Making a meal of Bt cotton
By Bhaskar Goswami
''Scientists at Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) are yet to figure
out an effective way of tackling the pest, or, for that matter, what
is causing it to assume such epidemic proportions. On July 9, Dr N S
Butter, head of the department of entomology told the press that the
attack was mainly due to a reduction in pesticide sprays on Bt cotton,
and also the proliferation of weeds like Congress grass (Parthenium
hysterophorus), which is a major host of the pest.''
http://www.infochangeindia.org/features441.jsp
FULL STORY
In the Malwa belt of rural Punjab, mile after mile of Bt cotton fields
are under attack by the mealy bug pest. Bathinda, Muktsar, Faridkot
and Ferozepur, Punjab’s four major cotton-growing districts, have been
badly affected. The so-called ‘magic bullet’, Bt cotton has turned
into a bitter pill for farmers who were promised profits but who are
now faced with huge losses
mealy bug pest
Anyone overhearing Hartej Singh on his cell phone would find the
conversation strange. “Dho ditta ji Bt nu safed chichra ne,” (“mealy
bugs have devastated the Bt cotton”) he bellows at the caller.
Standing in his field in the mid-July sun, Hartej is busy fielding
numerous calls of a similar nature. He is an exception -- the sole
cotton farmer in Mehtawali village in Bathinda whose crop has not been
affected by the dreaded mealy bug.
These days, travelling across the Malwa belt of rural Punjab is a
revelation. Mile after mile of unending Bt cotton fields, which appear
healthy from a distance, are facing unprecedented attack by the mealy
bug. Bathinda, Muktsar, Faridkot and Ferozepur, Punjab’s four major
cotton-growing districts, have all been badly affected.
The crisis
While Bt cotton made an official entry into Punjab in 2005,
enterprising farmers here began cultivating bootlegged varieties from
Gujarat a year earlier. According to official statistics, around 60%
of farmers in the state are growing Bt cotton this year. In the four
cotton-producing districts, Bt cotton coverage is almost 100%.
Unlike in Andhra Pradesh, Bt cotton in Punjab lived up to its promise
of protecting against the dreaded American bollworm, and the number of
sprays needed dropped from a high 30 to less than five. This is the
main reason why farmers switched to these varieties.
However, Bt cotton protects the crop only against one pest; cotton is
attacked by no less than 165 pests. This raises the chances of a
resurgence of secondary pests and farmers end up spraying the same
quantity of pesticide (if not more) on their crop as they did earlier.
In Andhra Pradesh, the number of attacks by aphids, thrips, jassids,
etc, has risen since the introduction of Bt cotton in 2002. Tobacco
leaf streak virus, tobacco caterpillars, etc, have emerged as new
diseases and pests of Bt cotton in the state. This year, reports of
fungal root rot in Bt cotton are beginning to pour in from Warangal
district in Andhra Pradesh. The emergence of the mealy bug as a Bt
cotton pest in Punjab also appears to be a case of secondary pest
resurgence, and no amount or type of pesticide has been able to
control it.
Scientists at Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) are yet to figure
out an effective way of tackling the pest, or, for that matter, what
is causing it to assume such epidemic proportions. On July 9, Dr N S
Butter, head of the department of entomology told the press that the
attack was mainly due to a reduction in pesticide sprays on Bt cotton,
and also the proliferation of weeds like Congress grass (Parthenium
hysterophorus), which is a major host of the pest.
This is bizarre, considering the fact that Congress grass has been
growing in the state for decades. What’s more, the reduced number of
sprays was against American bollworm, not the mealy bug, and the type
of pesticide used against the two is quite different. Also, American
bollworm attacks during the monsoon while the mealy bug is mostly
active during summer.
The mealy bug feeds on around 300 crops on the subcontinent. Attacks
are generally intense during summer; they subside when the temperature
drops. Bt cotton crop in Punjab was attacked by the mealy bug last
year as well, but the damage was not substantial as the crop was close
to maturity. This year, however, the attack was intense during the
second month of sowing.
The devastation
Unlike the Doaba and Majha regions of Punjab, the four cotton-growing
districts in the Malwa belt have poorer soil and fewer irrigation
canals. Cotton is the major cash crop, while wheat is the staple crop
that meets the food requirements of relatively less well-off farmers
in this belt. Bathinda district alone accounts for a quarter of the
cotton produced in Punjab. Destruction of the cotton crop in this
district therefore affects thousands of farmers.
According to the state agriculture department, over 2,000 acres of
cotton crop were destroyed by the mealy bug by July 10. This appears
to be a conservative estimate. During my trip to the region in
mid-July, every village reported having uprooted at least five acres
of Bt cotton crop every day. In the village of Raike-Kalan, in
Bathinda, over 100 acres of mealy bug-infested Bt cotton had already
been uprooted when I visited the area. It’s the same story across
hundreds of neighbouring villages.
That pesticides are not working against this pest is evident from the
farmers’ accounts. Balwant Singh, a farmer in Mehtawali village in
Bathinda, consulted scientists at both the PAU and the state
agriculture department. He was advised to rotate sprays of the
carbamate and organophosphate pesticide groups. Balwant understands
how this is done, for he is the insecticide retailer in the village.
Four rounds of sprays later, he has given up.
The same story is being repeated in Badal village in Muktsar district,
the birthplace of Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal. During my
visit, pesticides were being feverishly sprayed on Bt cotton fields in
the village, but to no avail. The bug subsides and re-emerges within a
week of spraying.
Damaged Bt cotton plant“We used to cuff our children if they touched
even one sapling of cotton. Now we use our own hands to uproot what we
planted,” says Nachhatar Singh of Raike-Kalan. Nachhatar owns two
acres of land and has leased-in five more to grow Bt cotton. Each
leased acre of land costs him Rs 16,000, while the cost of cultivating
Bt cotton on the land is around Rs 5,000. All this is now lost. Since
his land is irrigated and he could also source some paddy seedlings,
Nachhatar uprooted the damaged Bt cotton crop and replaced it with
paddy, thereby incurring an additional expenditure of Rs 5,000 per
acre. As a result his total expenditure has now shot up to Rs 26,000
per acre -- for paddy! This is a far cry from the Rs 4,000 per acre
profits promised by Mahyco-Monsanto while marketing Bt cotton seed!
Sharecropping is practised quite routinely all over the Malwa belt.
Since the introduction of Bt cotton in Punjab, the practice of
leasing-in land to cultivate cotton has increased among marginal and
small farmers. Due to the mealy bug attack, these sharecroppers are
now uprooting Bt cotton and replacing it with paddy. This is being
done to somehow reduce the huge losses arising out of Bt cotton
cultivation.
But unless farmers sell their paddy at a minimum of Rs 1,600 per
quintal, they will not recover even their cultivation costs this year.
The minimum support price was a mere Rs 650 per quintal last year.
The writing on the wall is therefore quite clear for small farmers.
Like neighbouring Sangrur, the four cotton-growing districts of Punjab
may soon begin reporting increasing numbers of farmer suicides.
The response
While the state agriculture department and PAU are groping in the dark
for a solution, the response from the Centre is a not-so-surprising
dead silence. According to the International Seed Federation, this
year the estimated size of India’s seed market is around $ 1.3 billion
(approximately Rs 5,200 crore) -- the sixth highest in the world. By
opening up the seed sector to biotech seed manufacturers, the Centre
had signalled, a long time ago, that profits to these corporations
weigh higher than the concerns of farmers.
When asked by local journalists about the steps being taken to stem
the mealy bug epidemic in Punjab, the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA)
passed the buck back saying that agriculture was a state subject.
This is ironical. After all, it wasn’t the Punjab government that
approved 135 varieties of Bt cotton in the last five years but the
Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) of the Union government,
of which the MoA is a member. The fact remains that the GEAC has
permitted cultivation of Bt cotton varieties without carrying out
adequate testing for the resurgence of secondary pests and diseases.
As has now become the established norm with respect to genetically
modified crops, farmers are being made to pay a steep price for the
incompetence of the regulatory body and the greed of biotech companies.
Not only has the introduction of Bt cotton brought disaster in the
form of the mealy bug, it is also affecting yields of the subsequent
crop -- wheat. Farmers reported an up to 30% drop in wheat
productivity on land that had previously been cultivated with Bt
cotton. This is similar to reports from Andhra Pradesh where the Kisan
Call Centre in Hyderabad received a number of complaints from farmers
about declining yields of subsequent crops.
According to Vyavsaya Panchangam -- a farmers’ almanac -- published by
the Acharya N G Ranga Agriculture University, Hyderabad, Bt cotton
uses more fertiliser than its non-Bt counterparts. If adequate amounts
of fertiliser are not applied, the subsequent crop receives fewer
nutrients. Further, the Bt toxin also expresses itself in the root
zone of the plant and can affect soil biodiversity and ecosystem
function, as reported in a research study by the Australian
government. These may partly explain why yields of subsequent crops
are declining, although nobody is paying much attention to this aspect.
The alternative
This brings the story back to Hartej Singh, an organic farmer
associated with the Kheti Virasat Mission. Singh grows cotton
intercropped with rows of pigeon pea, sorghum, maize, soybean, cluster
bean, etc. Some of these are leguminous crops that are uprooted and
used as green manure. He grows F-1378, an early-maturing American
cotton variety and LD 327, a high-yielding desi variety that is also
tolerant to Fusarium wilt. His yields are slightly lower than those of
the Bt cotton in neighbouring fields.
healthy non-Bt cotton intercroppedBut while the neighbouring fields
are heavily infested by the mealy bug, Singh’s cotton crop is
completely unaffected. Likewise for the 100-odd farmers of the Malwa
belt who, as part of the Kheti Virasat Mission, are growing non-Bt
cotton following the principles of organic farming. Intercropping with
several different crops stops pests from migrating to the next row of
cotton, and since these crops have never been sprayed with pesticide,
predators like beetle larvae can be seen feeding on the mealy bugs.
Whenever the pest concentration goes up, a combination of neemleaves
and pods, along with Datura, etc, mixed with cow urine, is sprayed on
the crop. The attack subsides and damage to the cotton crop is negligible.
Umendra Dutt, Executive Director of the Kheti Virasat Mission, sums it
up thus: “Farmers were promised a magic bullet in the form of Bt
cotton which has turned into a bitter pill.” Meanwhile, the PAU and
state agriculture department are now consulting Dutt to work out a way
to tackle the mealy bug. Speaking to the media on August 9, the head
of the department of entomology recommended using traditional methods
to destroy the mealy bug -- remove the weed hosts and use neem-based
insecticides…
(Bhaskar Goswami is with the New Delhi-based Forum for Biotechnology
and Food Security)
InfoChange News & Features, September 2007
Dear IPRNG members,
You are invited to read this research article having some
interesting information related to Parthenium.
Increasing negative impact of foreign plant and tourists in Maikal
Hill range near Bhoramdeo tourist destination: Some observations and
suggestions.
by
Pankaj Oudhia
Both foreign weed Parthenium and increasing activities of tourists in
Bhoramdeo tourist destination in Maikal Hill Range are creating
negative impact on rich biodiversity of the region. In present
research article an effort has been made to point out the problems and
to suggest possible remedial measures.
http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=earticleView&earticleId=3075&page=-2
regards
Pankaj Oudhia
It is to inform all the IPRNG group members that National Research Centre for Weed Science is observing "Parthenium Awareness Week" during 6-12 September 2007 involving All State Agricultural Universities, 27 centres of All India Co-ordained Research Programme on weed control, All the ICAR Institutes, KVKs, many NGOs, Schools, Municipalities etc. Dr. Jay. G. Varshney, Director of the institute has urged all the above agencies to observe this week to make people aware to fight against this nation weed.
To facilitate the above agencies, NRCWS has sent posters, extension folders and a documentary film on Parthenium and its management on CD with the request to multiply this material and distribute to stakeholders.
Last year too, Parthenium Week was observed with great zeal and we received reports from many organizations which is in the final stage of its printing.
I also urge all the IPRNG members to observe Parthenium awareness week during 6-12 September as you deem fit.
To get more details about posters and folders pl. visit our web site www.nrcws.org.
Sushilkumar
NRCWS, Jabalpur
From APWG List
Invasive weed a fuel for West's wildfires
By Patrick O'Driscoll, USA TODAY
DENVER " Cheatgrass, a wispy Eurasian weed accidentally brought to the
USA in the late 19th century, has become a 21st century headache
across the West, fueling some of this summer's most destructive wildfires.
The largest blaze in Utah history, the 567-square-mile Milford Flat
fire last month, raced across rangeland infested with the highly
combustible, straw-colored plant. Bone-dry expanses of cheatgrass in
Idaho and Nevada also stoked the 1,020-square-mile Murphy Complex
fires, the largest to burn in Idaho in 97 years.
The federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) estimates 2 million acres
have burned in the Great Basin, the West's expanse of sagebrush
steppes vulnerable to cheatgrass fires.
The governors of Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming formally declared war
this month on the invader, which now dominates between 25 million and
100 million acres of sagebrush in the Great Basin. They pledged
cooperation in replanting charred areas before the weed can take root
again. The BLM estimates cheatgrass invades 4,000 acres of new terrain
a day.
"It's exploding on us," says ecologist Mike Pellant, head of the
agency's Great Basin Restoration Initiative, which does research and
rehabilitation. "We've been at war with cheatgrass for years now. It's
like the Dutch boy with the finger in the dike. You work hard in an
area and make progress, and then somewhere else, (fire) happens all
It is to inform all the IPRNG group members that National Research Centre for Weed Science is observing "Parthenium Awareness Week" during 6-12 September 2007 involving All State Agricultural Universities, 27 centres of All India Co-ordained Research Programme on weed control, All the ICAR Institutes, KVKs, many NGOs, Schools, Municipalities etc. Dr. Jay. G. Varshney, Director of the institute has urged all the above agencies to observe this week to make people aware to fight against this nation weed.
To facilitate the above agencies, NRCWS has sent posters, extension folders and a documentary film on Parthenium and its management on CD with the request to multiply this material and distribute to stakeholders.
Last year too, Parthenium Week was observed with great zeal and we received reports from many organizations which is in the final stage of its printing.
I also urge all the IPRNG members to observe Parthenium awareness week during 6-12 September as you deem fit.
To get more details about posters and folders pl. visit our web site www.nrcws.org.
Sushilkumar
NRCWS, Jabalpur
From APWG List
Invasive weed a fuel for West's wildfires
By Patrick O'Driscoll, USA TODAY
DENVER " Cheatgrass, a wispy Eurasian weed accidentally brought to the
USA in the late 19th century, has become a 21st century headache
across the West, fueling some of this summer's most destructive wildfires.
The largest blaze in Utah history, the 567-square-mile Milford Flat
fire last month, raced across rangeland infested with the highly
combustible, straw-colored plant. Bone-dry expanses of cheatgrass in
Idaho and Nevada also stoked the 1,020-square-mile Murphy Complex
fires, the largest to burn in Idaho in 97 years.
The federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) estimates 2 million acres
have burned in the Great Basin, the West's expanse of sagebrush
steppes vulnerable to cheatgrass fires.
The governors of Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming formally declared war
this month on the invader, which now dominates between 25 million and
100 million acres of sagebrush in the Great Basin. They pledged
cooperation in replanting charred areas before the weed can take root
again. The BLM estimates cheatgrass invades 4,000 acres of new terrain
a day.
"It's exploding on us," says ecologist Mike Pellant, head of the
agency's Great Basin Restoration Initiative, which does research and
rehabilitation. "We've been at war with cheatgrass for years now. It's
like the Dutch boy with the finger in the dike. You work hard in an
area and make progress, and then somewhere else, (fire) happens all
From APWG List
Invasive weed a fuel for West's wildfires
By Patrick O'Driscoll, USA TODAY
DENVER " Cheatgrass, a wispy Eurasian weed accidentally brought to the
USA in the late 19th century, has become a 21st century headache
across the West, fueling some of this summer's most destructive wildfires.
The largest blaze in Utah history, the 567-square-mile Milford Flat
fire last month, raced across rangeland infested with the highly
combustible, straw-colored plant. Bone-dry expanses of cheatgrass in
Idaho and Nevada also stoked the 1,020-square-mile Murphy Complex
fires, the largest to burn in Idaho in 97 years.
The federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) estimates 2 million acres
have burned in the Great Basin, the West's expanse of sagebrush
steppes vulnerable to cheatgrass fires.
The governors of Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming formally declared war
this month on the invader, which now dominates between 25 million and
100 million acres of sagebrush in the Great Basin. They pledged
cooperation in replanting charred areas before the weed can take root
again. The BLM estimates cheatgrass invades 4,000 acres of new terrain
a day.
"It's exploding on us," says ecologist Mike Pellant, head of the
agency's Great Basin Restoration Initiative, which does research and
rehabilitation. "We've been at war with cheatgrass for years now. It's
like the Dutch boy with the finger in the dike. You work hard in an
area and make progress, and then somewhere else, (fire) happens all
over again."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2007-08-29-cheatgrass_N.htm
When will this take palce? I was busy hence could not download earlier. Pl send the circular of the congress.
M Mahadevappa
Vinod Kumar Bhatt <vinodkbhatt@...> wrote:
Dear Mr. Muthukumar,
I did not receive any attachment regarding the workshop. Please send it again.
best regards,
Dr. Vinod Bhatt Navdanya, Dehradun
To: IPRNG@yahoogroups.co.in From: vbmuthukumar@yahoo.co.in Date: Wed, 8
Aug 2007 13:48:00 -0700 Subject: Re: [IPRNG] FW: IWSS Congress
Hi IPRNG members,
Welcome to Canada - IWSS Vancouver 2008! I am looking forward to meet you guys over there! Perhaps, we can arrange for a get together if more people from our group are attending.
Thanks -
Muthukumar
Pankaj Oudhia <pankajoudhia@gmail.com> wrote:
Dear IWSS Colleagues,
Attached please find an updated version of the Second Circular of the 5th International Weed Science Congress to be held in Vancouver 2008. In this version we have incorporated some minor corrections. We cordially invite you to share this circular with colleagues and potential Congress participants.
I did not receive any attachment regarding the workshop. Please send it again.
best regards,
Dr. Vinod Bhatt
Navdanya, Dehradun
To: IPRNG@... From: vbmuthukumar@... Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2007 13:48:00 -0700 Subject: Re: [IPRNG] FW: IWSS Congress
Hi IPRNG members,
Welcome to Canada - IWSS Vancouver 2008! I am looking forward to meet you guys over there! Perhaps, we can arrange for a get together if more people from our group are attending.
Thanks -
Muthukumar
Pankaj Oudhia <pankajoudhia@gmail.com> wrote:
Dear IWSS Colleagues,
Attached please find an updated version of the Second Circular of the 5th International Weed Science Congress to be held in Vancouver 2008. In this version we have incorporated some minor corrections. We cordially invite you to share this circular with colleagues and potential Congress participants.
From APWG list:
Weed Science Society of America
"Weeds Won't Wait: Don't Hesitate"
Press Released
For Immediate Release
August 14, 2007
Contact: Kimberly Mulcahy, 630.393.0732, kimberly@...
WILDFIRES: FUELING THE ARGUMENT FOR INCREASED INVASIVE WEED CONTROL
(LAWRENCE, Kan.) - Invasive plants-weeds-sure have been busy. They
systematically infiltrate millions of acres every year, selfishly soak
up
precious water supplies, forever alter wildlife habitats and quietly
invade our backyards. In fact, the economic impact of invasive plants
and
weeds in the U.S. has been estimated at $34.7 billion annually,
according
to a recent Cornell University report.
Now, add increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires to the
list
of the destructive talents of these insidious invaders.
How Do They Do It?
In the western states, where wildfires are most prevalent, the
encroachment of resilient, invasive plants has paved the way for a
succession of rampant rangeland and desert wildfires. Two culprits
that
play major roles in stoking the flames of these reoccurring western
wildfires are Cheatgrass and Red Brome.
Where the dry, feathery foliage of the winter annual Cheatgrass is
abundant, wildfires flare up more often. This invasive plant acts like
highly flammable kindling, fueling the ignition of rangeland fires to a
roaring blaze. And, parts of Arizona's picturesque Sonoran desert are
actually bursting into flames with alarming frequency thanks to the
spread
of Red Brome, another non-native annual grass. Red Brome is a prime
source of fires engulfing native vegetation, such as Palo Verde trees
and
various cacti, hallmarks of this desert habitat.
"These invasive plants can take over natural areas that once were home
to
a diverse variety of plant species," says Steven A. Dewey, Ph.D.,
Extension Invasive Weed Specialist at Utah State University and
wildfire
expert. "The spread of invasive plants such as Cheatgrass and Red Brome
across a western landscape can lead to more expansive and more frequent
fires. Charred lands in turn are left wide open for an unchallenged
invasion of annual, invasive plant species. And so the cycle
continues,
intensifying as it goes."
Dr. Dewey recently was named Weed Science Subject Matter Liaison to the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the Weed Science Society of
America. In this newly created position, he will be instrumental in
providing scientific information on invasive weed management to the
EPA,
including methods to lessen the role of invasive weeds in wildfires.
The Effects Of Wildfires Can Linger
- Fire-fueling invasive plants actually have increased the occurrence
of
wild fires in some areas from a natural frequency of every 60 to 100
years
to an alarming 3 to 5 years.
- Recurring fires can have a devastating effect on native plant species
that are critical components of wildlife habitats, endangering animal
species that rely on those habitats.
- In many areas, the increased severity and frequency of wildfires
driven
by invasive plants are eliminating the natural assortment of native
plant
species. Large areas of land are becoming more homogenous-home to
merely
a few plant species. "One of the advantages of a diverse plant
population
is the different ways in which various plant species react to fire,"
says
Dr. Dewey. "Those species that are not as combustible, such as
perennial
bunch grasses and forbs, can act as buffers, helping to contain
naturally
occurring wildfires so they don't spread out of control."
How Invasive Plants Take Over
- Overgrazing or other human-caused disturbance of rangelands leaves
bare
areas that are quickly filled in by invasive plants.
- Invasive plants produce countless seeds that travel by wind, animals
or
people, eventually settling in bare areas where they quickly establish
themselves and spread.
- Because of their fast growing cycles, invasive annual plants mature
and
then wither long before winter, usually at the height of summer heat,
posing major wildfire threats.
- Suppressing small-scale fires that nature commonly uses to remove
dried,
dead plants can lead to the buildup of excessive dead plant material
that
fuels more intense wildfires.
- Variances in weather patterns, either severe drought or excessive
rainfall, which affect natural plant growth patterns, can lead to an
invasive plant population explosion.
What Can Be Done?
"The integration of herbicides to control invasive plants, proper
grazing
management, controlled burns to remove plant debris build-up and
revegetating degraded sites with native plants all can lead to
rejuvenated
rangeland ecosystems," says Dr. Dewey. "Healthy, native landscapes are
better able to resist invasion of non-native plants, thus restoring a
more
natural, prolonged wildfire frequency."
The more we learn about the far-reaching effects of invasive plants and
weeds, the more able we are to work together to conquer the problems
they
cause. Contact your state's department of natural resources to find
out
more about invasive species in your area or log on to www.wssa.net.
For more information about invasive weeds and wildfires, contact Lee
VanWychen, Director of Science Policy for the Weed Science Society of
America, at (202) 408-5388.
About the Weed Science Society of America
The Weed Science Society of America, a non-profit professional society,
was founded in 1956 to encourage and promote the development of
knowledge
concerning weeds and their impact on the environment. The Weed Science
Society of America, promotes research, education and extension outreach
activities related to weeds; provides science-based information to the
public and policy makers; and fosters awareness of weeds and their
impacts
on managed and natural ecosystems. For more information, visit
www.wssa.net.
Welcome to Canada - IWSS Vancouver 2008! I am looking forward to meet you guys over there! Perhaps, we can arrange for a get together if more people from our group are attending.
Thanks -
Muthukumar
Pankaj Oudhia <pankajoudhia@...> wrote:
Dear IWSS Colleagues,
Attached please find an updated version of the Second Circular of the 5th International Weed Science Congress to be held in Vancouver 2008. In this
version we have incorporated some minor corrections. We cordially invite you to share this circular with colleagues and potential Congress participants.
Dear IWSS Colleagues,
Attached please find an updated version of the Second Circular of the
5th International Weed Science Congress to be held in Vancouver 2008.
In this version we have incorporated some minor corrections. We
cordially invite you to share this circular with colleagues and
potential Congress participants.
Best regards,
Albert J. Fischer
IWSS Secretary-Treasurer
Dept. of Plant Sciences
Mail Stop 4
University of California
One Shields Ave.
Davis, CA 95616-8780
Phone:(530) 752-7386
Fax: (530) 752-4606
ajfischer@...http://iws.ucdavis.edu/
LETTER TO EDITOR
Year : 2007 | Volume : 73 | Issue : 4 | Page : 265
Type I hypersensitivity to Parthenium hysterophorus in patients with
parthenium dermatitis
Verma Kaushal K
Department of Dermatology & Venereology, All India Institute of
Medical Sciences, New Delhi - 110 029, India
Correspondence Address:
Verma Kaushal K
Department of Dermatology & Venereology, All India Institute of
Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029
India
prokverma@...
Sir,
I read with interest the article by Lakshmi et al. [1] In this article
the authors have suggested that both type I hypersensitivity and type
IV hypersensitivity are responsible for dermatitis in parthenium
dermatitis patients, and they have tried to demonstrate this by doing
prick test and serum IgE levels in these patients. The majority of
their patients were atopics. It is well known that atopic individuals
are more susceptible to develop allergic response to various antigenic
stimuli and have elevated IgE levels. [2] Immunologic abnormalities of
type I and type IV reactions have been described in patients with
atopic dermatitis. [3] Immunologic triggers are aeroallergens, food
allergens, microbial products, autoallergens and contact allergens.
They enhance IgE production by B lymphocytes with an increased
secretion of interleukin 4, interleukin 5 and interleukin 13. [2]
Atopics are a more susceptible to develop contact allergy to
compositae plants also. [4],[5] In this study, it seems atopic
individuals have developed parthenium dermatitis and this atopic state
may have resulted in positive prick test and elevated IgE levels in
these patients, which may not have been actually due to parthenium.
The situation may have been different in non-atopic parthenium
dermatitis patients. Therefore, positive prick test and elevated IgE
levels in their patients do not conclusively prove that these were due
to parthenium only and not because of some other stimuli. Hence a
credible evidence of type I hypersensitivity due to Parthenium
hysterophorus is lacking in this study. I dare to suggest that the
authors should have demonstrated 'Parthenium hysterophorus' -specific
IgE by using methods like ELISA to confirm the presence of these IgE
antibodies due to Parthenium hysterophorus antigen to suggest the role
of type I hypersensitivity in this disease.
References Top
1. Lakshmi C, Srinivas CR. Type I hypersensitivity to parthenium
hysterophorus in patients with parthenium dermatitis. Indian J
Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2007;73:103-5. Back to cited text no. 1
2. Pastar Z, Lipozencic J, Ljubojevic S. Etiopathogenesis of atopic
dermatitis: An overview. Acta Dermatovenerol Croat 2005;13:54-62.
Back to cited text no. 2
3. Wollenberg A, Kraft S, Oppel T, Bieber T. Atopic dermatitis:
pathogenetic mechanisms. Clin Exp Dermatol 2000;25:530-4. Back to
cited text no. 3 [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT]
4. Jovanovic M, Poljacki M, Duran V, Vujanovic L, Sente R, Stojanovic
S. Contact allergy to Compositae plants in patients with atopic
dermatitis. Med Pregl 2004;57:209-18. Back to cited text no. 4
5. Nettis E, Giordano D, Soccio A, Ferrannini A, Tursi A. Frequency of
contact allergy to composite extracts in patients with atopic
dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 2002;47:169-70. Back to cited text no.
5 [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT]
http://www.ijdvl.com/article.asp?issn=0378-6323;year=2007;volume=73;issue=4;spag\
e=265;epage=265;aulast=Verma
It is not a good idea to get the seeds to that country, if the weed is not there in Sultanate of Oman
Regs,
M Mahadevappa
Abu Abdallah <abu.a.464@...> wrote:
Salam to everybody,
I am interested to have few seeds of Parthenium hysterophorus for laboratory purpose research work. If anybody got few seeds, please contact to arrange for sending and definitely I appreciate in advance your cooperation.
Best Regards,
Abu Abdallah
Insect Vectors of Plant Pathogens Lab.
Agricultural ResearchCenter,
Sultanate of Oman
From: IPRNG@yahoogroups.co.in [mailto:IPRNG@yahoogroups.co.in] Sent: 25 July 2007 2:20 PM To: IPRNG@yahoogroups.co.in Subject: [IPRNG] New file uploaded
to IPRNG
Hello,
This email message is a notification to let you know that a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the IPRNG group.
File : /NCFDIE- Saxena.pdf Uploaded by : pankajoudhia <pankajoudhia@gmail.com> Description : 34th Annual Meeting of the Mycological Society of India
No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.10.22/921 - Release Date: 26/07/2007 11:16 PM
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. M. Mahadevappa
I am interested to have few seeds of Parthenium hysterophorus for laboratory purpose research work. If
anybody got few seeds, please contact to arrange for sending and definitely I
appreciate in advance your cooperation.
Best Regards,
Abu Abdallah
Insect Vectors of Plant
Pathogens Lab.
Agricultural ResearchCenter,
Sultanate of Oman
From:
IPRNG@... [mailto:IPRNG@...] Sent: 25 July 2007 2:20 PM To: IPRNG@... Subject: [IPRNG] New file uploaded
to IPRNG
Hello,
This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the IPRNG
group.
File : /NCFDIE- Saxena.pdf
Uploaded by : pankajoudhia <pankajoudhia@gmail.com>
Description : 34th Annual Meeting of the Mycological Society of India
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
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Thank you so much!!!....a new!...the deadline for abstract reception was extended until September 07, and the registration until September 30.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Many and kind regards for all
Carlos
IPRNG@... escribi:
Hello,
This email message is a notification to let you know that a file has been uploaded to the Files area of
the IPRNG group.
File : /phytochemistry.htm Uploaded by : pankajoudhia <pankajoudhia@gmail.com> Description : VI Symposium International on Natural Products Chemistry and its Application, Chile 2007
__________________________________________________ Correo Yahoo! Espacio para todos tus mensajes,
antivirus y antispam gratis! Regstrate ya - http://correo.espanol.yahoo.com/
Hello,
This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the IPRNG
group.
File : /phytochemistry.htm
Uploaded by : pankajoudhia <pankajoudhia@...>
Description : VI Symposium International on Natural Products Chemistry and its
Application, Chile 2007
You can access this file at the URL:
http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/IPRNG/files/phytochemistry.htm
To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
http://help.yahoo.com/help/in/groups/files
Regards,
pankajoudhia <pankajoudhia@...>
I wish to cordially invite you all for participation and abstract submission in the National conference on Fungal Diversity: Impact & Exploitation as well as for the 34th Annual Meeting of the Mycological Society of India.
Please find attached the ebrochure of the same for your kind perusal
with regards
yours sincerely
Dr. Sanjai Saxena
Organizing Secretary
Pankaj Oudhia <pankajoudhia@...> wrote:
Dear Group Members, You are requested to send your messages only in *English* as it is official language of this group.
regards IPRNG Moderator
Dr. Sanjai Saxena
M.Sc. (Gold Medallist) ; Ph.D.
Assistant Professor (Reader) Natural Products and Drug Discovery Department of Biotechnology & Environmental Sciences THAPAR UNIVERSITY ( formerly Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology )
Xanthium strumarium has been reported to cross react
with P in India .Our former series included X,P and
crysanthimum.
Srinivas
Dermatologist
--- Pablo Morales <pablomoralesupr@...> wrote:
> Hello everyone!
>
> I have been searching the literature on the plant
> Eryngium foetidum (it has so many common names that
> I will keep it at the latin binomial) for a paper I
> am writing on the competition between that plants
> and Parthenium. In some documents Eryngium foetidum
> comes up as a crop (culinary herb, medicinal plant),
> in others as a weed.
> Could some of you share information on the status
> of Eryngium foetidum in your region, or if you have
> knowledge of published documents or unpublished
> research regarding that plant. Is it a crop or a
> weed in your region? How important is it? Is it
> associated with Parthenium? Any information you can
> provide will be deeply appreciated.
> Dr. J. Pablo Morales
> University of Puerto Rico
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Looking for a deal? Find great prices on flights and
> hotels with Yahoo! FareChase.
________________________________________________________________________________\
____
Need a vacation? Get great deals
to amazing places on Yahoo! Travel.
http://travel.yahoo.com/
Dear Pablo,
in Mexico it is both - widely cultivated/tolerated in
home gardens, occasionally traded, and a wildgrowing
weed. Have a look at the webpage
http://www.conabio.gob.mx/malezasdemexico/apiaceae/eryngium-foetidum/fichas/fich\
a.htm
in the Weeds of Mexico website
(www.malezasdemexico.net).
The species certainly grows in some of the same
regions as Parthenium hysterophorus, but I have not
noted a particular association; my impression is that
it is restricted more or less to humid tropical areas,
whereas Parthenium may also occur in the dry tropics
and subtropics.
Regards,
Heike Vibrans
> Hello everyone!
>
> I have been searching the literature on the plant
> Eryngium foetidum (it has so many common names that
> I will keep it at the latin binomial) for a paper I
> am writing on the competition between that plants
> and Parthenium. In some documents Eryngium foetidum
> comes up as a crop (culinary herb, medicinal plant),
> in others as a weed.
> Could some of you share information on the status
> of Eryngium foetidum in your region, or if you have
> knowledge of published documents or unpublished
> research regarding that plant. Is it a crop or a
> weed in your region? How important is it? Is it
> associated with Parthenium? Any information you can
> provide will be deeply appreciated.
> Dr. J. Pablo Morales
> University of Puerto Rico
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dra. Heike Vibrans L.
Laboratorio de Etnobotnica
Programa de Botnica
Colegio de Postgraduados en Ciencias Agrcolas
km 35.5 carr. Mxico-Texcoco
56230 Montecillo
Estado de Mxico, Mexico
Tel. +52 (595) 95 20 200 Ext. 1335 (directo), 1330 (direccin)
Fax. +52 (595) 95 20 247
Correo electrnico: heike@... (trabajo), heike_texcoco@...
Pgina web: http://www.malezasdemexico.nethttp://www.colpos.mx/IRENAT/bot/HeikeVibransLindemann.htm
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
________________________________________________________________________________\
____
S un mejor fotgrafo!
Perfecciona tu tcnica y encuentra las mejores fotos.
http://mx.yahoo.com/promos/mejorfotografo.html
Predictably much of this was baffling for my mother, who could never
figure reasons behind strange phenomena, like a missing lunch box or
sudden body rashes (from playing with Parthenium grass) . Though she
was clever enough to figure that “I” was involved in some way or the
other.
http://qtol.wordpress.com/2007/07/24/the-pencil-that-wouldnt-grow/
Here an information about VI Symposium International on Natural Products Chemistry and its Application, Chile 2007. The deadline for reception of abstracts have been extended until September 07, 2007.
Are attending some colleages working on Parthenium and other invasive species.
In addition into this web-group there are so many information about Parthenium (Estimado Dr. J. P. Morales, usted puede ver esos archivos dentro del grupo, hacer click donde estan los archivos y si puede escribame: cespedes_leonardo@...).
Many regards for all.
Prof. Carlos L. Cespedes, Ph. D.
International coordinator
Pablo Morales <pablomoralesupr@...> escribi:
Prof. Carlos
Leonardo A. Cspedes A., Ph.D. Professor, Facultad de Ciencias.Departamento de Ciencias Basicas. Universidad del Bio-Bio, Chillan, Chile.Fax: + 56-42-203046 E-mail: cespedes_leonardo@..., cespedes.leonardo@... web-page: www.ccespedes.com Phytochemistry and Chemical Ecology Current Lines of Research: Natural Insecticides-Herbicides, Plant Growth Inhibitors, Plant-plant interactions, Antioxidants, Insect-Plant Interactions, Enzyme inhibitors, Chemical Ecology, Chemistry of Natural Products. Keywords: Insecticides, herbicides, antioxidants, Insect Growth Regulation, Plant Growth Regulation, enzymes, neurotoxins, secondary metabolites, antifungal, antibacterial.
__________________________________________________ Correo Yahoo! Espacio para todos tus mensajes, antivirus y antispam gratis! Regstrate ya - http://correo.espanol.yahoo.com/
I have been searching the literature on the plant Eryngium foetidum (it has so many common names that I will keep it at the latin binomial) for a paper I am writing on the competition between that plants and Parthenium. In some documents Eryngium foetidum comes up as a crop (culinary herb, medicinal plant), in others as a weed.
Could some of you share information on the status of Eryngium foetidum in your region, or if you have knowledge of published documents or unpublished research regarding that plant. Is it a crop or a weed in your region? How important is it? Is it associated with Parthenium? Any information you can provide will be deeply appreciated.
US passes wheat weed buck to India
Surinder Sud / New Delhi July 19, 2007
The US today sought to lend a fresh twist to the controversy over the
permissible weed content in imported wheat by claiming that the
pervasive weed had not come to India through the US wheat imported in
the 1950s but was present in the country even earlier.
India had been justifying its stringent grain purity norms for wheat
imports on the plea that it cannot risk the induction of fresh weeds
into the country.
This has virtually barred the US from exporting wheat to India as its
grains are unable to meet Indian standards. The US has been disputing
these standards and pressing India to liberalise its norms to allow
wheat import from the US.
US embassy spokesperson Larry Schwartz today stated that documented
reports published in 1888 by Dr D Brandis of the Dehradun-based Forest
Research Institute and by other researchers in 1914 observed the
presence of these invasive weeds in India.
He, therefore, refuted Indian researchers claim that the US wheat
imported to India in the 1950s as part of the PL-480 Food for Peace
programme had brought invasive �Congress grass� (Parthenium
hysterophorus) weed to this country.
Schwartz said, �We call on Indian officials to disregard baseless
allegations for keeping American wheat out of this market.� He also
reiterated the US stand that Indian consumers would be paying 10 to 20
per cent less if American wheat was purchased by the Centre.
Last week, US Ambassador Mulford had urged the Indian government to
conduct independent tests of imported wheat arriving at Indian ports
to verify that its standards are being met.
A statement issued on July 10 by the US embassy in New Delhi had
sought to even question India�s import inspection process, besides the
phyto-sanitary requirements stipulated by it.
�India�s very low weed seed standard is nearly impossible for any
global exporter to meet, raising questions about the reliability of
India�s import inspection process. The US calls upon the government of
India to conduct independent tests on imported wheat arriving in
Indian ports to verify that these standards are truly being met,� the
statement had said.
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has ruled out any relaxation in the
weed standards for wheat imports to avert introduction of any new weed
into the country. The US is keen to export wheat to India as the
government has already announced that it intended to import 5 million
tonnes of wheat this year.
Ironically, the STC has already accepted bids for import of 5.11 lakh
tonnes of wheat at prices ranging between $317 and $330 per tonne.
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?autono=291662&leftnm=3&sub\
Left=0&chkFlg=
Dear Pankaj Oudhia: Pl. update your web on our activities. We are no
more at New Delhi address: M-120 Greater kailash-1, New Delhi 110
048. We have shifted from there 8 years ago.
This year due to favourable climate condition at the foothill of
Himalaya, Parthenium has spread at an epidemic scale. Last year we
thought we had almsot erradicated it from our area. But it has sprung
jwith vigour alaround us. We have launched ani-Parthenium campaign by
uprooting it by hand. As it is rainy season due to wet soil it is
easy to uproot it. But the plant is flowering and in forest and farm
land it has grown to 2-3' still the flower is not ripe.
Pl. update us on enviorn-friendly method to stop its growth in the
Himalayan region. Fraternalg reetings, Dr. Dhirendra Sharma
Centre Science Policy Research, "Nirmal-Nilay", Dehradun 248009.
+(0135) 2735 627.
www.psaindia.org
Lake Victorious: weevils defeat water hyacinths
Michael Malakata
11 July 2007
Source: SciDev.Net
Scientists have announced the success of a biological, pesticide-
free method in eradicating the highly invasive water hyacinth from
Africa's waterways.
James Ogwang, an entomologist specialising in biological control at
the Ugandan National Agriculture Research Organisation, and his
colleagues presented their work at the annual meeting of the
American Society of Plant Biologists last week (8 July) in Chicago,
United States.
The scientists' control strategy involves mechanical removal of the
plants, and harnessing two natural enemies of the water hyacinth "
the weed weevils Neochetina bruchi and Neochetina eichhorniae. Using
this method, the scientists successfully eradicated 90 per cent of
the water hyacinth in Africa's Lake Victoria.
The water hyacinth plants that proliferated around Lake Victoria
throughout the 1990s resulted a decrease in the lake's biodiversity,
said Ogwang in a press release. They also disrupted activities on
the lake: fishermen caught less fish, the plants interfered with
water transport and blocked hydroelectric power turbines, which
resulted in a severe drop in the supply of electricity.
The 'mats' of water hyacinth are also a threat to human health; they
provide a habitat for insects carrying malaria and schistosomiasis,
and rotting hyacinths contaminate drinking water, causing
gastrointestinal disease.
Both the adult and larval weed weevils eat water hyacinth and, by
tunnelling into the plant, allow bacteria and fungi to invade the
plant. Water also enters these tunnels, sinking the mats. Once
submerged, water and wave action continue to degrade the plant
matter.
The control strategy resulted in reduced cases of disease, increased
power generation and larger catches of fish for export. And because
pesticide was not used, the process is a cheaper and more
sustainable way of removing the weeds.
Amon Mwape, an environmental scientist from the Zambian Ministry of
Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources says water hyacinths are
invading most of Africa's rivers, and they are a big challenge.
"It is a good effort by the scientists to come up with a natural and
less expensive way of controlling the weeds," he said.
But he also warned of the dangers of introducing new, non-native
species into the environment.
"The scientists must be cautious that these insects do not cause
damage to other plant species," said Mwape.
Water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes, is one of the most invasive
waterweeds in the world, and was first observed in Lake Victoria in
1989.
The biological method of water hyacinth control used in Lake
Victoria was originally implemented in Florida, United States, in
the 1970s.
US wheat not fit to be imported: Report
16 Jul 2007, 0157 hrs IST,Nitin Sethi,TNN
NEW DELHI: A crucial report concluding that US wheat is not fit to be
imported is being kept under wraps by a government that doesn't want
to annoy the Americans at a time of blossoming bilateral ties despite
the stalemated nuclear deal.
The report, prepared by a team of Indian officials visiting the US in
May 2007, has recorded the presence of 19 invasive weeds that Indian
regulations consider dangerous and require quarantine. Another two
that India still has not verified for their ability to cause harm have
also been found to be associated with US wheat. It has also recorded
leakages in the processing of wheat that allows the weeds to escape in
the consignments.
The report, which TOI got access to from government records, makes it
clear why the US administration is putting up such a shrill campaign
for lowering the conditions that currently disqualify US wheat from
import.
The finding marks a setback to US efforts to find a market for its
farmers that grow wheat on 60 million hectares and export almost half
of the produce. With India showing interest in importing 3-5 million
tonnes of wheat this year, US looks upon it as a loss of a big
business opportunity. Last year too, the US was unable to export its
wheat to India because of the tight safety regulations. This year,
however, the US was expecting the tide to change in its favour with a
concerted level of lobbying. But so far India has denied any
possibility of lowering the safety measures in order to allow import
from US.
The report noted that Indian regulations demand that there be less
than 100 quarantine weed seeds in a 200-kg sample whereas US is
demanding that India allow 12,000 quarantined weed seeds per 200 kg of
wheat. The visiting team also found on inspection at the Columbia
Grain Export Facility, US, that "a lot of weed seeds, including those
of quarantine, still remain in the final processed product..."
Usually, India has a zero tolerance policy against any weed that is on
the quarantine list but the government modified the rules last year in
order to import wheat and allowed 100 weed seeds per 200 kg as an
exception, keeping national food security in mind.
But food-security issues are raked up by the history of contaminated
imports as well that earlier hit Indian economy and agriculture quite
hard. Phalaris minor or canary grass, which is known to cause 15-50%
yield losses in Indian wheat, was introduced in 1961 from Mexico
through contaminated foodgrain. Back-of-the-envelope estimates suggest
that in Punjab and Haryana alone, the economic losses because of the
weed run into Rs 3,700 crore annually.
Another weed, Parthenium Hysteophorus, also introduced to India with
import of contaminated wheat import, is today spread over 7-8 million
hectares of non-cropped area and estimates show could take up to Rs
1,600 crore to control.
India has also suggested to US to undertake adequate cleaning as a
mitigation measure by which it can comply with Indian standards. The
expert team noted that there was considerable potential to reduce weed
content in the US wheat but the Americans have shown reluctance at the
moment.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/US_wheat_not_fit_to_be_imported_Report/articl\
eshow/2205708.cms
Thanks. Never mind. We will have it organised in MYSORE DURING 2009. I will visit the other site. You sre doing a great service.
REGS,
mm
Pankaj Oudhia <pankajoudhia@...> wrote:
Thanks for your message. I am hoping that group members will come forward with their ideas on Third International Conference on Parthenium.
As you know I am documenting traditional medicinal knowledge about herbs and insects. At present I am compiling
traditional knowledge about Diabetes. This long report will be over up to April, 2009. Please visit this link to see list of weekly schedules for Diabetic patients that are important part of this report. http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=interactiveTableList&Title=diabetes&TitleWild=CO
(If unable to open this link, please copy and paste this url. It will take 5-7 minutes to open even in fastest net connection). Keep visiting this link, if you are interested, as new schedules are added daily.
For this reason it seems difficult to organise the conference at Raipur this time but I will give my full support to the organisers.
regards Pankaj Oudhia
--- In IPRNG@yahoogroups.co.in, "Dr. M. Mahadevappa"
<mahadevrice@...> wrote: > > Dear Pankaj, > > Thanks. It is useful. > > Will you please inform all our group members if any organization is willing to hold the #rd International Conference on Parthenium? I can myself organize it in Karnataka but it should not confine only to Karnataka. If some organization comes forward, I can help support from various sources like DBT. etc. Why not in Raipur? > Please explore. If none comes forth, we will have it in Mysore. Now, in Mysore & Chamarajanagar districts, Cassia has taken over where ever there was some effort made by some local bodies. > > Regs, > M Mahadevappa > > Pankaj Oudhia <pankajoudhia@...> wrote: > From Enviroweeds mailing list > > WEED THREAT TO BIODIVERSITY BEING IGNORED > > Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management > Media Release
> > 11 July 2007 > > WEED THREAT TO BIODIVERSITY BEING IGNORED > > One of the best laws in the Western world on ecological protection, > Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act > (1999), is not being used when it comes to the widespread threat > posed to the environment by foreign plants, according to Dr Rachel > McFadyen, CEO of the Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed > Management. > > Speaking at the Biodiversity Extinction Crisis Conference in Sydney > today, Dr McFadyen said that the EPBC Act allowed action once a 'key > threatening process' had been identified and declared. Examples of > official recognition so far included the rabbit, fox, goat, feral > cats, the root rot-fungus phytophthera, long-line fishing, climate > change and cane toads. > > However, not a single
invasive plant had been listed as posing a > significant threat, Dr McFadyen said. > > 'Yet we have plants from Central America forming one-species stands > over thousands of hectares, totally displacing the native flora and > fauna. Mimosa even prevents indigenous people from accessing their > country, and Kakadu National Park spends $0.5 million every year > just to keep it out, they see it as such a threat', she said. > > Mesquite, olive hymenachne, lantana, blackberry and bitou bush are > all recognised as Weeds of National Significance under other federal > measures. All are very clearly rampant invaders of valuable natural > ecosystems, but none are listed under the EPBC Act, Dr McFadyen > said. > > 'One of the worst offenders is the African gamba grass, still being > promoted and planted as pasture for cattle in the north', Dr >
McFadyen said. > > 'This is a monster of a grass that can grow over four metres high. > It seeds prolifically and invades surrounding woodland savannah > country - and when it burns the heat is just too much for the > eucalypts, which die.' > > 'The result is goodbye eucalypt woodland with its complex of > associated plants, birds and other animals, and hello African > grassland which allows very few of these species a look in', she > said. > > 'It does make me wonder what a foreign plant has to do to get > attention from conservationists. I sometimes think we are up against > a prevailing misinformed mindset that sees all green plants as > essentially the same - as passive, friendly and just part of > nature.' > > 'Try telling that to a landowner or park manager battling rubber > vine, cat's claw creeper, gorse, broom, boneseed, bridal
creeper or > any of the dozens of highly invasive foreign plants that chew up > huge amounts of time and money on a daily basis around Australia.' > > Dr McFadyen said that recent research was beginning to paint a > picture of how threatening weeds were to native plants and animals. > > 'There has been a serious underinvestment in this ecological impact > research for many years, but we are now starting to get a better > handle on it. We now know, for example, that weeds are a significant > threat to over one third of endangered species nationally, including > within 13 World Heritage Areas - and our international > responsibilities to protect them are very clear', she said. > > 'In NSW, where the Weeds CRC commissioned work in 2006, weeds are > known to be a direct threat to almost half of the threatened species > listed for that state.
We know, for example, that the habitat of the > northern corroboree frog is directly threatened by blackberry > invasion, and the native rice flower by bitou bush and lantana.' > > The lack of research and data for individual species makes it > difficult to pin-point specific threats with the precision that > scientists would like, Dr McFadyen said. But we do understand the > sorts of changes that weeds cause, and how these tend to affect > local flora and fauna. > > 'We know, for example, that nectar-feeding birds such as lorikeets > will abandon bushland when their food source is displaced by weeds > that do not produce nectar.' > > That's something that's obvious, but there's a lot more going on.' > > The reality is that such displacement of native plants, birds and > other animals is happening quietly on a vast scale across the > continent,
as weeds gradually make their environment less attractive > and less supportive, Dr McFadyen said. Climate change will also add > real pressure. > > 'The really big weakness we have as custodians of this natural > heritage', Dr McFadyen said, 'is that too often we only address the > biodiversity issue at points or times of crisis, when certain > species are threatened with imminent extinction. That is reflected > in the language we use', she said. > > In the meantime, Dr McFadyen said, we seem to be largely unaware of > the immense changes we have caused to this heritage, and which > continues to degrade wherever weeds get the upper hand. > > 'In fact, now that wholesale land clearing has largely stopped, > weeds constitute the number one threat to biodiversity. This is a > widely observed phenomenon around the world.' > > The end
point of this very long-term process of weed invasion is > hard to predict, but it is not likely to be good news for our native > flora and fauna, Dr McFadyen said. > > 'We need to understand this much better and plan and act > accordingly, not carry on as if all green plants are equal. The > nation is not a Peter Andrews production system.' > > Contacts > Dr Rachel McFadyen, CEO, Weeds CRC, 0409 263 > > Images and further information > High resolution weed photos can be downloaded directly from > www.weeds.crc.org.au/publications/media.html > Most of the photos on the Weeds CRC's new image gallery are also > available in high resolution > www.weeds.crc.org.au/main/image_gallery_index.html Contact Jenny > Barker - 08 8303 7250 or jennifer.barker@... > > > > > > >
---------------------------------------------------------- --------------- > Dr. M. Mahadevappa > Advisor, JSS Rural Dev. Foundation. Mysore - 570 004 > Ex-Chairman, ASRB, Ex-Vice Chancellor UAS, Dharwad > # 1576, 1st Cross, Chandra Layout > Bangalore - 560 040 , Karnataka, INDIA > Phone: (080) 23216040 > Email: mahadevrice@... > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Now that's room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotels > in 45,000 destinations on Yahoo! Travel to find your fit. >
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. M. Mahadevappa
Thanks for your message. I am hoping that group members will come
forward with their ideas on Third International Conference on
Parthenium.
As you know I am documenting traditional medicinal knowledge about
herbs and insects. At present I am compiling traditional knowledge
about Diabetes. This long report will be over up to April, 2009.
Please visit this link to see list of weekly schedules for Diabetic
patients that are important part of this report.
http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=interactiveTableList&Title=diabetes&TitleWild=C\
O
(If unable to open this link, please copy and paste this url. It
will take 5-7 minutes to open even in fastest net connection). Keep
visiting this link, if you are interested, as new schedules are
added daily.
For this reason it seems difficult to organise the conference at
Raipur this time but I will give my full support to the organisers.
regards
Pankaj Oudhia
--- In IPRNG@..., "Dr. M. Mahadevappa"
<mahadevrice@...> wrote:
>
> Dear Pankaj,
>
> Thanks. It is useful.
>
> Will you please inform all our group members if any organization
is willing to hold the #rd International Conference on Parthenium? I
can myself organize it in Karnataka but it should not confine only
to Karnataka. If some organization comes forward, I can help support
from various sources like DBT. etc. Why not in Raipur?
> Please explore. If none comes forth, we will have it in Mysore.
Now, in Mysore & Chamarajanagar districts, Cassia has taken over
where ever there was some effort made by some local bodies.
>
> Regs,
> M Mahadevappa
>
> Pankaj Oudhia <pankajoudhia@...> wrote:
> From Enviroweeds mailing list
>
> WEED THREAT TO BIODIVERSITY BEING IGNORED
>
> Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management
> Media Release
>
> 11 July 2007
>
> WEED THREAT TO BIODIVERSITY BEING IGNORED
>
> One of the best laws in the Western world on ecological
protection,
> Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation
Act
> (1999), is not being used when it comes to the widespread threat
> posed to the environment by foreign plants, according to Dr Rachel
> McFadyen, CEO of the Cooperative Research Centre for Australian
Weed
> Management.
>
> Speaking at the Biodiversity Extinction Crisis Conference in
Sydney
> today, Dr McFadyen said that the EPBC Act allowed action once
a 'key
> threatening process' had been identified and declared. Examples of
> official recognition so far included the rabbit, fox, goat, feral
> cats, the root rot-fungus phytophthera, long-line fishing, climate
> change and cane toads.
>
> However, not a single invasive plant had been listed as posing a
> significant threat, Dr McFadyen said.
>
> 'Yet we have plants from Central America forming one-species
stands
> over thousands of hectares, totally displacing the native flora
and
> fauna. Mimosa even prevents indigenous people from accessing their
> country, and Kakadu National Park spends $0.5 million every year
> just to keep it out, they see it as such a threat', she said.
>
> Mesquite, olive hymenachne, lantana, blackberry and bitou bush are
> all recognised as Weeds of National Significance under other
federal
> measures. All are very clearly rampant invaders of valuable
natural
> ecosystems, but none are listed under the EPBC Act, Dr McFadyen
> said.
>
> 'One of the worst offenders is the African gamba grass, still
being
> promoted and planted as pasture for cattle in the north', Dr
> McFadyen said.
>
> 'This is a monster of a grass that can grow over four metres high.
> It seeds prolifically and invades surrounding woodland savannah
> country - and when it burns the heat is just too much for the
> eucalypts, which die.'
>
> 'The result is goodbye eucalypt woodland with its complex of
> associated plants, birds and other animals, and hello African
> grassland which allows very few of these species a look in', she
> said.
>
> 'It does make me wonder what a foreign plant has to do to get
> attention from conservationists. I sometimes think we are up
against
> a prevailing misinformed mindset that sees all green plants as
> essentially the same - as passive, friendly and just part of
> nature.'
>
> 'Try telling that to a landowner or park manager battling rubber
> vine, cat's claw creeper, gorse, broom, boneseed, bridal creeper
or
> any of the dozens of highly invasive foreign plants that chew up
> huge amounts of time and money on a daily basis around Australia.'
>
> Dr McFadyen said that recent research was beginning to paint a
> picture of how threatening weeds were to native plants and
animals.
>
> 'There has been a serious underinvestment in this ecological
impact
> research for many years, but we are now starting to get a better
> handle on it. We now know, for example, that weeds are a
significant
> threat to over one third of endangered species nationally,
including
> within 13 World Heritage Areas - and our international
> responsibilities to protect them are very clear', she said.
>
> 'In NSW, where the Weeds CRC commissioned work in 2006, weeds are
> known to be a direct threat to almost half of the threatened
species
> listed for that state. We know, for example, that the habitat of
the
> northern corroboree frog is directly threatened by blackberry
> invasion, and the native rice flower by bitou bush and lantana.'
>
> The lack of research and data for individual species makes it
> difficult to pin-point specific threats with the precision that
> scientists would like, Dr McFadyen said. But we do understand the
> sorts of changes that weeds cause, and how these tend to affect
> local flora and fauna.
>
> 'We know, for example, that nectar-feeding birds such as lorikeets
> will abandon bushland when their food source is displaced by weeds
> that do not produce nectar.'
>
> That's something that's obvious, but there's a lot more going on.'
>
> The reality is that such displacement of native plants, birds and
> other animals is happening quietly on a vast scale across the
> continent, as weeds gradually make their environment less
attractive
> and less supportive, Dr McFadyen said. Climate change will also
add
> real pressure.
>
> 'The really big weakness we have as custodians of this natural
> heritage', Dr McFadyen said, 'is that too often we only address
the
> biodiversity issue at points or times of crisis, when certain
> species are threatened with imminent extinction. That is reflected
> in the language we use', she said.
>
> In the meantime, Dr McFadyen said, we seem to be largely unaware
of
> the immense changes we have caused to this heritage, and which
> continues to degrade wherever weeds get the upper hand.
>
> 'In fact, now that wholesale land clearing has largely stopped,
> weeds constitute the number one threat to biodiversity. This is a
> widely observed phenomenon around the world.'
>
> The end point of this very long-term process of weed invasion is
> hard to predict, but it is not likely to be good news for our
native
> flora and fauna, Dr McFadyen said.
>
> 'We need to understand this much better and plan and act
> accordingly, not carry on as if all green plants are equal. The
> nation is not a Peter Andrews production system.'
>
> Contacts
> Dr Rachel McFadyen, CEO, Weeds CRC, 0409 263
>
> Images and further information
> High resolution weed photos can be downloaded directly from
> www.weeds.crc.org.au/publications/media.html
> Most of the photos on the Weeds CRC's new image gallery are also
> available in high resolution
> www.weeds.crc.org.au/main/image_gallery_index.html Contact Jenny
> Barker - 08 8303 7250 or jennifer.barker@...
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
> Dr. M. Mahadevappa
> Advisor, JSS Rural Dev. Foundation. Mysore - 570 004
> Ex-Chairman, ASRB, Ex-Vice Chancellor UAS, Dharwad
> # 1576, 1st Cross, Chandra Layout
> Bangalore - 560 040 , Karnataka, INDIA
> Phone: (080) 23216040
> Email: mahadevrice@...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Now that's room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotels
> in 45,000 destinations on Yahoo! Travel to find your fit.
>
Will you please inform all our group members if any organization is willing to hold the #rd International Conference on Parthenium? I can myself organize it in Karnataka but it should not confine only to Karnataka. If some organization comes forward, I can help support from various sources like DBT. etc. Why not in Raipur?
Please explore. If none comes forth, we will have it in Mysore. Now, in Mysore & Chamarajanagar districts, Cassia has taken over where ever there was some effort made by some local bodies.
Regs,
M Mahadevappa
Pankaj Oudhia <pankajoudhia@...> wrote:
From Enviroweeds mailing list
WEED THREAT TO BIODIVERSITY BEING IGNORED
Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management Media Release
11 July 2007
WEED THREAT TO BIODIVERSITY BEING IGNORED
One of the best laws in the Western world on ecological protection, Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999), is not being used when it comes to the widespread threat posed to the environment by foreign plants, according to Dr Rachel McFadyen, CEO of the Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management.
Speaking at the Biodiversity Extinction Crisis Conference in Sydney today, Dr McFadyen said that the EPBC Act allowed action once a 'key
threatening process' had been identified and declared. Examples of official recognition so far included the rabbit, fox, goat, feral cats, the root rot-fungus phytophthera, long-line fishing, climate change and cane toads.
However, not a single invasive plant had been listed as posing a significant threat, Dr McFadyen said.
'Yet we have plants from Central America forming one-species stands over thousands of hectares, totally displacing the native flora and fauna. Mimosa even prevents indigenous people from accessing their country, and Kakadu National Park spends $0.5 million every year just to keep it out, they see it as such a threat', she said.
Mesquite, olive hymenachne, lantana, blackberry and bitou bush are all recognised as Weeds of National Significance under other federal measures. All are very clearly rampant invaders of valuable natural ecosystems, but none are listed under the EPBC Act, Dr
McFadyen said.
'One of the worst offenders is the African gamba grass, still being promoted and planted as pasture for cattle in the north', Dr McFadyen said.
'This is a monster of a grass that can grow over four metres high. It seeds prolifically and invades surrounding woodland savannah country - and when it burns the heat is just too much for the eucalypts, which die.'
'The result is goodbye eucalypt woodland with its complex of associated plants, birds and other animals, and hello African grassland which allows very few of these species a look in', she said.
'It does make me wonder what a foreign plant has to do to get attention from conservationists. I sometimes think we are up against a prevailing misinformed mindset that sees all green plants as essentially the same - as passive, friendly and just part of nature.'
'Try telling that to a landowner or park manager battling
rubber vine, cat's claw creeper, gorse, broom, boneseed, bridal creeper or any of the dozens of highly invasive foreign plants that chew up huge amounts of time and money on a daily basis around Australia.'
Dr McFadyen said that recent research was beginning to paint a picture of how threatening weeds were to native plants and animals.
'There has been a serious underinvestment in this ecological impact research for many years, but we are now starting to get a better handle on it. We now know, for example, that weeds are a significant threat to over one third of endangered species nationally, including within 13 World Heritage Areas - and our international responsibilities to protect them are very clear', she said.
'In NSW, where the Weeds CRC commissioned work in 2006, weeds are known to be a direct threat to almost half of the threatened species listed for that state. We know, for example, that the
habitat of the northern corroboree frog is directly threatened by blackberry invasion, and the native rice flower by bitou bush and lantana.'
The lack of research and data for individual species makes it difficult to pin-point specific threats with the precision that scientists would like, Dr McFadyen said. But we do understand the sorts of changes that weeds cause, and how these tend to affect local flora and fauna.
'We know, for example, that nectar-feeding birds such as lorikeets will abandon bushland when their food source is displaced by weeds that do not produce nectar.'
That's something that's obvious, but there's a lot more going on.'
The reality is that such displacement of native plants, birds and other animals is happening quietly on a vast scale across the continent, as weeds gradually make their environment less attractive and less supportive, Dr McFadyen said. Climate change will also
add real pressure.
'The really big weakness we have as custodians of this natural heritage', Dr McFadyen said, 'is that too often we only address the biodiversity issue at points or times of crisis, when certain species are threatened with imminent extinction. That is reflected in the language we use', she said.
In the meantime, Dr McFadyen said, we seem to be largely unaware of the immense changes we have caused to this heritage, and which continues to degrade wherever weeds get the upper hand.
'In fact, now that wholesale land clearing has largely stopped, weeds constitute the number one threat to biodiversity. This is a widely observed phenomenon around the world.'
The end point of this very long-term process of weed invasion is hard to predict, but it is not likely to be good news for our native flora and fauna, Dr McFadyen said.
'We need to understand this much better and plan and act
accordingly, not carry on as if all green plants are equal. The nation is not a Peter Andrews production system.'
Contacts Dr Rachel McFadyen, CEO, Weeds CRC, 0409 263
Images and further information High resolution weed photos can be downloaded directly from www.weeds.crc.org.au/publications/media.html Most of the photos on the Weeds CRC's new image gallery are also available in high resolution www.weeds.crc.org.au/main/image_gallery_index.html Contact Jenny Barker - 08 8303 7250 or jennifer.barker@adelaide.edu.au
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. M. Mahadevappa
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