Substantial investment to tackle challenges of African vector-borne plant diseases
The University of Bristol has been awarded £2 million to lead a major new project that aims to tackle the devastation caused by vector-borne plant diseases in Africa.
In much the same way as insects can transmit human diseases, destructive plant diseases are transmitted by aphids, beetles, whitefly and other insects.
These act as vectors of plant viruses and spread disease by moving between plants in a field.
Smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa grow a range of crops to feed their families.
Vector-borne plant viruses are a significant constraint on staple and cash crops such as cassava, sweet potato, maize and yam.
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