ARS Newslink

ARS News Service
USDA Agricultural Research Service
May 7, 2010

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Saving eyesight-and lives-in the developing world:
Two ARS researchers are part of an international team that has found a way to boost the nutritional value of corn-an advance that has the potential to reduce the number of children in developing countries who lose their eyesight, become ill or die each year because of vitamin A deficiencies. (5/3)
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2010/100503.htm

Genetic weapons against sheath blight:
ARS scientists have identified sources of genetic resistance to sheath blight, a major disease caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani that affects rice production worldwide. (5/4)
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2010/100504.htm

A new way to use herbicides:
Using herbicides to sterilize rather than to kill weedy grasses might be a more economical and environmentally sound weed control strategy, according to a study by an ARS rangeland ecologist and his industry cooperator. (5/5)
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2010/100505.htm

Improving storage tolerance of potato varieties:
ARS scientists in North Dakota are evaluating the storage properties of promising new potato varieties that could greatly improve potato quality for growers throughout the United States. (5/6)
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2010/100506.htm

A "green" alternative for improving water quality:
Algae-already being eyed for biofuel production-could be put to use right away to remove nitrogen and phosphorus in livestock manure runoff, according to an ARS researcher who says this could give resource managers a new eco-friendly option for reducing the level of agricultural pollutants that contaminate water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. (5/7)
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2010/100507.htm

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Newslink is the weekly e-mail pointer for web links to stories issued each workday by the Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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ARS News Service, Information Staff, Agricultural Research Service
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