Difference between revisions of "AY Honors/Fungi/Fusarium oxysporum"
| (3 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | '''''Fusarium oxysporum''''', also referred to as '''Agent Green''', is a [[fungus]] that causes '''Fusarium wilt''' disease in more than a hundred species of plants. It does so by colonizing the water-conducting vessels ([[xylem]]) of the plant. As a result of this blockage and breakdown of xylem, symptoms appear in plants such as leaf wilting, yellowing and eventually plant death. | + | '''''Fusarium oxysporum''''', also referred[[User:71.28.146.155|71.28.146.155]] 02:02, 30 October 2006 (UTC) to as [[['''Agent Green''']]], is a [[fungus]] that causes [[['''Fusarium wilt''']]] disease in more than a hundred species of plants. It does so by colonizing the water-conducting vessels ([[xylem]]) of the plant. As a result of this blockage and breakdown of xylem, symptoms appear in plants such as leaf wilting, yellowing and eventually plant death. |
Interest in ''Fusarium oxysporum'' as a [[pesticide]] was first raised after the discovery in the 1960s that it was the causative agent in the destruction of the [[Hawaii]]an [[coca]] population. | Interest in ''Fusarium oxysporum'' as a [[pesticide]] was first raised after the discovery in the 1960s that it was the causative agent in the destruction of the [[Hawaii]]an [[coca]] population. | ||
| Line 19: | Line 19: | ||
The [[United States]] government was involved in a controversial program to use ''Fusarium oxysporum'' for the [[coca eradication|eradication of coca]] in [[Colombia]] and other [[Andes|Andean]] countries, but these plans were cancelled by president [[Bill Clinton]] who was concerned that the unilateral use of a biological agent would be perceived by the rest of the world as biological warfare. The Andean nations have since banned its use throughout the region. Use of biological agents to kill crops is potentially illegal under the [[Biological Weapons Convention]]. | The [[United States]] government was involved in a controversial program to use ''Fusarium oxysporum'' for the [[coca eradication|eradication of coca]] in [[Colombia]] and other [[Andes|Andean]] countries, but these plans were cancelled by president [[Bill Clinton]] who was concerned that the unilateral use of a biological agent would be perceived by the rest of the world as biological warfare. The Andean nations have since banned its use throughout the region. Use of biological agents to kill crops is potentially illegal under the [[Biological Weapons Convention]]. | ||
| − | == See also | + | == See also == |
* [[Panama disease]] | * [[Panama disease]] | ||
| Line 26: | Line 26: | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
| − | * [http://www.tni.org/ | + | * [http://www.tni.org/drugschembio-docs/biowarfare-e.htm Biological Warfare in the War on Drugs] Transnational Institute (TNI) website |
| − | * [http://www.tni.org/ | + | * [http://www.tni.org/archives/jelsma/viciouscircle-e.htm Vicious Circle: The Chemical and Biological 'War on Drugs'] report by the Transnational Institute, March 2001 |
[[Category:Fusarium]] | [[Category:Fusarium]] | ||
[[Category:Plant diseases|Fusarium wilt]] | [[Category:Plant diseases|Fusarium wilt]] | ||
[[Category:Biological weapons]] | [[Category:Biological weapons]] | ||
Revision as of 02:02, 30 October 2006
Fusarium oxysporum, also referred71.28.146.155 02:02, 30 October 2006 (UTC) to as [[[Agent Green]]], is a fungus that causes [[[Fusarium wilt]]] disease in more than a hundred species of plants. It does so by colonizing the water-conducting vessels (xylem) of the plant. As a result of this blockage and breakdown of xylem, symptoms appear in plants such as leaf wilting, yellowing and eventually plant death.
Interest in Fusarium oxysporum as a pesticide was first raised after the discovery in the 1960s that it was the causative agent in the destruction of the Hawaiian coca population.
The United States government was involved in a controversial program to use Fusarium oxysporum for the eradication of coca in Colombia and other Andean countries, but these plans were cancelled by president Bill Clinton who was concerned that the unilateral use of a biological agent would be perceived by the rest of the world as biological warfare. The Andean nations have since banned its use throughout the region. Use of biological agents to kill crops is potentially illegal under the Biological Weapons Convention.
See also
External links
- Biological Warfare in the War on Drugs Transnational Institute (TNI) website
- Vicious Circle: The Chemical and Biological 'War on Drugs' report by the Transnational Institute, March 2001
