December 22, 2004

Wheat Disease Prevention Breakthrough
 

Joint efforts between Chinese and American scientists have led to a cure for a wheat disease.

Found around the world, the "take-all" disease is exceptionally difficult to cure as it infects numerous microbes in the soil.

The disease has stricken Northern China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, since its soil has higher alkalinity and lower ventilation.

Figures show Ningxia's wheat production has gone down by 150 million kilograms every year due to the disease.

The breakthrough is a result of 12 years of Sino-US cooperation on prevention research of the "Take-all" disease. New treatment methods have been used in over 200 hectares of farmland and have helped generate more than 300 million yuan or 37 million US dollars in profits for Ningxia farmers.