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Middle East Research
Cooperation Project (MERC).
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Year: 1993-1997
Grant #: USAID CR-4583-425202
HNE-0518-G-00-3060-00
Grant Amount: $2,999,997
Location: Egypt, Israel
The MERC Project was a collaboration involving scientists at Virginia
Tech and the National Research Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture
in Cairo, Egypt and the Weizman Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel.
These scientists sought ways to eliminate crop devastation by a parasitic
weed known as Orobanche. |
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When adversaries have common problems, science can help them come together to address critical issues. |
Interdisciplinary studies focused on basic biological relationships
between parasitic weeds and crop hosts. State of the art methodologies
were utilized, including extensive biotechnology and genetic engineering
research. MERC involved resting and evaluating classical and molecular
monitoring techniques linked with damage estimation, integrated agronomic
practices, and chemical and biological control techniques. The Department
of Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science in the College of
Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech played a major role
in project implementation.
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