Spotlight

• Virginia Tech and University of Tuscia lead international research team to unravel origin of devastating kiwifruit bacterium

     

  An international research team led by Virginia Tech Associate Professor Boris Vinatzer and Giorgio Balestra of the University of Tuscia in Italy has used the latest DNA sequencing technology to trace a devastating pathogen back to its likely origin.

  Vinatzer and Giorgio published a paper on May 9 in the journal PLoS ONE, which is the first study released in a scientific journal to trace the bacterium back to its likely origin of China.

  Continue reading about tracing this kiwifruit bacterium.

• Agricultural exports reach a record high

     

  Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell addressed about 150 attendees at the recent 2012 Governor's Conference on Agricultural Trade. He underscored his administration's global marketing initiatives in securing new and lucrative deals for agricultural exports. The commonwealth's agricultural exports exceeded $2.35 billion in 2011, a record high.

  Read more about Virginia's agricultural exports.