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Bulletin
Board Sweet potato DiagNotes A CD and internet resource for sweet potato crop management ACIAR has recently released a new software product for sweet potato farmers, extensionists and researchers. Sweet Potato DiagNotes contains an interactive diagnostic key allowing more than 80 problem-causing agents (diseases, insect pests, nematodes, nutritional disorders and environmental factors) to be identified from the symptoms and signs observed on the crop. For each problem, there is a detailed fact sheet providing photographs and information on identification, importance and management of the problem. There are also fact sheets on other aspects of sweet potato production and soil fertility management. This is the most comprehensive publication yet produced on sweet potato management and will provide a valuable reference tool for those working with this crop. Sweet Potato DiagNotes is the product of a collaboration between the University of Queensland, the International Potato Center (CIP ) and the Philippine Root Crop Research and Training Center (Philrootcrops), funded by ACIAR . The product has taken more than four years to develop and brought together the expertise of crop pathologists, entomologists, nutritionists and nematologists from around the world. The interactive key utilises Lucid™ software, a University of Queensland product that has been extensively used for taxonomic keys. Its application in diagnostic keys (expert systems) is a more recent development and Sweet Potato DiagNotes breaks new ground in its scale and user-friendly features. The product can be accessed free at www.lucidcentral.org/keys/sweetpotato or a CD can be ordered from ACIAR by emailing comms@aciar.gov.au. No charge will be made for Papua New Guinea users |
