美国：九层塔作物真菌病蔓延

食品伙伴网导读：罗勒，国内俗称九层塔，一年生草本植物，原产于印度和伊朗，广泛分布于亚洲、欧洲、非洲及美洲的热带地区。近年发展很快，我国南北各地特别是南方及沿海一带均有种植。主要被用作食物的香料，泰国菜和意大利菜中常用到。美国的罗勒种植目前被一种称为霜霉病的真菌困扰，这种真菌在美国全国范围内蔓延。目前这种真菌是否对人体健康有影响不得而知，而植物染病的症状是罗勒植株会出现不自然的黄色，偶尔随后会出现呈褐色的霉菌。这种真菌最早于2007在美国出现，目前的蔓延速度为历年最高。康奈尔大学植物病理学教授建议除了增加植株间的间距之外，还可以选择种植可以抵御真菌的品种，例如深色叶子的品种。
 

原文导读： by Laurel Curran | Jul 29, 2010
A fungus called Basil downy mildew is rapidly spreading throughout basil crops all over the country. Though the fungus is not known to negatively effect human health, it does turn basil an unnatural yellow color with a occasional brownish-black mold appearing later on.

This particular type of fungus was first seen in the United States back in 2007. It has been spreading with increasing speed ever since. Today crops on the East Coast have been hit the hardest, and the fungus has been found infecting plants as far west as California.

Some farmers are being harder hit than others. Large industrial farmers have access to different types of fungicides that can stave off the fungus, but organic and small farms have less ability to prevent the disease.

Francesco DeBaggio of DeBaggio's Herb Farm in Virginia reported that he killed about $18,000 worth of plants since May, reported FoodManufacturing.com. "It's huge for us," he said. "We're so small it's fairly significant. We would have sold 100 percent of those that were destroyed."

Margaret McGrath, a professor of plant pathology at Cornell University, suggests planting herbs in areas that receive the most sunlight, and spacing plants apart from each other to minimize spreading of the fungus. Experts have also suggested planting varieties of basil that are more resistant to the fungus, including many darker leaf varieties.

Basil is an important ingredient in a number of different types of food, including Italian and Thai food.

Though the fungus does not harm human health, it severely effects sales.

DeBaggio has decided against trying to grow Basil again this year. "We're just not going to take any chances," he said. "To have another season like this, that would put us out of business. We couldn't survive that again. Once you ruin your reputation, you can't get it back."