Agriculture Business Week

A consultation meeting on the anthracnose disease in mango was tackled in a consultation meeting facilitated by Dr. Teodoro Solsoloy, assistant director of the Bureau of Agricultural Research.

Among the participants were Roberto C. Amores, president of Philfoodex and CEO of a mango exporting firm, Director Ricardo Cachuela of the Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension, Kevin Yaptengco of the UPLB Institute of Agricultural Engineering, a representative of the Bureau of Plant Industry, and technical personnel of BAR.

The discussion focused on how to address the presence of anthracnose disease in mango fruits, also known as black spots. This disease is caused by a fungus called Colletotrichum gleosporioides and is considered a very serious disease of mango. Anthracnose infects almost all parts of the mango, including flower panicles, twigs, leaves, and fruits of mature as well as immature trees.

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Researchers at the Philippine Rootcrop Research and Training Center (PhilRootcrops) of the Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay, Leyte have unveiled what could become the next potential biological control for anthracnose in ubi and other plant diseases.

Julie D. Tan, Evelyn B. Taboada, May V. Tampus, Jilly B. Regis and Rodney H. Perez have isolated and tested the endophytic microorganisms found in sweetpotato, which are recognized as source of secondary metabolites useful in biotechnology and agriculture. Initial results have confirmed that these endophytes produce antimicrobial compounds that inhibit the growth of disease-causing microorganisms in plants.

In their study titled “Antimicrobial evaluation and effects of fermentation process conditions of bioactive compounds produced by endophytic Bacillus sp. against some selected food and plant pathogens”, the researchers screened isolates of endophytes from rootcrop-based products and other related fermented food products for their abilities to inhibit the growth of some selected food pathogens. They also determined the effects of fermentation on the productivity and activity of the biocontrol compound.

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Here’s an in-depth look at the world of swine raising and the potential business you can get out of it.

Mastitis-metritis-agalactia, syndrome or MMA syndrome, also known as post-partum dysgalactia, is commonly caused by nonspecific or unknown sources. Mastitis and agalactia is the absence or lack of milk in sows.

MMA syndrome may be caused by infection or stress from excitement or difficulty in farrowing. This condition may also be caused by digestive difficulty or by environmental factors.

Metritis is referred as the nonspecific inflammation of the uterus and is associated with abortion, difficult delivery, or retained placenta.

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Care and Health Practices

Common Diseases and Parasites

Hog Cholera or Swine Fever

Pigs gets contaminated through direct contact or by eating uncooked slops or kitchen scraps containing the virus

Signs

• Fever, loss of appetite
• Increased thirst, chills and sometimes vomiting
• Constipation, later followed by diarrhea
• Inflammation of the eye (conjunctivitis) thick discharges causing eyelids to stick together
• Reddish, purple discoloration of skin at ears, abdomen, inner thighs or tai
• Death ensues 4-7 days after onset of signs
• Prolonged duration of illness (chronic form) terminates in pneumonia or hemorrhagic enteritis, or both

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Here’s an easy do-it-yourself guide to managing your own garden of high-value fruits and vegetables.

Lettuce is one of the long standing high-value crops in the Cordillera. This vegetable is appropriate for the said location because of the location’s cold climate. Currently, an approximate of 407 hectares of Cordillera land is used for growing lettuce.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is an economically-important member of the compositae family. This is a cool weather vegetable and grows in the ideal temperature of 60 to 70 Fahrenheit. Lettuce has five varieties including leaf or loose-leaf, Cos or romaine, crisphead, butterhead, and stem or asparagus lettuce.

Leaf lettuce is characterized by crisp leaves loosely arranged on the stalk. Leaf lettuce type includes Salad Bowl, Early Curked Simpson, and Slobolt.

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Have you been wanting to start your own duck business? Here’s a no-nonsense guide to jumpstart your way to success.

Samonellosis is a bacterial disease affecting ducklings. This is caused by Salmonella anatum and S. typhimurium. This disease is characterized by diarrhea and dehydration, ruffled feathers, dry sunken eyes, leg swelling and sudden collapse. Salmonellosis is transmitted through direct contact and ingestion of contaminated feed and water.

Salmonellosis may be prevented by strict sanitation practices, thorough and frequent cleaning and disinfection of feeders and waterers, and maintaining litter and ground to be clean and dry.

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Here’s an in-depth look at the world of swine raising and the potential business you can get out of it.

Another biosecurity measure is, regular monitoring of animals for diseases. All incoming livestock must be tested and quarantined before transporting them to the hog house.

Waste management is a key biosecurity measure. Improper waste management in the hog house can inevitably lead to profit losses. Sanitation in the pens may be performed by dry cleaning or by using a power sprayer to minimize water usage in cleaning the pens. The use of slatted flooring also lessens water usage in cleaning. Pens should be built to maintain the pigs’ temperature levels to minimize the need to wash them. Trees and foliage may be planted in the vicinity of the hog house to keep the animals cool in hot weather.

An anaerobic process called biogas production may be used to extract methane gas from the animal wastes. This greatly reduces waste odor in the hog house. Another anaerobic process that can be adapted is the use of a septic tank, commonly known as the poso negro. A lagoon may be built with aerators as an aerobic process of waste management. Solid wastes may also be mixed with plant residues with effective microorganisms like Trichoderma and Azotobacter to produce organic fertilizer within a month.

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Here’s an easy do-it-yourself guide to managing your own garden of high-value fruits and vegetables.

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is grown widely under rainfed conditions. High yields are obtained in areas with a total rainfall of 600 to 1250 mm, which is well distributed over the growing season. In Ilocos Norte alone, the total area planted to pepper in 1999 was 373.16 ha.

Growing bell peppers
Bell peppers can be ideal for planting in Philippine climate. Bell peppers love heat. This crop needs warm soil and air temperatures throughout the growing season. However in areas with cooler temperatures, plastic mulches, row covers and hoop houses may be used to grow this vegetable more quickly.

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Have you been wanting to start your own duck business? Here’s a no-nonsense guide to jumpstart your way to success.

Vaccination and medication programs must be administered to the animals to prevent viral infections and bacterial diseases. Ducklings at age one day to seven days must be administered with antibiotic or sulfa drug preparation through drinking water to prevent bacterial infections like salmonellosis, collibacilosis and staphyloccosis. At age eight to 14 days, ducklings may be given antibiotic-vitamin-mineral mixture through their drinking water to increase the animal’s resistance against bacterial diseases. Ducklings aged 21-28 days may be given multivitamins to increase their resistance.

During stressful conditions like a change in climate, ducks at age two to four months may be given antibiotic vitamin-mineral mixture to be administered through their drinking water. Fowl cholera vaccine may be given to the ducks at age four and a half months by way of intramuscular or subcutaneous injection. An antibiotic vitamin mineral mixture must be given to the animals three days before administration of vaccine and again three days after to combat stress. During the laying months, antibiotic vitamin-mineral mixture may be given when needed. Sulfa drugs should not be administered during the laying period unless absolutely necessary.

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Meaning “strong” in Filipino, Matatag rice was named as such because it is resistant to diseases. This kind of rice was primarily developed to minimize, if not prevent, the incidence of tungro disease, especially in tungro hotspot area.

To date, there are four approved Matatag varieties, and these are Matatag 2, Matatag 3, Matatag 6, and Matatag 9. These varieties are proven to be strong. They are able to suppress virus invasion and multiplication. They are resistant to green leafhoppers, which are the primary carriers of the tungro disease.

“Under high pressure of tungro disease alone, yields of Matatag varieties can be below 4tiha but can reach as high as 7 t/ ha under favorable conditions,” said Dr. Gerald B. Ravelo, one of Phil Rice’s international breeders who helped develop the Matatag lines.

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Are there medicines to treat swine flu?
Yes. CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicine (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fights the flu by keeping viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within two days of symptoms).

Should I take Tamiflu as a precaution if I’m not sick yet?
No. “What are you going to do with it, use it when you get a sniffle?” asks Dr. Marc Siegel of New York University Langone Medical Center and author of “Bird Flu: Everything You Need to Know About the Next Pandemic.” Overusing antiviral drugs can help germs become resistant to them.

Tamiflu and Relenza will not work for colds, other types of flu, or other viral infections. These medicines may be used for other purposes.

Your health care provider needs to know if you have any of the following conditions: kidney disease; live in nursing home; lung or breathing disease, like asthma; serious medical condition; an unusual or allergic reaction to zanamivir, lactose, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives; pregnant or trying to get pregnant; and breast-feeding.

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With so much in the news about swine flu, it’s wise and imperative to now what it is, and how you can protect yourself and your loved ones to lessen your fear of swine flu.

What is swine flu?
Swine Influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses. Outbreaks of swine flu happen regularly in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections happen. Human cases of swine flu usually happen in people who are around pigs, but it’s also possible for swine viruses to spread from person to person. In fact, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) is recommending that the more appropriate name for the viral disease is “North-American influenza” since there has been no evidence of animal involvement.

How many swine flu viruses are there?
Like all influenza viruses, swine flu viruses change constantly. Pigs can be infected by avian influenza and human influenza viruses as well as swine influenza viruses. When influenza viruses from different species infect pigs, the viruses can reassort (i.e. swap genes) and new viruses that are a mix of swine, human and/or avian influenza viruses can emerge. Over the years, different variations of swine flu viruses have emerged. This time, there are four main influenza type A virus subtypes that have been isolated in pigs: H1N1, H1N2, H3N2, and H3N1. However, most of the recently isolated influenza viruses from pigs have been HIN1 viruses.

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CORN EARWORM (Helicoverpaarmigera Hubner)
Description and life cycle. The corn-earworm (CEW) feeds on over 100 different plants with corn being the preferred host. Corn earworm moths deposit eggs singly on .the leaf whorl of young plants, under-surface of corn leaves, leaf sheaths, husks, and silks depending on the developmental stages of the plant. Eggs are sub-spherical or broadly oval with longitudinal ridges. Eggs are cream-colored when newly laid and turns dark when about to hatch. Incubation period is 2-3 days. The newly hatched larva is pale yellowish-white with black head. Mature larvae may vary in color between pale green, pinkish, yellowish, and dark brown with alternating light and dark stripes running lengthwise on the body. The body is covered with numerous transparent setae or hairs. Larva molts 6 times in 17-24 days. The larval stage of the corn earworm is the destructive stage of this insect pest. Pupa is yellowish-green when newly pupated and turns reddish to dark brown and becomes stout and shiny as it matures. Pupation takes place in the soil for a period of 12-24 days. Adults have light to dull brown marks at the edge of membranous hindwings. Males have darker brown spots on the forewings. The female may lay 200-2,000 eggs.

Total development period from egg to adult is 34-40 days.

Damage symptoms. Plant growth affected is from early whorl to hard dough stage. When corn plant is attacked at whorl stage, typical signs are rows of shot holes on unfolding leaves. Larvae feed on corn silks, they clipped these off prior to feeding on the corn ears. The ears are the preferred sites for corn earworm attack. Ear damage is characterized by extensive excrement at the ear tip. They remain feeding in the tip areas until they leave to pupate in the soil. Ear tip feeding can be extensive and provides an avenue for disease organisms to enter the ear. Larvae feed for 2-4 weeks. Because of its cannibalistic nature, there is normally one larva attacking per ear.

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Let’s continue our discussion on pests that devour leaf tissues. As a refresher, we consider these pests as significant since they could effectively reduce the plant’s ability to produce more food via photosynthesis and lower the corn’s defenses from stress and diseases.

I promised last month that we will write on three more corn defoliators. I really thought it was important to have these three included so our farmers can distinguish them from the major ones like the Asiatic corn borer (ACB). As we all know, Bt corn is specific only to specific Lepidopterans (family of moths and butterflies) such as the ACB, the true armyworm, and pink stemborer (Sessamia inferens). This has been observed and confirmed in the field by Pioneer agronomists. However, we don’t have a firm conclusion for the rest such as common cutworm, black cutworm (described in last month’s article), corn earworm, and semi-looper. In fact, Bt corn growers should expect them in their field every now and then since they are non-target pests.

COMMON CUTWORM (Spodoptera litura Fabricius)
In young seedlings, the common cutworm is one of the most common pests. Oftentimes, farmer ignore them because they are sensitive to chemical control, damage is assumed to be minimal, and they are usually gone by the time the plant reaches mid-whorl. But let’s not discount the possibility of the common cutworm to emerge as a major pest.

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