search by departments such as:

• Records of the U.S. Food Administration, 1917 - 1920


• Records of the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, 1863 - 1956


• Records of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture, 1839 - 1981


• Records of the Extension Service, 1888 - 1995


• Records of International Conferences, Commissions, and Expositions, 1825 - 1972


• Records of the Office of Government Reports, 1932 - 1947


• Records of the Bureau of Land Management, 1685 - 2006


• Records of the Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils, and Agricultural Engineering, 1879 - 1972


• Records of the U.S. Geological Survey, 1839 - 2002


• Records of the Work Projects Administration, 1922 - 1944


• Records of the National Park Service, 1785 - 2005


• Records of the Forest Service, 1870 - 2000


• Records of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1875 - 1977


• Records of the Bureau of Reclamation, 1889 - 2008


• Records of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, 1909 - 1992


• Records of the Environmental Protection Agency, 1944 - 2000


• General Records of the Department of Energy, 1915 - 2003


• Audiovisual Collection, 1957 - 2006


• Records of U.S. Foreign Assistance Agencies, 1942 - 1961


• Records of the Cooperative State Research Service, 1888 - 1989


• Records of the Office of Education, 1870 - 1979


• Records of the Office of the Secretary of the Interior, 1826 - 1981


• Records of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, 1876 - 1959


• Records of the Office of War Information, 1926 - 1951


• Records of the Agency for International Development, 1948 - 2003

Sample record:

"Photographs Relating to Entomological Research, compiled ca. 1898 - ca. 1942"

• Series from Record Group 7: Records of the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, 1863-1956


• Contact: Still Picture Records Section, Special Media Archives Services Division (NWCS-S), National Archives at College Park, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD, 20740-6001. PHONE: 301-837-3530; FAX: 301-837-3621; EMAIL: stillpixorder@nara.gov


• Subjects Represented in the Archival Material:


• Agricultural experiment stations
  Agricultural machinery
  Agricultural research
  Crops
  Flowers
  Insects
  Clarksville (Montgomery county, Tennessee)
  Columbus (Franklin county, Ohio)
  Farmville (Chatham county, North Carolina)
  Madison (Dane county, Wisconsin)
  Phoenix (Maricopa county, Arizona)
  Richmond (Virginia)
  Ventura (Ventura county, California)
  Whittier (Los Angeles county, California)


• Contributors to Authorship and/or Production of the Archival Materials:
  Department of Agriculture. Federal Horticultural Board. (08/21/1912 - 07/01/1928), Photographer


• Scope & content: This series consists of images relating to entomological research conducted on plants and insects from 1898 to 1942. These images were collected primarily from offices within the Division of Entomology and later the Bureau of Entomology and Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine. The photographs show experimental farm fields and orchards, agricultural research facilities, pests, insect damage to various crops, including mushrooms and potatoes; and insect eradication efforts. There are also images of agency research activities, including field work and various types of machinery and equipment used in Bureau facilities in Clarksville, Tennessee; Farmville, North Carolina; Columbus, Ohio; Madison, Wisconsin; Phoenix, Arizona; Richmond, Virginia; Hogen, Utah; Whittier, California; and Ventura, California. In addition, there are a few of the photographs obtained from the Federal Horticultural Board that show flower bulbs, insect pests, insect damage to flowers, and pest eradication efforts.

Top 100 Plant Science Questions

"How can plant scientists change the world?"

Initiated by researchers in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Bristol, "100 Plant Science Questions" invites submissions of pressing plant-related research issues facing the world today. Deadline: March 31st, 2009.

A panel drawn from academia, the public services sector and the corporate world will screen submissions.

From the website:

"Plant science is helping to address many of the big issues facing society today, such as food security, biofuels, and the effects of climate change, but what are the key questions that you think the next generation of plant scientists should be addressing?

Anyone is welcome to contribute their question, including members of the general public; agriculture, horticulture and forestry industries; ecologists; charities; policy makers; food, fibre, fuel and pharmaceutical industries; funding bodies; and researchers."

IPM & pesticide trial data

The UW-Madison Libraries are a sponsoring partner of the Plant Management Network portal, which includes Plant Disease Management Reports and Arthropod Management Tests.

Plant Disease Management Reports - formerly "Fungicide & Nematicide Tests" and "Biological & Cultural Tests for Control of Plant Disease"

• Cereals and Forage Crops
• Citrus, Tropical, Vegetables, and Miscellaneous Crops
• Field Crops
• Nematicides (all crops)
• Ornamentals and Trees
• Pome Fruits
• Seed Treatments (all crops)
• Small Fruits
• Stone Fruits and Nuts
• Turfgrass

Arthropod Management Tests

• Host Index - plants/animals/structures on which arthropod management tested
• Arthropod Common Name Index
• Arthropod Scientific Name Index
• Materials Evaluated (Brand Name) Index
• Chemicals Evaluated Name Index
• Sections Index
• Author Index

Citrus fruit pathogen genome sequenced

"Citrus greening" (also known as Huanglongbing, HLB, or yellow dragon disease) is a tree disease, caused by the bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus and Candidatus Liberibacter africanus. The bacterium is transmitted by psyllid insects.

Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus' genetic sequence has been saved to GenBank, an open access database sponsored by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), a division of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Also of interest:

• Plant Pathology research guide
• "ARS scientists sequence citrus disease bacterium" (2/12/09)
  
• "Questions and answers: USDA’s federal order to prevent the spread of citrus greening and the Asian citrus psyllid" (July 2008)
• "Diversity of “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” based on the omp gene sequence" (2005)
  
• "Ecology of the insect vectors of citrus systemic diseases and their control in Taiwan" (1998)
• "Report of a mission to Malaysia and Thailand (June 28 - July 9, 1990) on citrus greening disease"
• "Virus diseases of citrus" (1989)
• "Psyllids of America North of Mexico : (Psyllidae: Homoptera)" (1943)

[Image by Steve Webel. Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 2.0 Generic. http://www.flickr.com/photos/webel/76665500]

Crop-eating caterpillars cause state of emergency

Achaea catocaloides rena has been identified as the insect destroying coffee, cocoa, banana and plantain farms, and contaminating water sources, across Liberia and Guinea in Africa.

According to CABI, "More than 20,000 people have so far had to evacuate their homes."

A. catocaloides rena is a member of the Noctuidae or "Owlet" moth family in the order Lepidoptera.

See also:

• Crop-eating caterpillars swarm over Liberia (CABI)


• Lepidoptera types of the Royal Museum for Central Africa
  
• Crop Protection Compendium


• Entomology Research Guide (UW-Madison Libraries)

[Image of A. janata caterpillar (not A. catocaloides) by Djovani. Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 Generic. http://www.flickr.com/photos/14126791@N03/1678406276]

[Copyrighted image of A. catocaloides rena moth used by permission of the Royal Museum for Central Africa, Belgium. http://www.metafro.be/lepidoptera/butterflies/RMCA-2171/taxon]

Global Research on Cocoa

GRO-Cocoa
- "Global Research On Cocoa: Working with and for farmers" - is a twice-yearly newsletter funded by the USDA and created by CABI.

All issues of the newsletter are available free online, back to issue #1 in June 2002.

CABI is "a not for profit, intergovernmental organization that improves people's lives worldwide by providing information and applying scientific expertise to solve problems in agriculture and the environment." They are publishers (ex: CAB Abstracts), researchers, consultants, and purveyors of microbial research services.

You may also be interested in:

• Bitter chocolate: the dark side of the world’s most seductive sweet
• Trichoderma stromaticum for management of witches’ broom of cacao in Brazil, chapter in Biological control: a global perspective
• Chocolate (video)
• The chocolate tree: a natural history of cacao
• Chocolate in Mesoamerica: a cultural history of cacao

Impact Factors: "Parasites & Vectors" + "Plant Methods"

Open access publisher BioMed Central has announced that two of its journals, Parasites & Vectors and Plant Methods, have been accepted for tracking by Thomson Reuters (vendors of ISI Web of Science) and will both receive "Impact Factors" in 2010.

"Parasites & Vectors expands upon the scope of two former BioMed Central publications, Kinetoplastid Biology and Disease and Filaria Journal, both of which ceased publication in December 2007. Launched in January 2008, the journal has rapidly become an authoritative home for research in parasitology, reflected by its acceptance for tracking by Thomson Reuters from its first issue."

"Launched in 2005, Plant Methods encompasses all aspects of technological innovation in the plant sciences. The journal seeks to stimulate the development and adoption of new and improved techniques and research tools and, where appropriate, to promote consistency of methodologies for better integration of data from different laboratories."

"These journals bring to a total of 71 BioMed Central journals that are tracked by Thomson Reuters and either have or are on course to receive an Impact Factor."

[Source: KnowledgeSpeak.com]

Springer to publish "Phytoparasitica" journal

"Phytoparasitica is an international journal that publishes original research contributions on the biological, chemical and molecular aspects of entomology, plant pathology, virology, nematology and weed sciences, including insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and other biocides."

• Steenbock Library has Phytoparasitica in print from 1973-2001 (v.1-29)


• As of 1/12/09, the former publishers offer free online access from 1996-2006 (v.24-34)

"STM publisher Springer, Germany, has announced that it will publish the journal Phytoparasitica, starting with Volume 37, Issue 1, beginning in February 2009. Backfiles of the journal to June 1973 will be available on Springer’s online information platform SpringerLink. Professor Jaacov Katan from the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, and Professor Benjamin Raccah from the Agricultural Research Organization at The Volcani Center in Bet Dagan, Israel, will serve as the Editors-in-chief." [Knowledgespeak.com]