News Stories - Page 66

If you don't mind alien-looking creatures skittering around your home, house centipedes are handy things to have around. They're not nearly as big as they look. A house centipede's body is only an inch long, but its long antennae and 15 pairs of extended, spindly legs make it look much larger. They give it a frilly, rippling look as it moves.

While some U.S. regions, such as the Northeast and Midwest, have experienced consistent cold throughout the winter of 2022, the Southeast region, including Georgia, has seen a winter with varied temperatures. Those unpredictable temperatures, alongside moisture and frost, may have had a direct impact on plant survival, as plants’ ability to thrive or perish is ultimately determined by the weather.

With the onset of warmer, longer days, an array of pink blooms from peach, cherry and plum trees break forth — the first signs of spring. And while most of us enjoy this seasonal shift, fruit tree growers prepare their orchards for the relentless, annual migration of insect pests.

New research from the University of Georgia has shown, for the first time, that compounds used to fight fungal diseases in plants are causing resistance to antifungal medications used to treat people. 

A kiss has such romantic appeal, yet some kisses just end in heartbreak. A smooch from the Rhodnius prolixus, or the blood-sucking “kissing bug,” could be characterized more like the kiss of death — the insect is a primary vector for Chagas disease, a parasitic infection that kills more than 10,000 people annually around the globe. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, victims with chronic cases of Chagas can suffer from life-threatening heart or digestive malfunctions.

A 12-hour workshop may not sound like the most romantic gift for Valentine’s Day, but hundreds of Georgia couples testify to the benefits of free relationship education offered by the University of Georgia.

Pierre Diatta is working on a PhD at the University of Georgia and helping a team of researchers understand the barriers that prevent young people from going into agriculture in his home country. The research is funded by the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Peanut and spearheaded by agricultural economists Brad Mills of Virginia Tech and Genti Kostandini of UGA.

A network of plant breeders across Africa continues to grow and produce results for farmers. Brought together by Peanut Innovation Lab projects and funding, a network of plant breeders in nine countries spanning West Africa and East and Southern Africa have been sharing germplasm and knowledge, which has led to new varieties in Malawi and soon will lead to another new variety in Zambia.

Valentine's Day is a popular day to give — and receive — a bouquet of flowers. But a recent consumer study from University of Georgia researchers finds that not all gift givers want the same things when it comes to botanical purchases.

All Peanut Innovation Lab projects made significant advances during FY21, despite the many limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Strong partnerships with national program partners kept research moving forward, and virtual communication tools meant everyone stayed in touch.