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Natural foes as allies

ipsita's picture
Submitted by ipsita on Sat, 1992-10-31 00:00

Scientists have successfully used tiny wasps and an invisible fungus disease to battle pests destroying cassava crops in Africa and South America. Cassava, a starchy root crop native to Latin America, was taken across the Atlantic by Portuguese traders four centuries ago and is now a major food for more than 200 million Africans. But transported along with the crop was the mealy bug, a pest that has caused extensive damage to cassava plantations.

Scientists at the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in Cali, Colombia, have found wasps that parasitise the bug. These were shipped to Africa and released. Additional natural enemies of the bug discovered in South America by CIAT were also brought to Africa.

Main Topic: 
India
thesaurus: 
Pest Control
Insects
Africa
South America
Name of the Newspaper: 
Down To Earth
Clipping Type: 
External URL: 
Main Type: 
dte
Publication Date: 
30/10/1992