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Article: Neem oil locks out spores.
- Article from:
- Agricultural Research
- Article date:
- June 1, 1994
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1994 U.S. Government Printing Office. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Oil extracted from neem seeds covers plant leaves like a raincoat, stopping fungi that cause diseases such as powdery mildew and rust from infecting plants.
Fungal spores are spread by wind and splashing raindrops. "If the spores can't adhere to a leaf, germinate, and penetrate the leaf cells, they can't cause disease," says Jim Locke, an ARS research plant pathologist.
Neem, or margosa, trees are native to India and Burma. They are related to mahogany, require a frost-free climate, and will grow in West Africa, the Caribbean, Australia, southern Florida, several southwestern states, and Hawaii.
Almost all parts of the versatile plant contain ...