💨 Abstract

Federal prosecutors charged two Chinese researchers, Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu, with smuggling the crop-killing fungus Fusarium graminearum into the U.S. last summer. The fungus, which causes Fusarium head blight and inflicts significant losses on U.S. crops, was found in Liu's backpack. The researchers allegedly did not obtain the necessary permits. Fusarium graminearum, already prevalent in the U.S., is studied to understand its genetic traits.

Courtesy: WTOP Staff