[Let's Identify the Beneficial and Harmful Grubs on Our Farms] Grubs or white worms are found worldwide, with a broad range of species. In Colombia alone there are more than 600 known species. Most grubs are beneficial insects that recycle organic matter, but several are feared pests of various crops. Because grubs are hidden during most of their life cycle, we know little about their characteristics. This brochure tries to explain their biology to farmers and provides indications on how to differentiate beneficial grubs from harmful ones. 

Keywords: Scarabaeidae; Plectris; Phyllophaga; Anomala; Sericine; Ancognatha; Cyclocephala; Clavipalpus; Pest insects; Useful insects; Pest control; Integrated control; Teaching materials; Colombia

Poster. 

Keywords: Manihot esculenta; Pest insects; Aleyrodidae; Aleurotrachelus socialis; Genotypes; Pest resistance; Genetic markers; Genetic maps; Microsatellites; Cassava; Whitefly; Colombia

The Sixth International Scientific Meeting of the Cassava Biotechnology Network (CBN) was held on 8-14 March 2004 at CIAT headquarters in Cali. Participants examined ways in which biotechnology can add value to cassava, for example, by aiding production of disease-free planting material of improved varieties. Among the topics covered were the role of cassava farmers, processors, and consumers in research planning; cassava and human nutrition; genetic transformation and other options for cassava improvement; and biosafety. Grown mainly by small farmers, cassava is vital to the food security and livelihoods of some 500 million people across the tropics. 

Keywords: Manihot esculenta; Plant biotechnology; Research network; Byproducts; Marketing; Cost benefit analysis; Plant genetic resources; Plant breeding; Genetic variation; Genetic resistance; Germplasm conservation; Food crops; Stress; Postharvest technology; Tapioca; Tissue culture; Genetic transformation; Genetic markers; Technology transfer; Cassava; Agrobiodiversity; Participatory research; Molecular techniques; Developing countries; Africa; Asia; Colombia; Latin America

Poster. 

Keywords: Manihot esculenta; Aleyrodidae; Pest insects; Aleurotrachelus socialis; Varieties; Insect control; Pest resistance; Integrated control; Cassava; Whitefly; Colombia

[Cassava Bacterial Blight in Cassava] The pamphlet describes the importance and symptoms of the disease--caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis--and strategies for its integrated management. 

Keywords: Manihot esculenta; Xanthomonas axonopodis; Symptoms; Disease control; Varieties; Disease resistance; Cultural control; Cassava; Colombia

Copyright © Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical 2010.  All rights reserved.