Fancy that! Interesting News stories

[Maggi Young]

Breakthrough for treatment of African violet pathogen Pectobacterium chrysanthemi
by Miranda Kimberley
 from HortWeek.com
12 March 2009

"Scientists at the University of Warwick may have found a way to tackle Pectobacterium chrysanthemi ,a pathogen that attacks African violets.

The research team alongside colleagues from the University of St Andrews have been investigating the bacteria Pectobacterium chrysanthemi that afflicts plants - particularly Saintpaulia. It operates by competing with its host for iron.

But the research project has discovered the method by which the bacteria harvests iron, using an enzyme catalyst called achromobactin which binds citric acid.

They have found a way to block or inhibit this chemical pathway so that the bacterium is starved of iron.

Members of the Warwick University research team, which has undertaken further work into the area, believe the discovery may provide help in the treatment of several virulent and even deadly mammalian infections including anthrax.

The article on African violet pathogen research, by Dr Nadia Kadi, Dr Daniel Oves-Costales, Dr Lijiang Song and Professor Gregory Challis et al, appears in the March 2009 issue of Nature Chemical Biology."

Members of the Warwick University research team, which has undertaken further work into the area, believe the discovery may provide help in the treatment of several virulent and even deadly mammalian infections including anthrax.

..... that is a somewhat surprising direction for the research to have taken, isn't it.... but undeniably useful if it succeeds!

[cohan]

interesting--and a good example of why general science should be encouraged! not that this was pure research--there's money in african violets...lol

[Maggi Young]

This was NEWS to me...... John Massey of Ashwood Nurseries will be featured on UK Television on Friday night 13th March......See John’s Garden on BBC2 Gardeners World Special : Plant Addicts with Carol Klein.
Friday, 13th March. 8pm.
This is the first programme of a new series,  when Carol Klein meets a selection of plantholics in the first of three 60-minute specials.  There is a clip from the great Roy Lancaster's garden on the BBC website, http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardenersworld/  which I suppose will only be available in the UK.

I  was puzzled as to why the links did not work outside the  UK and was told that it was to stop non-licence payers benefitting from the BBC ...... So much for spreading the word so that there is more demand for the BBC to sell their programming world-wide! 

[Paddy Tobin]

The link works perfectly here in Ireland. I have always loved Roy Lancaster's talks and writings.

I wonder if it is possible to view television channels on the internet as I do miss the BBC gardening programmes.

Paddy

[Maggi Young]

Paddy, if that link is working for you, then it should be possible for you to view the programme live on the internet or later on the BBC i-player ..... worth a try, I think.
We are great fans of Roy Lancaster ....he is a charming man and has sent us lots of super seed over the years 

[Lesley Cox]

The link works perfectly here in Ireland.
Paddy

Not alas in New Zealand.

[Paddy Tobin]

Maggi,

Unfortunately, BBC i player doesn't work. How I wish it did.

Paddy

[Anthony Darby]

I have a plant of Sorbus gonganshanica from Roy Lancaster berries. Anyone know this plant?

[fermi de Sousa]

The link works perfectly here in Ireland.
Paddy

Not alas in New Zealand.

But quite bizarely, it works here in Australia ! Don't tell the BBC!
I'd not seen Roy "live" before as far as I can remember; he seems a charming chap.
Maggi,
please post the link to tonight's episode when it's available and hopefully our luck will hold!
cheers
fermi

[Anthony Darby]

Yes, I was at a recording of two 'Gardeners' Question Time' in Dunblane and he offered berries to anyone who could remember the name Sorbus gonganshanica at the end.