Description: Important agricultural crops are threatened by a wide variety of plant diseases and pests. These can damage crops, lower fruit and vegetable quality; and, at their worst, wipe out entire harvests. About 42% of the world’s total agricultural crop is destroyed yearly by diseases and pests. In addition, farmers often must contend with more than one pest or disease attacking the same crop, and new pathogenic strains resistant to pesticides that were effective only a few planting seasons before. |