Studies on Cultural and Morphological Variability in the Isolates of Fusarium solani Causing Dieback Disease in Tea Ecosystem of NE India Total 10 Fusarium solani were isolated and coded as NMFst1, NMFst2, NMFst3, NMFst4, UMFst1, UMFst2, UMFst3, PAFst, SDFst and CDFst from the tea ecosystem of three North Eastern states of India viz., Meghalaya, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The isolates were characterized based on cultural characteristics on colony colour (as per Royal Horticultural Society colour chart), zonation (present or absent), topography (raise and umbonate) and sporulation (profuse or moderate) were studied. Morphological characteristics of the isolated Fusarium solani grown on PDA medium and microscopic observations were made under 40X. Size of the macro conidia and for the microconidia were found to be in the range of 5.79-23.50×1.29-2.33 μm and 3.12-8.58×1.22-1.88 μm, respectively. Macro conidia are found to be sickle shape (all the isolates) with blunt end (PAFst) and microconidia were round to oval (all isolates) in shape. The colour of mycelium was found to be hyaline. Presence of septation in macroconidia (5-3) and mycelium were also recorded. By comparing the cultural and morphological characteristics with the key guidelines of C. Booth (1971), species level identification was done. Screening for the first growing isolate of Fusarium solani was done by taking the radial growth of the isolates at different days after incubation (up to 168 hours). Among the 10 isolates, 6 isolates were found to be fast growing in nature.

How to Cite

Das, P., Mahanta, M., Bhattacharyya, A., Dutta, P., 2025. Studies on cultural and morphological variability in the isolates of Fusarium solani causing dieback disease in tea ecosystem of NE India. Plant Health Archives 3(1), 01-07. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/3.1.2025/01-07.

]]> Cultural characteristics, Dieback disease, Fusarium solani, Morphological characteristics, Tea Research Article Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:00:00 IST Role of Growth Hormones in Regulating Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Plants Plants are sessile organisms and face the adverse effect of environmental changes. They regulate the adaptations to these stresses through various mechanisms. Plant hormones are important regulators that control the growth through modulation of several molecules, messengers and other signal transduction pathways under different abiotic challenges. Most importantly, the downstream metabolic processes are maintained via homeostasis. Current developments in molecular biology have improved comprehensive knowledge on hormonal regulation of abiotic stress. Here, we converse on the major metabolism affected by abiotic challenges mainly drought, heat, salinity and cold other than the hormonal regulation of abiotic stress tolerance. The mechanistic understanding is really crucial for the crop improvement initiatives.

How to Cite

Sharma, L., Roy, S., Goswami, T., Satya, P., Yadav, S., Dey, P., Kumar, R., Verma, A.K., Singh, R., Singh, G.P., 2024. Role of growth hormones in regulating abiotic stress tolerance in plants. Plant Health Archives 2(4), 145-159. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/2.4.2024/145-159.

]]> ABA, Abiotic stress, Auxin, Brassinosteroids, GA, ROS Review Article Sat, 21 Dec 2024 00:00:00 IST Bio-Intensive Pest Management for Major Insect Pests of Tomato Field evaluation was carried out in farmers’ field at Lality Chapari, Jorhat, Assam, during the year 2022 and 2023 in rabi season. Sucking pests, A. gossypii and B. tabaci population was significantly reduced in both BIPM and chemical control plots as compared to control. The tomato fruit borer damage was lower and yield was higher in chemical control than BIPM plots. The fruit borer damage was reduced to 72.29% in BIPM Plot and 80.13% in chemical treated plots. There was no significant difference in between the yield of BIPM (67.03 q ha-1) and chemical treated plots (7,050 kg ha-1). Coccinellids populations were significantly higher in BIPM plots. B:C ratio was 1:2.73 and 1:2.62 in BIPM and chemical control, respectively.

How to Cite

Devee, A., Gogoi, L., Saikia, A., Gayon, J., Baruah, P., Sarmah, N., 2024. Bio-intensive pest management for major insect pests of tomato. Plant Health Archives 2(4), 141-144. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/2.4.2024/141-144.

]]> Aphis gossypii, Bamisia tabaci, Bio-intensive pest management, Fruit borer, Tomato Research Article Sun, 08 Dec 2024 00:00:00 IST Microbial Pesticides in Pest Management This review looks at how modern pest management strategies might use microbial pesticides as well as how they might reduce the negative consequences linked with conventional chemical pesticides. Comprising naturally occurring microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, nematodes and protozoa, microbial pesticides offer a sustainable alternative to synthetic chemicals. Ranging from the development of particular toxins to host-targeted infections causing pest death, their modes of action provide an efficient and environment friendly pest management. This paper follows the historical development of microbial pesticide research and records its gradual incorporation into integrated pest management (IPM) systems. Presented in depth are the ways by which bacterial agents, especially Bacillus thuringiensis, disturb insect physiology by means of toxin-mediated effects. Viral agents are assessed in terms of host specificity and operational safety, especially baculoviruses. While the functions of nematodes and protozoa in the control of soil-dwelling pests are also discussed, fungal pathogens are investigated for their capacity to penetrate insect integuments and invade host tissues. The study also points out and addresses issues including field application uniformity, environmental sensitivity, mass manufacturing constraints and formulation stability. This paper, therefore, combines present research results to offer a thorough knowledge of practical use and microbial pesticide effectiveness and highlights the need of ongoing technical innovation in biopesticide development, hence opening the path for more integrated and sustainable pest management strategies supporting agricultural production and ecological balance.

How to Cite

Rokozeno., Solo, V., 2024. Microbial pesticides in pest management. Plant Health Archives 2(4), 131-140. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/2.4.2024/131-140.

]]> Bacterial pesticides, Fungal pesticides, Insect viruses, IPM integration, Nematodal pesticides, Protozoan pesticides Review Article Mon, 18 Nov 2024 00:00:00 IST Characterization and Evaluation of Endophytic Bacteria from the Ethno-Medicinal Plant Gynura cripidioides (Gende) of North Eastern Himalayan Region, India Bacterial endophytes are bacteria that reside internally within plants, flourishing in a distinct environment that protects them from external adversities and changes in environmental circumstances, unlike microbes that live outside. Their entry into plant tissues occurs through specific ‘hotspot’ areas, such as the root system. After gaining entry, the plants use a variety of secondary metabolites, structural component synthesis, plant immunity, resource competition with pathogens, antioxidant activities and phenylpropanoid metabolism to reduce the effects of both biotic and abiotic stressors. From the Gende (Gynura cripidioides; Family: Asteraceae) that was removed from the Pasighat region in the East Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh, India, endophytic bacteria were recovered. This study set out to evaluate and characterise endophytic bacteria for their cpability to enhance plant growth through various means, including phosphate solubilization, IAA production, siderophore production, growth on nitrogen-free media, exo-polysaccharide production, in-vitro evaluation and antagonistic activity analysis.

How to Cite

Pandey, P.K., Yadav, R.N.S., Samanta, R., Singh, S., Singh, A.K., Singh, A.P., 2024. Characterization and evaluation of endophytic bacteria from the ethno-medicinal plant Gynura cripidioides (Gende) of North Eastern Himalayan Region, India. Plant Health Archives 2(4), 123-130. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/2.4.2024/123-130.

]]> Bio-control, Endophytes, IAA production, PGPR, Siderophore production Research Article Fri, 25 Oct 2024 00:00:00 IST Navigating Climate Change and Its Impacts on Parasitoids, Predators and Pollinators This review considers the numerous consequences in which climate change affects insect pest population, natural enemy and crop production. Direct effects of climate induced changes on insect physiology and behaviour; and biological interactions that may influence the interactions between pests and their natural enemies. These temperature fluctuations will be expected to change diurnal activity patterns and modify interspecific interactions and hence reduce the efficacy of natural enemies. Direct impacts are as a change in temperature, precipitation and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations; indirect effects of changes in herbivore and competitor distributions; and changes to higher trophic level interactions, such as predation, parasitism and competition. Even climate change effects on natural enemies become more complicated with changes in the plant physiology by CO2, temperature and moisture. Then, extreme weather events aggravate these complexities as they further make unpredictable interactions between crops, pests, diseases and natural enemies. Such unpredictability is a problem for current crop protection strategies and agricultural yield. This review is intended to highlight the need for adaptive pest control solutions for limiting the damages related with climate change, towards a sustainable agricultural production.

How to Cite

Kumar, S., 2024. Navigating climate change and its impacts on parasitoids, predators and pollinators. Plant Health Archives 2(4), 115-122. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/2.4.2024/115-122.

]]> Agricultural ecosystems, Climate change, Parasitoid, Plant-Insect interactions, Pollinators, Predators Review Article Sun, 13 Oct 2024 00:00:00 IST Pigenonpea Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. Entries Selection against Pod Fly Melanagromyza obtusa Mulloch Pigeonpea, Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp., is one of the most significant tropical food legumes that caters to the protein needs of people. Though more than 300 insect species are known to cause damage to pigeonpea, the pod borer complexes are the major threat to pigeonpea growers as they infest during the reproductive stage. Among the pod fly, Melanagromyza obtusa Mulloch, causes 10-80% of the damage and its hidden behaviour makes management difficult. The pod fly infests the pigeonpea during the maturity stage and the damage is visible at the time of harvest. The damaged seeds are inappropriate for dietary and seed purposes. The experiments to screen 70 pigeonpea entries were carried out to find out the resistant source against M. obtusa and Co8 pigeonpea used as standard checks. The responses of 70 entries were as follows: one resistant, nine moderately resistant, six tolerant, seven equal to check, 14 moderately susceptible, 31 susceptible and two highly susceptible. The pigeonpea entry, IC 525468, demonstrated resistance with a pest severity index of 54.67 and a grade of 3. The entries ACP 1225, CRG 5, IC-525514, ICPL-84031, ICPL-86020, ICPL-90028, ICPL-91018, ICPL-91045, ICPR-2447 and UPAS-120 showed moderate resistance. The pest severity index ranged from 25.21 to 48.49 for moderately resistant entries and from 6.21 to 22.86 for those equal to the check. The resistant and moderate resistant can be employed in breeding programs for creating resistant varieties against pod fly.

How to Cite

Shanmugam, P.S., Geetha, S., Fanish, S.A., Karthiba, L., Backiyaraj, S., Somasundaram, V., 2024. Pigenonpea Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. entries selection against pod fly Melanagromyza obtusa Mulloch. Plant Health Archives 2(3), 109-114. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/2.3.2024/109-114.

]]> Breeding programme, Pigeonpea, Pod fly, Screening, Tolerant entries Research Article Sat, 28 Sep 2024 00:00:00 IST Abundance of Major Pests of Okra in Relation to Crop Phenology and Cropping Systems The prevalence of the important okra pests (cv. AO-1), which include the red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae), leaf hopper (Amrasca biguttula biguttula), whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), and shoot & fruit borer (Earias vitella), was investigated in both conventional and organic okra farming systems at Navsari Agricultural University in Gujarat from 2018 to 2020. Fruit damage has observed peak at the fruiting stage (23.57 & 20.44%), as evidenced by the highest populations of shoot and fruit borer (2.29 & 1.93). Significant and positive correlations between pest population and fruit damage with crop stage were found (r' = 0.722 & 0.750 and r'' = 0.793 & 0.746), suggesting advancement in crop stage (vegetative to flowering to fruiting stage) led to increased pest population and damage. Highest leafhopper population was noticed at flowering stage (9.24 & 9.98 leaf-1) in both the farming methods. Correlation of leafhopper with crop stages in farming systems was non-significant and positive (r’ = 0.002 and 0.041). Highest whitefly population was noticed at fruiting stage (1.63 & 2.03 leaf-1) in both the farming systems. Correlation of whitefly population with crop stages was significant (r’ = 0.710 & 0.732) implying advancement in crop growth increased whitefly population. Lastly, the highest Red spider mite population was noticed at fruiting stage (13.42 & 15.54 per 2 cm2 leaf area) in both the farming systems. Correlation of mite population with crop stages was positive and significant (r’ = 0.646 & 0.642) implying advancement in crop stage led to an increase in mite population in both the farming systems.

How to Cite

Srinivas, G., Kumar, S., 2024. Abundance of major pests of okra in relation to crop phenology and cropping systems. Plant Health Archives 2(3), 104-108. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/2.3.2024/104-108.

]]> Crop phenology, Farming practice, Okra, Pests Research Article Tue, 17 Sep 2024 00:00:00 IST Knowledge Level of Farmers on Safe Use of Pesticides in Barpeta District of Assam The study on the impact of awareness programme on farmers’ knowledge regarding the safe use of pesticides revealed a significant increase in knowledge among the participants after the programme. Socio-economic factors were also analyzed for their association with knowledge gain. A positive correlation between education level and knowledge acquisition was observed from the study. However, the variables such as occupation, age, experience in farming, family type, information source about farming and farm size did not exhibit significant correlation. The results of investigation observed that the farmers often depended on the advice from other experienced farmers and agriculture input dealers regarding various farming activities. The input dealers and the farmers showed limited interest about the safe pesticide handling practices. The significant importance of awareness programme in improving the farmers’ knowledge level was observed in the present investigation. Organizing regular and frequent awareness programme regarding safe handling of pesticides could be suggested to make people aware of the harmful effects of chemical pesticides.

How to Cite

Upamanya, G.K., Deka, C., Sharma, H., Deka, A.K., 2024. Knowledge level of farmers on safe use of pesticides in Barpeta district of Assam. Plant Health Archives 2(3), 98-103. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/2.3.2024/98-103.

]]> Awareness programme, Knowledge, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Safe use of pesticides Research Article Thu, 29 Aug 2024 00:00:00 IST Influence of Spacing and Nutrient Management on Growth and Yield of Tree Mulberry Genotypes The KSSRDI conducted research from 2018 to 2021 in Bengaluru, assessing tree mulberry growth, yield and moisture with 8′×8′ and 10′×10′ spacings and four nutrient levels. Data from eight crop cycles were collected and analysis used a three-factor split-split-plot design via OPSTAT. The study compared V1 and Vishala mulberry genotypes, highlighting Vishala's superior growth and yield. Vishala had more branches tree-1 (35.50), longer branches (143.23 cm), more leaves branch-1 (31.69), higher leaf and stem yield (27.18 and 18.42 mt ha-1yr-1). V1 exhibited higher leaf stem-1 moisture (74.69% and 71.77%) compared to Vishala (69.76% and 67.26%). Among specific combinations, S1N4 and S1N3 yielded the highest leaf stem-1 output (29.90 and 19.70 mt ha-1yr-1), while S2N4 and S2N3 had more branches tree-1 and longer branches. This study highlights Vishala′s potential for increased productivity and sheds light on nutrient levels and spacing effects on mulberry growth and yield. Interactions between factors did not significantly affect mulberry growth and yield parameters. The study recommends an 8'×8' spacing with 75% of the recommended fertilizer dose (105:42:42 kg NPK acre-1year-1), alongside the application of 10 tons acre-1year-1 of Farm Yard Manure, biofertilizers Prakruthi and Seri-Phos, and green manure crops like Sunhemp and Cowpea.

How to Cite

Devamani, M., Thimma Reddy, H., 2024. Influence of spacing and nutrient management on growth and yield of tree mulberry genotypes. Plant Health Archives 2(3), 89-97. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/2.3.2024/89-97.

]]> Chemical fertilizers, FYM, Green manures, V1, Vishala Research Article Mon, 12 Aug 2024 00:00:00 IST Effectiveness of Microbial and Plant Extracts for Pest and Disease Management in Cucumber Production in Abuja Region of Nigeria Cucumber is an essential crop in Nigeria predominantly produced by smallholder farmers. Its yield is often hindered by pests and diseases and exacerbated by the reliance on chemical treatments that pose environmental risks. This study addresses the research gap regarding the effectiveness of microbial and plant extracts for pest and disease management in Nigeria for cucumber production.

A randomised complete block design was employed to compare the performance of T1 (Bacillus pumilus), T2 (Isaria fumosorosea), T3 (mixture of T1 and T2), T4 (neem oil), T5 (fermented neem leaf extract), T6 (mixture of T4 and T5) and T7 (control with water) in field and pot environments. The study observed pest and disease incidence, growth and yield parameters. The best treatments for pest control were T2 (1.92) and T5 (2.08) while the least effective treatments were T1 (4.71) and T4 (6.17) pest population plant-1, while T6 was effective in downy mildew and bacterial wilt management with a value of 2.46 and 2.17, respectively, with the highest disease score recorded in T2 with a value of 3.17 and 2.75 for downy mildew and bacterial wilt respectively. The environmental conditions affected the field (11.99 t ha-1 and 3.19) significantly. They favoured higher fruit yield and quality compared to the pot (2.20 t ha-1 and 2.44) with T4 (7.94 t ha-1) and T1 (10.10 t ha-1) treatments having the highest yield while the lowest of 4.83 t ha-1 was recorded in T6. The study concludes that environmental conditions play crucial role in the efficacy of treatments.

How to Cite

Abiodun, D.H., Samuel, K.R., Ado, M.H., James, C.N., Barnabas, I.A., Chukwu, A.I., Agwu, K.A., 2024. Effectiveness of microbial and plant extracts for pest and disease management in cucumber production in Abuja region of Nigeria. Plant Health Archives 2(3), 70-88. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/2.3.2024/70-88.

]]> Bacillus, Bacterial wilt, Cucumber, Downy mildew, Erwinia, Neem Research Article Thu, 25 Jul 2024 00:00:00 IST Assessment of Soil Fertility in Mulberry Cultivation Areas of Tamil Nadu, India Sericulturists recently encountered reduced leaf yields and difficulties in silkworm rearing due to nutrient deficiencies in mulberry leaves caused by insufficient soil fertilization, leading to research on soil fertility status for optimal mulberry cultivation in Tamil Nadu. A total of 2,630 soil samples were gathered from various locations across the state and examined for 12 chemical properties. Of these, 83.27% were identified as alkaline (pH > 7.8) and non-saline (EC < 1 mmhos cm-1). The content of organic carbon was low in 64.33% of the samples (<0.65%), while 38.75% and 35.1% exhibited medium (260-560 kg ha-1) to high (>560 kg ha-1) levels of available nitrogen. High levels of available phosphorus (P2O5 > 25 kg ha-1) were found in 45.01% of the samples, while 59.43% had high potassium (K2O > 240 kg ha-1). Sulphur content was low (<10 ppm) in 38.52% of the samples. DTPA-extractable micronutrients revealed that manganese (Mn) levels were medium in 23.8% of the samples (2-4 ppm) and high in 53% (>4 ppm). In contrast, boron (B) levels were low in 79.20% of the samples (<0.5 ppm). Iron (Fe) was found to be low (<4.5 ppm) in 84.71% of samples, zinc (Zn) was deficient (<0.6 ppm) in 57.52% and copper (Cu) was high (>0.4 ppm) in 89.88%. The study concluded that the majority of mulberry cultivation areas in Tamil Nadu have slightly alkaline soils, with deficiencies in micronutrients and organic carbon.

How to Cite

Devamani, M., Dhahira Beevi, N., 2024. Assessment of soil fertility in mulberry cultivation areas of Tamil Nadu, India. Plant Health Archives 2(2), 61-69. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/2.2.2024/61-69.

]]> Chemicals, Macronutrients, Micronutrients, Mulberry, Silkworm, Soil Research Article Fri, 28 Jun 2024 00:00:00 IST Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt): Clarifying the Genomic Landscape for Precision Pest Management in Agriculture The story of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) is presented in detail, covering its discovery in 1901 and its rise to prominence in the worldwide fight against pests. Originating with Shigetane Ishiwata's isolation in 1901 and Ernst Berliner's identification in 1911, Bt's milestones include the 1958 commercialization and 1996 introduction of genetically modified Bt crops, covering 1.5 billion hectares by 2022. Bt, a dominant force in biocontrol with over 98% of commercialized biopesticides, employs diverse toxins such as Cry, Cyt and Vip families. Its precise insecticidal action, notably Cry proteins' multistep mechanism, targets key pests like Fall Armyworm and Diamondback Moth. Bt's versatile applications extend to combating nematodes and genetic exploration through advanced techniques, including whole genome sequencing. Indigenous Bt isolates, exemplified by T405 and T414, showcase robust toxicity. Phylogenetic tree construction unravels the evolutionary pathways of insecticidal crystal proteins, portraying Bt as a resilient force in safeguarding agriculture and ecosystems. This review concludes by envisioning the future evolution of Bt's application in agriculture, emphasizing sustainable practices guided by the collaboration between nature and science.

How to Cite

Berryish, M.C., Peter, S., Gauda, B., Dhanvarsha, M., Billy, S., 2024. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt): Clarifying the genomic landscape for precision pest management in agriculture. Plant Health Archives 2(2), 48-60. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/2.2.2024/48-60.

]]> Bacillus thuringiensis, Bioinsecticide proteins, Evolutionary analysis, Genetically modified crops, Genome profiling Review Article Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:00:00 IST Influence of Macro- and Micro-Fertilizers on Silkworm Economic Parameters An intensive research was carried out during 2018-2022 at the Regional Sericultural Research Station, Salem, Tamil Nadu. The research focused on assessing the significance of micronutrients and their effects on the growth, moisture content, yield parameters and nutrient composition of mulberry leaves. The combined results indicated that treatments T2 and T3 exhibited higher larval weight, shell weight, rendita and denier, with values of 42.90 g, 0.42 g, 6.14 kg and 2.33 d, respectively. Treatment T5 also showed promising results, with larval weight of 42 g, shell weight of 0.38 g, rendita of 6.2 kg and denier of 2.65 d. In terms of single cocoon weight, treatment T3 had the highest value of 1.88 g, closely followed by T2 with 1.86 g. Regarding shell ratio and silk filament length, T2 exhibited higher values (22.58% and 1103 m) compared to T3 (22.55% and 1099 m). Among the five crops studied, the fourth crop demonstrated the best results when treated with T2 and T3. These treatments resulted in higher larval weight (51.37 g and 51.6 g), cocoon weight (2.2 g and 2.3 g), shell weight (0.56 g and 0.55 g), shell ratio (25% and 24.67%), pupal weight (1.65 g and 1.71 g), silk filament length (1416 m and 1412 m), rendita (6 kg) and denier (2.46 d and 2.79 d) respectively.

How to Cite

Devamani, M., Dahira Beevi, N., Mohan, A., 2024. Influence of macro- and micro-fertilizers on silkworm economic parameters. Plant Health Archives 2(2), 41-47. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/2.2.2024/41-47.

]]> Inorganic fertilizers, Panchagavya, Poshan, Silkworm, V1 mulberry variety Research Article Thu, 30 May 2024 00:00:00 IST From Trash to Treasure: The Prospect of Producing Bioethanol from Wastepaper through Pretreatment with Sulphuric Acid Bioethanol is a prospective alternative to nonrenewable energy sources and this study aimed to produce bioethanol from waste paper using a pre-treatment technique. Freshly fermented palm wine was analyzed using standard microbiological techniques to identify the microorganisms used in the study. The pre-treatment process utilized sulphuric acid and sodium hydroxide at varying concentrations (5%, 10%, 25%, 40% and 50%). The substrates had glucose concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 0.9 ppm and the peak yield was recorded at 10% sulphuric acid pretreatment. Bioethanol was produced through fractional distillation and sugar fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The viability of bioethanol production using waste paper has been demonstrated as a sustainable method of waste management and a potential solution to energy shortages, particularly in developing countries.

How to Cite

Abdulsalam, M., Mustapha, S.M., Bolaji, A.A., Ibrahim, G.O., 2024. From trash to treasure: The prospect of producing bioethanol from wastepaper through pretreatment with sulphuric acid. Plant Health Archives 2(2), 37-40. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/2.2.2024/37-40.

]]> Bioethanol, Pre-treatment, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Sulphuric acid, Waste paper Research Article Sun, 12 May 2024 00:00:00 IST Phytocoenology Study of Weeds of Rice Crop with Edaphic Variation: An Analysis from Jhargram, West Bengal, India Under edaphic fluctuation, the current study explains the phytosociological characteristics and weed distribution patterns in transplanted rice crops. Present work was done in Jhargram block, West Bengal, during kharif season 2022 and 2023. For every weed species, analytical quantitative characters were determined, such as relative density, relative dominance and important value index. There were 15 (6 grassy, 6 BLWs, 3 sedge), 14 (4 grassy,6 BLWs, 4 sedge), 16 (5 grassy, 8 BLWs, 3 sedge) and 11 (3 grassy, 5 BLWs, 3 sedge) weeds species found in Jhargram, Binpur I and Binpur II and Nayagram block of Jhargram district, respectively. Observation showed that, the relative density of single plant species at Jhargram Block, Cynodon dactylon was the predominant grassy weed; however, relative density of BLWs (Broad Leaved Weeds) and sedges, more seen with Euphorbia hirta, Amaranthus spinosus and Cyperus sp., respectively. Importance Value Index (IVI) more reported with Cynodon dactylon for grasses, Ludwigia parviflora and Euphorbia hirta for BLWs and Cyperus difformis for sedges. In Binpur I, Cynodon dactylon for grasses, Ludwigia parviflora for BLWs and Cyperus rotundus for sedges, were the predominant weed species with highest IVI. In Binpur II, block, more IVI found with Paspalum scorbiculatum for grasses, Euphorbia hirta and Ludwigia parviflora for BLWs and Cyperus rotundus for sedges. In Nayagram, block, relative abundance was observed more with Echinochloa colona, Hydrolea zeylanica and Cyperus rotundus for grasses, BLWs and sedges, respectively. More number of BLWs was observed throughout the observation followed by grasses in case of Jhargram, Binpur I and sedges in Binpur II and Nayagram block. This baseline information become very imperative for future research as well as for farming community to choose right kind of competitive crops and cropping pattern in the red-latertic zone.

How to Cite

Mukherjee, D., Moinuddin, G., Jash, S., 2024. Phytocoenology study of weeds of rice crop with edaphic variation: An analysis from Jhargram, West Bengal, India. Plant Health Archives 2(2), 31-36. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/2.2.2024/31-36.

]]> Density, IVI, Phytocoenology, Rice, Weeds Research Article Sun, 28 Apr 2024 00:00:00 IST A Review on Cytomorphological, Medicinal, Phytochemical and Pharmacological Potential of Common Weed of Wheat Crop of Himachal Pradesh: Fumaria parviflora Fumaria parviflora, commonly known as "small-flowered fumitory," is a ubiquitous weed found in various regions across the globe. Despite being considered a nuisance in farming areas, the plant possesses numerous therapeutic benefits acknowledged in conventional medical systems. Its extracts have shown promise in treating digestive disorders, respiratory ailments and skin conditions due to their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Efforts to harness its medicinal potential could lead to the development of innovative treatments while addressing concerns related to its invasive nature. This review aims to gather and evaluate the body of research on the medicinal, phytochemical and pharmacological attributes of Fumaria parviflora. Phytochemical analyses have revealed the presence of diverse bioactive compounds in F. parviflora, including alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, terpenoids and essential oils. These phytoconstituents exhibit various biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective and anticancer effects. Despite the considerable therapeutic potential demonstrated by F. parviflora, further research is necessary to elucidate its action mechanisms, pharmacokinetics and safety profiles. Moreover, clinical trials are required to validate the effectiveness and security of F. parviflora-based human interventions. Harnessing the medicinal potential of natural products holds significant promise for the development of novel therapeutic agents across various ailments. Natural products, derived from plants, marine organisms, fungi and microorganisms, have been a rich source of pharmacologically active compounds for centuries. These compounds often possess unique chemical structures and biological activities that make them valuable candidates for drug discovery and development.

How to Cite

Kumar, N., Devi, R., Pratibha., Kumar, S., Saurav., Pathania, M.S., Kumari, A., 2024. A review on cytomorphological, medicinal, phytochemical and pharmacological potential of common weed of wheat crop of Himachal Pradesh: Fumaria parviflora. Plant Health Archives 2(1), 26-30. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/2.1.2024/26-30.

]]> Antioxidant, Bioactive compounds, Fumaria parviflora, Phytochemical, Pharmacological Review Article Sat, 30 Mar 2024 00:00:00 IST Synergic Effects of Salinity and Rhizoctonia solani (Kuhn) Infection on Growth and Yield Attributes of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Salinity stress and Rhizoctonia solani pose significant threats to global rice production; however, their interactive effects on rice plants remain underexplored. This study aimed to determine the combined effects of different salt (NaCl) levels and R. solani (Kuhn) infection on selected growth and yield attributes of O. sativa. Faro44, Faro52 and Jamila rice varieties were subjected to varying NaCl concentrations and R. solani infection under screen house conditions, utilizing a Completely Randomized Block Design (CRBD) and Two-Way ANOVA was employed for data analysis. The results revealed that higher NaCl concentrations and R. solani infection retarded plant height, with the number of tillers and leaves being significantly affected. The lowest mean values occurred at a salinity level of 8 dS m-1; whereas highest values occurred at 4 dS m-1 and 6 dS m-1. The 100 seed weight varied depending on the NaCl concentration, with the lowest seed weight observed at 8 dS m-1 and 6 dS m-1 in Faro44 and the highest seed weight observed at 4 dS m-1. The grain length was found to be at its minimum when exposed to 8 dS m-1, while grain diameter exhibited its smallest size at 8 dS m-1 of salt levels. Variations in NaCl concentrations significantly influenced the number of panicles and length of panicles (NP and LP), and number of grains panicle-1. The lowest values were recorded at 8 dS m-1, whereas the highest values were observed at 0 dS m-1 and 2 dS m-1. The study found that, in rice plants infected by R. solani, growth and yield are further diminished under saline conditions, emphasizing the complex interaction between abiotic and biotic stressors in rice.

How to Cite

Mustapha, T., Kutama, A.S., Auyo, M.I., Dangora, I.I., 2024. Synergic effects of salinity and Rhizoctonia solani (Kuhn) infection on growth and yield attributes of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Plant Health Archives 2(1), 18-25. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/2.1.2024/18-25.

]]> Growth, Rice, Salinity, Sheath Blight, Yield Research Article Mon, 18 Mar 2024 00:00:00 IST Study on the Distribution of Olfactory Antennal Sensilla of Sitophilus zeamais Motsch (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and their Response to Some Botanical Extracts The repellency potential of Euphorbia balsamifera Aiton, Lawsonia inermis L. and Mitracarpus hirtus (L.) DC against Sitophilus zeamais was assessed at 30±2 °C and 70±5% R.H. The botanicals were applied as chloroform extracts at the rate of 6.25, 12.50, 25.00, 50.00 and 100.00 mg ml-1 per 20 g sorghum grains. Percent repellency of the botanicals against S. zeamais was taken at 1 and 24 hour after exposure (HAE). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was conducted for examination and identification of olfactory antennal sensilla of the weevil. This was enhanced by the aforementioned repellency test with antennal distal flagellomere of the weevils excised. The SEM showed that sensilla chaetica (SC), sensilla trichoidea (ST) and sensilla basiconica (SB) were the types of antennal sensilla of S. zeamais identified. Results from repellency tests conducted revealed that ST and SB were the olfactory sensilla located on the last distal flagellomere of the weevils. It was also found that the botanicals had promising repellent activity against S. zeamais and might be used in the protection of stored sorghum grains.

How to Cite

Suleiman, M., Halliru, M., Sani, I., Yusuf, M.A., Abdullahi, K.B., 2024. Study on the distribution of olfactory antennal sensilla of Sitophilus zeamais Motsch (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and their response to some botanical extracts. Plant Health Archives 2(1), 13-17. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/2.1.2024/13-17.

]]> Botanicals, Odour detection, Olfactory sensilla, Repellency, Sitophilus zeamais Research Article Sun, 10 Mar 2024 00:00:00 IST Pathogenecity and in-vitro Assessment of Some Fungicides on the Mycelial Growth of Rice Blast Pathogen (Magnaporthe oryzae B.Cauch) in Jigawa State, Nigeria It is beyond any reasonable doubt that rice (Oryza sativa L.) ranks first among its counterparts cereal food crops in the world, being unmatched in both worldwide demand and economic significance. Serving as a staple food to about two-thirds of the world population, the cultivation of this crop faces various constraints due to numerous infections, among which rice blast stands out as a significant issue affecting rice production in Jigawa state, Nigeria. In order to avert the reported situation, an in-vitro experiment was conducted using five selected fungicides through food poisoning technique at 10,000, 1,000 and 100 ppm. Results of in-vitro test showed that among the five tested fungicides, Mancozeb and Hexaconazole appeared to have higher fungicidal activity against M. oryzae by completely inhibiting the fungal growth at 1,000 and 10,000 ppm of Z-force (Mancozeb) and the growth was restricted at 10,000 ppm of Hexacal (50 g Hexaconazole litre-1). The fungal mycelium's expansion of M. oryzae at 10,000 ppm of Dress-force (Imidacloprid 20% + Metalaxyl-M 20% + Tebuconazole 2% WS) was 9.33 mm, Seed care (Imidacloprid 10% + Thiram 10% WS) was 14.67 mm and for the Blast force (Isoprothiolane 40% WP) was 16.00 mm. The plates used as control exhibited the most extensive mycelial growth of the tested pathogen (measuring 59.33 mm). This connotes that of the five fungicides tested, Mancozeb and Hexaconazole could best be used for the eradication of M. oryzae infection on rice pending further research.

How to Cite

Zafar, S., Hadiza, M.M., Mustapha, T., Kutama, A.S., 2024. Pathogenecity and in-vitro assessment of some fungicides on the mycelial growth of rice blast pathogen (Magnaporthe oryzae B.Cauch) in Jigawa state, Nigeria. Plant Health Archives 2(1), 07-12. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/2.1.2024/07-12.

]]> Fungicides, in vitro, Mycelial growth, Pathogenecity, Rice blast Research Article Tue, 27 Feb 2024 00:00:00 IST Evaluation of Post-Harvest Microbial Deterioration of Ripe Banana Fruits in Different Markets This study intends to evaluate the influence of microflora in various types of banana fruits on moisture content and health risks related to bacterial growth at different fruit ages. Over four weeks, 120 banana fruit samples were gathered from three marketplaces in Kano State, Nigeria and dissected for pH, moisture content and microbiota. These three samples were then dissected to perform tests on pH, moisture content and microbiota. Some were subject to a moisture content that ranged from 77.22% to 80.29% and the samples' pH values ranged from 4.60 to 5.10. The fungal counts displayed a range spanning from 1.40×106 to 3.30×106 cfu ml-1, while the bacterial counts exhibited a broader spectrum, fluctuating between 3.80×106 and 7.30×106 cfu ml-1. The bacteria identified in the samples were Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus sp., Xanthomonas campestris, Corynebacterium xerosis, Pseudomonas sp., Erwinia carotovora, Dickeya parasidiaca and Ralstonia solanacearum. The fungal isolates included Aspergillus niger, Fusarium sp., Alternaria sp., Mucor sp., Cordana johnsonii, Chrysonilia sp., Cladosporium sp., Doratomyces microspores, Rhizopus stolonifer and Colletotrichum musae. Fungi and bacteria detected in these samples prove their significant contribution causing the deterioration after harvest. This results in post-harvest diseases which consequently lead to the decline in the fruit's quantity and quality. Apart from the diminished commercial value of this kind of fruit, it can also pose chemical dregs, a health hazard to human beings. The knowledge gained from this research may facilitate the development of strategies for controlling banana fruit spoilage, resulting in improved product quality before consumption.

How to Cite

Abdulsalam, M., Salam, O.L., Muhammad, M.S., Natour, S., Garba, M.M., Annu, S.F., 2024. Evaluation of post-harvest microbial deterioration of ripe banana fruits in different markets. Plant Health Archives 2(1), 01-06. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/2.1.2024/01-06.

]]> Bacteria, Banana, Deterioration, Fungi, Post-harvest, Spoilage Research Article Mon, 12 Feb 2024 00:00:00 IST Influence of Chemical-Induced Liberation of Pebrine Spores in Tasar Silkworm Mother Moth Examination Tasar silkworm suffers from various diseases especially Pebrine, Virosis, Bacteriosis and muscardine. Approximately 30-35% of crop losses can be attributed to Pebrine disease, with sporadic instances leading to complete crop failure. The primarily infection of Pebrine is by vertical transmission with the pathogen transferring the infection directly from parent to offspring. To ensure the perpetuation of Pebrine-free generations of silkworms, disease-free layings are produced through the examination of the mother moth. It is necessary to improve the visibility of spores by complete liberation, staining, cleaning of spores and dissolution/removal of fat bodies, debris of body tissues, etc. Certain chemicals are selected and tested the results revealed that, Sarcosyl, Formalin and Ethanol treated samples field was very clear and no debris was observed. Sarcosyl and Ethanol treated samples have shown 212,000 and 54,000 more number of pebrine spores cm-3 liberated when compared with K2CO3 (control) at 0.5% chemical concentration. Sarcosyl treated samples has shown 122,000 more number of pebrine spores cm-3 liberated when compared with K2CO3 (control) at 1% chemical concentration. Citric acid (300,000), Ethanol (100,000) and Sarcosyl (500,000) obtained more number of liberated pebrine spores cm-3 when compared with K2CO3 (control) at 2% chemical concentration. Sarcosyl (160,000), Ethanol (70,000) and Formalin (100,000) chemical treated samples obtained more number of liberated pebrine spores cm-3 when compared with K2CO3 (control) at 5% concentration. Sarcosyl, Formalin, Ethanol and Citric acid chemicals have shown better performance when compared with other tested chemicals and K2CO3 (control). Sarcosyl stands first position followed by Ethanol, Formalin and Citric acid chemicals in more number of liberation of pebrine spores cm-3.

How to Cite

Nandhini, K., Reddy, Y.P., Kumar, U.A., Parasuramudu, M., 2023. Influence of chemical-induced liberation of pebrine spores in tasar silkworm mother moth examination. Plant Health Archives 1(3), 139-144. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/1.3.2023/139-144.

]]> Antheraea mylitta D., Pebrine, Mother moth examination, Sarcosyl Research Article Fri, 29 Dec 2023 00:00:00 IST Current Status and Future Strategies of Microbial Control of Fungal Diseases of Forest Trees Microbial control is one of the potential alternatives of chemical pesticides for plant disease management. Microbes like fungus, bacteria, virus, nematode etc. as bio-agent is widely exploited during the last two decades. However, inconsistency in their field performance is a matter of great concern and proving to be a major bottleneck in their large-scale application. These agents are capable of replicating in the environment, but require certain frequent manipulations to get activated/ multiplied after its application. Formulation for easy field application is its major requirement for optimization of its efficacy, stability and ease of application. Formulation is available in the form of water dispersible powder, granule, emulsion, etc. with carriers, diluents and surface-active agents, according to need of a final consumer product. Amongst different application methods seed treatment is found to be the best method in combating disease management as it protect the crop from both seed and soil borne pathogen.

How to Cite

Dutta, P., Mahanta, M., Dutta, S., 2023. Current status and future strategies of microbial control of fungal diseases of forest trees. Plant Health Archives 1(3), 130-138. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/1.3.2023/130-138.

]]> Disease management, Forest disease, Formulation, Microbial control Review Article Thu, 21 Dec 2023 00:00:00 IST Nano-Bioformulation: A Spanking New Weapon for Plant Disease Management Pests and diseases cause 20-40% of crops to be wiped out annually. Currently existing plant disease management strategies solely employ harmful pesticides, which are harmful for the environment and for people. When it comes to decreasing toxicity, extending the shelf life and making poorly water-soluble pesticides more soluble, nanotechnology is a blessing that may have a favorable effect on the environment. The fundamental unit of nanotechnology, nanoparticles, can be used in phytopathology to manage plant diseases in a variety of ways. They can be used as RNA-interference molecules, pesticide nanocarriers, or protectants. Furthermore, beyond their role as carriers for genetic material, probes and agrichemicals, nanoparticles hold potential as tailored biosensors, serving as diagnostic instruments. These days, biological organisms are a novel source for nanoparticle manufacturing. The nano-bioformulations are made up of the biological systems used to synthesize nanoparticles. Because of their exceptional efficiency and affordability, the adoption of plant extracts or microbial enzymes for the biosynthesis of nano-formulations is rapidly gaining momentum within the realm of nano-bioformulations. Owing to their tiny size (1-100 nm), an environmental risk assessment is necessary, especially when it comes to ingestion as food or feed. Agricultural applications have seen the commercialization of exiguous nanoparticle-based solutions, despite the numerous potential benefits linked to their use. Therefore, this demands nanotechnology be applied in farmer's fields to fill the voids in scientific research.

How to Cite

Dutta, P., Yasin, A., Kumari, A., Mahanta, M., Sharma, A., 2023. Nano-bioformulation: A spanking new weapon for plant disease management. Plant Health Archives 1(3), 123-129. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/1.3.2023/123-129.

]]> Bioformulations, Nano-bioformulations, Nanoparticles, Nanotechnology, Phytopathology Review Article Tue, 12 Dec 2023 00:00:00 IST Diversity of Platygastroidea Species in Coffee Ecosystem at Thadiyankudisai, Tamil Nadu During a one-year study from January, 2018 to January, 2019 at the Horticultural Research Station, Thadiyankudisai, Tamil Nadu, a combined count of 550 individuals of Platygastroidea species were documented under two family platygastridae (1 species) and scelionidae (9 species). Among the species diversity comprised of Telenomus sp. (52.0%) followed by Scelio sp. (11.4%), Calliscelio sp. (9.1%), Sparasion sp. (6.9%), Idris sp. (5.8%) and Baryconus sp. (4.0%). The least population was recorded in Tritelia sp. (2.2%). Researches on seasonal abundance exposed that the winter season exhibited the highest species population at 32.55%, with the South West Monsoon (SWM) following closely at 30.36%, while the North East Monsoon (NEM) period recorded the lowest species count at 16.54%. The prevalence of insect pests poses a significant challenge to achieving optimal yields in horticultural crops. Consequently, the examination of Platygastroidea species diversity assumes a pivotal role in the success of biological control strategies.

How to Cite

Manikandan, K.R., Muthuswami, M., Chitra, N., Ananthan, M., 2023. Diversity of Platygastroidea species in coffee ecosystem at Thadiyankudisai, Tamil Nadu. Plant Health Archives 1(3), 119-122. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/1.3.2023/119-122.

]]> Coffee, Diversity indices, Platygastroidae, Scelionidae, Seasonal abundance Research Article Thu, 30 Nov 2023 00:00:00 IST On Farm Evaluation of Trichoderma against Root Rot (Rhizoctonia solani) in Clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) Clusterbean, scientifically referred to as Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub., commonly encounters the challenge of root rot, also known as black root rot, instigated by Rhizoctonia solani, particularly in the kharif season. In fields where neither seed treatment nor soil application of Trichoderma viride were employed, the disease incidence ranged between 18.83 to 25.3%. In contrast, in demonstrated plots during the 2016 and 2017 seasons, where the seeds were treated @ 5 g kg-1 and the soil was treated @ 2.5 kg ha-1, mixed with 250-300 kg FYM and thoroughly incorporated into the field before sowing, the root rot incidence decreased significantly to 9.91 to 10.5%. Comparatively, the disease control rate of the demonstrated approach over the farmers' standard practices was recorded at 53.85%, resulting in a maximum average yield of 13.9 q ha-1. Additionally, the economic gross return and cost-benefit ratio were notably higher in the demonstrated approach (T2) @ Rs. 56,295.00 ha-1 and 3.76, respectively; while in the case of the farmers' practice (T2), it was Rs. 42,120.00 and 3.35.

How to Cite

Kumar, S., Sharma, P., Sharma, S.K., Rai, P.K., 2023. On farm evaluation of Trichoderma against root rot (Rhizoctonia solani) in clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba). Plant Health Archives 1(3), 115-118. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/1.3.2023/115-118.

]]> Cluster bean, Cyamopsis tetragonoloba, Rhizoctonia solani, Root rot, Trichoderma viride Research Article Thu, 23 Nov 2023 00:00:00 IST Influence of Abiotic Factors on Trap Catch of Gram Pod Borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) in Redgram, Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. Ecosystem An experiment was conducted to study the influence of weather parameters on trap catches of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) in redgram Cajanus cajan (L.) ecosystem during kharif 2017 at experimental farm of NPRC, Vamban and farmer’s field at Vadakaddu with green colour funnel pheromone traps containing Heli lure. The highest catch (98 moths/ 5 traps) was recorded on January 2nd SMW at Vamban and on 52nd SMW of December at Vadakaddu. In both the locations lowest catch of 20 moths/ 5 traps and 30 moths/ 5 traps were recorded on 35th SMW. The moth catches had highly significant negative correlation with maximum temperature (r = -0.79**), (r = -0.79**), minimum temperature (r = -0.66**), (r = -0.68**), wind speed (r = -0.71**), (r = -0.73**), rainfall (r = -0.54**), (r = -0.51**), rainy days (r = - 0.54**), (r = -0.52**) and sunshine hours (r = - 0.44**), (r = -0.42**) at Vamban and Vadakaddu, respectively. But there was highly significant positive correlation with relative humidity (r = 0.78**) and (r = 0.76**) at Vamban and Vadakaddu, respectively. The regression analysis resulted with an R2 value of 0.791, which indicates that 79.1% catches depends on all the weather parameters at Vamban and R2 value of 0.829 indicating that 82.9% of catches depends on all the weather parameters at Vadakaddu.

How to Cite

Priyanka, S.L., Saminathan, V., Manivannan, N., Ambethgar, V., Pirithiraj, U., 2023. Influence of abiotic factors on trap catch of gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) in redgram, Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. ecosystem. Plant Health Archives 1(3), 109-114. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/1.3.2023/109-114.

]]> Gram Pod Borer, H. armigera, Redgram, Trap catches, Weather parameters Research Article Wed, 15 Nov 2023 00:00:00 IST Bioefficacy and Phytotoxicity of Clothianindin 50 WDG against Thrips and Mealybugs in Grapevine Two separate experiments were conducted in the field to examine the effectiveness of clothianidin 50 WDG against thrips and mealybugs that were infesting grapevines. The findings highlighted that applying clothianidin 50 WDG @ 1000 g ha-1 proved highly efficient in curbing the population of the sucking pests, outperforming lower doses of the compound. Following two rounds of soil drenching spaced 14 days apart, there was an average reduction of 76.63% for thrips and 78.09% for mealybugs. Other concentrations of clothianidin 50 WDG (600, 500 and 400 g ha-1) demonstrated significant reductions in the populations of thrips and mealybugs, exhibiting a similar level of efficacy as the standard check (Methomyl 40 SP and Buprofezin 25 SC) in all field experiments. Notably, no signs of harm to the grapevine were observed at any of the tested doses. Clothianidin 50 WDG @ 1000 g ha-1 resulted in the highest grape yield, producing 14.25 and 8.94 kg vine-1 at Madhampatti and Kalampalayam, respectively. Throughout the clothianidin 50 WDG treatment plots, the presence of natural enemies was noted and their activity remained unaffected, indicating no adverse impact on the natural enemy population.

How to Cite

Parveen, S.S., 2023. Bioefficacy and phytotoxicity of Clothianindin 50 WDG against thrips and mealybugs in grapevine. Plant Health Archives 1(3), 102-108. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/1.3.2023/102-108.

]]> Bioefficacy, Clothianidin, Mealybug, Phytotoxicity, Thrips Research Article Tue, 31 Oct 2023 00:00:00 IST Botanicals as a Source of Nanomaterial for Pest and Disease Management Sustainable food production for a rapidly growing human population is one of the major challenges faced by the agriculture sector globally. Plant pests and pathogens cause significant reductions in crop production, with estimated global losses of 20-40% year-1, resulting in an increased use of environmentally toxic pesticides & fertilizers. The growing numbers of studies in nanotechnology are producing novel applications in many fields of science, especially in plant biotechnology and agriculture. Nanomaterials (NMs) have been used in breakdown of pollutants and reported worldwide for several different environmental applications. They play an important role in agriculture as nano-fertilizers and nano-pesticides, prepared by many methods such as physical, green synthesis or chemical synthesis methods. Green synthesis involves use of biological resources as microorganisms or plant extracts and doesn’t permit the use of any toxic chemicals, hence less bio-hazardous. Rate of reduction of metal ions using phytosynthesis has been observed to be much faster than microbial synthesis. Thus, it is considered as an accessible alternative for large scale production of nanomaterials, without use of chemicals. Phytosynthesized nanomaterials show excellent antibacterial effects, antifungal effects and anti-pest activity. Ocimum sanctum, Azadiracta indica, Paederia foetida, etc. had been successfully reported to be used in synthesis of many NMs of silver, gold, zinc, etc. Botanical nanomaterials offer considerable potential for increasing agricultural productivity and protection while reducing negative impacts on the environment and human health simultaneously.

How to Cite

Sharma, A., Dutta, P., Mahanta, M., Kumari, A., Yasin, A., 2023. Botanicals as a source of nanomaterial for pest and disease management. Plant Health Archives 1(3), 96-101. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/1.3.2023/96-101.

]]> Green synthesis, Nanomaterials, Nanotechnology, Phytosynthesis Review Article Mon, 23 Oct 2023 00:00:00 IST Partial Resistance Components and Morphological Traits Aid Selection of Resistant Wheat Genotypes against Spot Blotch Spot blotch caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana results substantial yield losses (15-80%) in an Indian subcontinent. Wheat varietal improvement through breeding followed by evaluation of elite germplasms against a particular disease is crucial method to manage diseases. Fifty diverse wheat genotypes and two susceptible checks viz., Sonalika and Nepal 297 were evaluated under artificial epiphytotic condition against spot blotch at NWRP, Bhairahawa, Nepal in 2017-18 and 2018-19. Evaluation was based on partial resistance components viz., lesion sizes, lesion types (chlorotic/ necrotic), lesion characteristics (sporulating/ non-sporulating) and area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) and morphological traits viz. lesion mimic, leaf angle, leaf tip necrosis and plant height. Statistical analysis revealed that genotypes with smaller lesion size (<1 cm), small dark brown to black lesions with or without chlorosis/ necrosis and non sporulating lesions had lower AUDPC (<225). Similarly genotypes with erect to semi erect leaf (leaf angle 1-2), medium to high leaf tip necrosis (2-4), low percentage of lesion mimic (0-22.5%) were found resistant (AUDPC<225) to moderately resistant (AUDPC value 226-315). Moreover AUDPC showed strong and positive correlation with lesion sizes (0.76), lesion types (0.84) and lesion characteristics (0.54). Twenty genotypes were found resistant (AUDPC<225), could be used as new resistance sources in breeding program. However genotypes viz., KACHU/BECARD//WBLL1*2/BRAMBLING/3/ATTILA*2/PBW65//MURGA, FRET2*2/SHAMA//TNMU/3/FRET2*2/SHAMA/4/UP2338*2/KKTS*2//YANAC/5/FRET2*2/SHAMA//PARUS/3/FRET2*2/KUKUNA, KACHU#1//PI610750/SASIA/3/KACHU/4/MUU#1//PBW343*2/KUKUNA/3/MUU/5/KACHU#1//PI610750/SASIA/3/KACHU, BORL14//KFA/2*KACHU and KFA/2*KACHU//QUELEA were found excellent based on partial resistance components and morphological traits. These genotypes could be further evaluated for yield potential in multi environment and better performing genotypes could be released as resistant varieties for spot blotch.

How to Cite

Gupt, S.K., Pant, K.R., Basnet, R., 2023. Partial resistance components and morphological traits aid selection of resistant wheat genotypes against spot blotch. Plant Health Archives 1(3), 82-95. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/1.3.2023/82-95.

]]> Evaluation, Genotypes, Morphological traits, Partial resistance components, Spot blotch Research Article Mon, 16 Oct 2023 00:00:00 IST Native Diversity of Endotrophic Mycorrhizal Fungi of Forage Grass Species Occurring in Asan River Basin, Mussoorie Hills, Uttarakhand Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi colonize more than 80% of plants on land in which grasses are known to have higher endomycorrhizal colonization. AM fungi are a common group of symbiotic fungi in the order, Glomale of Division, Zygomycota. These fungi are known to benefit growth through increased nutrient uptake especially phosphorus. In this study, a total of 21 grass species collected from the Asan river basin, Mussoorie hills, Dehradun, Uttarakhand were screened for AM fungal root colonization and their mycorrhizal diversity. Traditional method of sieving and decanting was used for isolating mycorrhizal spores whereas for studying colonization rapid staining and clearing method was used. The highest root colonization (95±2.9) and AM spore count (234±3.56) were observed in Phalaris minor whereas Saccharum spontaneum exhibited least colonization (30±0.53) and AM spore count (46.7±14.5), respectively. The Andropogoneae (Sorghum tribe) was observed to be the most diverse tribe in association with endomycorrhizal fungi among the studied grasses. This study confirms that the grass species are highly colonized and dependent on endomycorrhizal association. The diversity and colonization patterns of endotrophic mycorrhizal fungi are described in details in this research paper. The AM fungal association with grass species provides new vistas and insight on the functioning of any grass ecosystem and also helps in harnessing the benefits of AM fungi through their usage in waste and abundant land reclamation programmes.

How to Cite

Megha., Parkash, V., Chhetri, R., Gaur, A., Agnihotri, R., 2023. Native diversity of endotrophic mycorrhizal fungi of forage grass species occurring in Asan River Basin, Mussoorie Hills, Uttarakhand. Plant Health Archives 1(3), 73-81. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/1.3.2023/73-81.

]]> Abiotic stress, Arbuscular mycorrhiza, Mycorrhizal symbiosis, Plant microbe interaction, Root colonization, Spore count Research Article Sun, 08 Oct 2023 00:00:00 IST Nano-Agrochemicals: Risk Assessment and Management Strategies Application of nanotechnology in agriculture especially in the form of nano agrochemicals is increasing nowadays. Agrochemicals such as fertilizers, soil amendments, soil conditioners, pesticides and plant growth promoting hormones have both pros and cons. To overcome the constraints of conventional agrochemicals researchers are focusing on nano agrochemicals. Apart from the high potential and effectiveness these chemicals also have some threats to the human health, environment and ecological balances. With proper assessment of risks associated to these nano agrochemicals threats can be minimised and the potential of nanotechnology in agriculture can be explored to the greater extent. After assessment the risks could be managed by applying three thumb rules as risk prevention, risk mitigation and risk communication. In depth research is required to explore the potential of nanotechnology in agriculture.

How to Cite

Prasad, M., Mahawer, S.K., 2023. Nano-agrochemicals: Risk assessment and management strategies. Plant Health Archives 1(2), 66-72. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/1.2.2023/66-72.

]]> Environment, Human health, Nano-Agrochemical, Nano Material, Threats Review Article Thu, 28 Sep 2023 00:00:00 IST Quantitative Estimation of Amylase Activity in Selected Larval Mutants of Silkworm Bombyx mori L. Reared on Two Mulberry Varieties Four larval mutants namely Knobbed, Zebra, pere and Ursa of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. were selected for the present investigation. The digestive juice and haemolymph were collected from fifth instar larvae (day 1 to day 6) and the samples were subjected to spectrophotometric analysis for estimation of amylase activity. The recorded O.D. values (at 525 nm) were converted into maltose released (µmoles ml-1). The results of the present study clearly indicate that the amylase activity gets enhanced with the increase in number of feedings along with the advancement of age during 5th instar larval stage (day 1 to 6). Based on the results obtained, Zebra performed better followed by Knobbed than the other two larval mutants under study. The larvae fed with V1 variety performed better than those batches fed with S36 variety of mulberry in both the samples. Of the two samples, amylase activity recorded higher in digestive juice than haemolymph in all the four larval mutants under study.

How to Cite

Devamani, M., Umakanth, R.S., 2023. Quantitative estimation of amylase activity in selected larval mutants of silkworm Bombyx mori L. reared on two mulberry varieties. Plant Health Archives 1(2), 61-65. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/1.2.2023/61-65.

]]> Digestive juice, Haemolymph, Mulberry, Mutant silkworm, S36, V1 Research Article Tue, 19 Sep 2023 00:00:00 IST Diversity and Abundance of Insect Pollinators of Cucurbits at Mid-Hills of Meghalaya, India The current research was carried out at the ICAR-Research Complex for the North Eastern Hill Region (NEH) in Umiam, Meghalaya to investigate the diversity and abundance of insect pollinators of cucurbits at mid-hills of Meghalaya. Ridge gourd, sponge guard, pumpkin, teasel gourd, chow-chow, bottle guard and cucumber were taken as a target crop to observe the data on diversity and abundance. Total twenty-five (25) pollinators were observed in different cucurbits belongs to order Hymenoptera, Diptera and Lepidoptera which represents that mid-hills of Meghalaya have rich pollinator fauna. Out of 25 insect pollinators 3 pollinators identified from ridge gourd, 6 from sponge gourd, 4 from pumpkin, 3 from bottle gourd, 4 from cucumber, 3 from chow-chow and 2 from teasel gourd. Efficient pollinator was nominated on the basis of their abundance. During investigation it was found that bumble bee emerged as the most abundant pollinator in ridge gourd, pumpkin and sponge gourd. In sponge gourd carpenter bee also showed almost equal abundance. Indian honey bee abundance was high in cucumber and in chow-chow. Among collected pollinators, hymenopterans were the abundant with 80% relative abundance. It is clear from the recorded observation that native bees are equally contributing in pollination service so conservation of these bees is also a demand of nature. Activity time period of pollinators on flowers guided the farmers to avoid pesticide spray during particular time period.

How to Cite

Pande, R., Verma, V.K., 2023. Diversity and abundance of insect pollinators of cucurbits at mid-hills of Meghalaya, India. Plant Health Archives 1(2), 55-60. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/1.2.2023/55-60.

]]> Abundance, Diversity, Honey Bee, Native Bee, Pollination Research Article Mon, 11 Sep 2023 00:00:00 IST Arthropod Biodiversity of Citrus Ecosystem with Special Reference to Citrus Leaf Miner The citrus leaf miner (CLM), scientifically known as Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton and belonging to the Gracillaridae family, is a significant nuisance for citrus nurseries and the tender leaves of young citrus plants. Damage caused by the larvae is conspicuous especially on the young foliage during initial phase of development and the management of the pest is highly critical. The present studies were carried out at ICAR-Central Citrus Research Institute, Nagpur during 2013 to 2015 to document the species composition of bioagents (parasitoids and predators), their incidence levels and species richness/ diversity in citrus ecosystems with reference to citrus leaf miner. During the study, we documented individuals from two classes, four orders and six families of insects. Class Insecta was dominant followed by Arachnida. Among the six families, Eulophidae and Coccinellidae were the most dominant bioagent groups for parasitoid and predator, respectively. Relative abundance of the bioagents of P. citrella revealed that C. phyllocnistoides was the predominant one and constituted 30% of total bioagents collected followed by Cirrospilus sp. (including C. quadristriatus, C. ingenuus) (25%), E. brevicornis (15%) and S. striatipes (9%). Coccinellids constituted about 3%; whereas, chrysopid predator, M. desjardinsi and spider species constituted 13% and 7%, respectively of the total bioagent collection. Understanding of the bioagent complex in citrus ecosystem will help us to identify the promising ones for biological control as well as guide us the bioagent active frame to avoid pesticide sprays to sustain them naturally in the ecosystem.

How to Cite

George, A., 2023. Arthropod biodiversity of citrus ecosystem with special reference to citrus leaf miner. Plant Health Archives 1(2), 48-54. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/1.2.2023/48-54.

]]> Arthropod biodiversity, Bioagents, Citrus ecosystem, Citrus leaf miner, Species composition Research Article Thu, 31 Aug 2023 00:00:00 IST Morphometry of Mouthparts of Eri Silkworm, Samia cynthia ricini Boisduval under Different Food Regimes Eri silkworm, Samia cynthia ricini Boisduval is polyphagous feeding on several plant species. The influence of feed on growth of an animal is evident from literature. Eri larva has biting and chewing type of mouthparts comprising of a pair of mandibles, Labrum and the labio-maxillary complex. The size of these mouthparts increases with larval age. In an experiment conducted to study the influence of host on morphometric changes in mouthparts of Eri silkworm, the local castor variety with greenish petiole found to have significant influence on the length and width of mandibles (0.0803 and 0.0675 cm, respectively), labrum (0.0543 and 0.0735 cm, respectively) and labio-maxillary complex (0.1007 and 0.1145 cm, respectively). Further, there was a sudden increase in the size of mouthparts during fourth instar (85 × 67% gain in mandibles, 95 × 73% gains in LMC and 124 × 58% gain in labrum) irrespective of the host.

How to Cite

Vinoda, K.S., Narayanaswamy, K.C., Shashidhar, K.S., Reddy, D.N.R., 2023. Morphometry of mouthparts of Eri silkworm, Samia cynthia ricini boisduval under different food regimes. Plant Health Archives 1(2), 42-47. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/1.2.2023/42-47.

]]> Eri silkworm, Host plant, Morphometry, Mouthparts, Samia cynthia ricini Research Article Thu, 24 Aug 2023 00:00:00 IST Bioefficacy of Carbosulfan 6G against the Rice Stem Borer, Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) in Karaikal District, Union Territory of Puducherry Two field experiments were conducted during kharif, and rabi to evaluate the efficacy of carbosulfan 6G against the rice stem borer in the eastern farm of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru College of Agriculture and Research Institute (PAJANCOA & RI), Karaikal. During kharif, a least percent dead heart was recorded in the treatments viz., Carbosulfan 6G (FMC-PY) @ 20.8 kg ha-1 followed by Carbosulfan 6G (FMC-PY) @ 16.7 kg ha-1 and Carbosulfan 6G (Sheriff) @ 16.7 kg ha-1 ranging from 1.45-1.88 and 3.22-3.88 percent dead heart at 14 and 21 days after the first application respectively. A lower percent white ear of 3.85 and 7.18 was recorded in Carbosulfan 6G (FMC-PY) @ 20.8 kg ha-1 treatment which is on par with the treatments like Carbosulfan 6G (FMC-PY) @ 16.7 kg ha-1 (4.67 and 7.36) and Carbosulfan 6G (Sheriff) @ 16.7 kg ha-1 (4.79 and 8.12) at grain filling and at harvest stage respectively. During rabi, a least percent dead heart was recorded in the treatments viz., Carbosulfan 6G (FMC-PY) @ 20.8 kg ha-1 followed by Carbosulfan 6G (FMC-PY) @ 16.7 kg ha-1 and Carbosulfan 6G (Sheriff) @ 16.7 kg ha-1 ranging from 2.16-2.67 and 4.20-4.72 percent dead heart at 14 and 21 days after the first application respectively while a least percent white ear of 2.89 and 5.74 was recorded in Carbosulfan 6G (FMC-PY) @ 20.8 kg ha-1 treatment which is on par with the treatments like Carbosulfan 6G (FMC-PY) @ 16.7 kg ha-1 (3.70 and 6.48) and Carbosulfan 6G (Sheriff) @ 16.7 kg ha-1 (3.92 and 7.45) at grain filling and at harvest stage respectively. From the results of the field experiments, it was found that, the Carbosulfan 6G (FMC-PY) @ 16.7 kg ha-1 as broadcast application in rice can be recommended for effective control of stem borer, S. incertulas.

How to Cite

Kumar, K., Kandibane, M., 2023. Bioefficacy of Carbosulfan 6G against the rice stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) in Karaikal district, Union Territory of Puducherry. Plant Health Archives 1(3), 37-41. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/1.2.2023/37-41.

]]> Carbosulfan, Efficacy, Rice, Scirpophaga incertulas, Stem borer Research Article Tue, 08 Aug 2023 00:00:00 IST Development of Low Cost Artificial Diet for Mass Production of Entomopathogenic Nematode, Heterorhabditis indica a Strain ICRI EPN-18 Eight different diets were compared for maximum production of entomopathogenic nematode infected Galleria cadavers with cheaper/ low cost in the laboratory. Among eight artificial diet composition tried, low grade milk powder 100 g, low grade glycerin 100 ml, honey 100 ml, corn flour 200 g, wheat bran 100 g, wheat flour 100 g and yeast 50 g produced almost maximum Galleria larvae with EPN infected cadavers and EPN infective juveniles (IJs) with cheaper cost while, the diet containing, ragi powder 100 g instead of milk powder, honey 100 ml, high grade glycerin 100 ml, corn flour 200 g, wheat bran 100 g, wheat flour 100 g and yeast 50 g produced least number of EPN infected Galleria cadavers and EPN IJs. Among the diet compositions, sugar solution 100 ml instead of honey along with other ingredients used, did not emerge or produce larvae from the Galleria eggs.

How to Cite

Thiyagarajan, P., Varna, M., Ansar Ali, M.A., Rema Shree, A.B., 2023. Development of low cost artificial diet for mass production of entomopathogenic nematode, Heterorhabditis indica a strain ICRI EPN-18. Plant Health Archives 1(2), 34-36. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/1.2.2023/34-36.

]]> Artificial diet, Elettaria cardamomum, Entomopathogenic nematode, Small cardamom Research Article Mon, 07 Aug 2023 00:00:00 IST Isolation and Characterization of the Incitant of Leaf Spot of Turmeric and in-vitro Efficacy of Native Isolate of Endophytic Bacteria Turmeric, Curcuma longa L. is an important commercial spice crop cultivated in Meghalaya covering 2,649 ha area with 16,497 MT productions. However, the turmeric cultivation is severely affected by leaf spot disease limiting its yield. So, the present study was conducted to identify the pathogen associated with leaf spot disease of turmeric as well as to check the efficiency of bacterial endophytes in managing the disease. Based on the morphological and cultural studies, six isolates of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides were identified as the causal organism of leaf spot disease of turmeric. The isolates on PDA medium produced white to grey fluffy (raised/ flat) cottony culture with serrated margin. All the isolates produced dark brown acervuli and globular conidia with oil globules inside. Five bacterial endophytes viz., BE 1, BE 222, M1W1, NGB21 and SVC 11 were tested against C. gloeosporioides by using dual culture assay. They were able to inhibit the mycelial growth of C. gloeosporioides in the range of 35.82-68.11%. The highest percent inhibition in dual culture assay was recorded in the isolate NGB 21 (68.11%) followed by isolate BE1 (59.89%).

How to Cite

Mahanta, M., Rajesh, T., Dutta, P., 2023. Isolation and characterization of the incitant of leaf spot of turmeric and in-vitro efficacy of native isolate of endophytic bacteria. Plant Health Archives 1(2), 29-33. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/1.2.2023/29-33.

]]> Colletotrichum, Curcuma longa L., Endophytes, Leaf spot, Meghalaya, Turmeric Research Article Sat, 29 Jul 2023 00:00:00 IST Tea Mosquito Bug (Helopeltis spp.): A Pest of Economically Important Fruit and Plantation Crops: Its Status and Management Prospects The tea mosquito bug (Hemiptera: Miridae) is the recognized pest of fruits and plantations across the world. In India, three species viz. Helopeltis antonii, H. bradyi and H. theivora are dominant among different species and found attacking a wide range of crops. Several alternate host plants of the tea mosquito bug have been recorded, especially in Africa and Asia. The nymphs and adults of the tea mosquito bug suck the sap from leaves, buds and shoots, which results in heavy crop losses. The pest is posing a serious challenge in domestic and overseas trades. For better management decisions, it is very much important to know about pest status, bionomics, distribution, host range, etc. The focus on the management of tea mosquito bug has to emphasize from chemical to traditional, indigenous technical knowledge and integrated pest management using the accessible resources to reduce the resistance development and limit the residual effects. This review highlights the significant works conducted on tea mosquito bug with detailed management strategies. The information on current status, host preference, incidence and early detection of this pest are discussed.

How to Cite

Sankarganesh, E., Sravani, B.L., Rajeshwaran, B., Mounika, M.N., 2023. Tea mosquito bug (Helopeltis spp.): A pest of economically important fruit and plantation crops: Its status and management prospects. Plant Health Archives 1(2), 18-28. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/1.2.2023/18-28.

]]> Helopeltis, Host range, Integrated pest management, Oriental region, Tea mosquito bug Review Article Mon, 17 Jul 2023 00:00:00 IST Study on Diversity of Fungus Associated with Nephila pilipes The fungus has various type of association with spider. They can be pathogenic or symbiotic or commensal in relationship to spiders they live on. In the current study the diversity of fungi in association with Nephila pilipes spider were recorded. The fungi were isolated from its legs and saliva. The microscopic and macroscopic characters were obtained. The measurements of hyphae, conidia and conidiophore were recorded. The fungal growth was more on legs compared to saliva. The legs of the adult spider carried more fungi than saliva as they are associated with soil, carrying microflora on their legs. Further the four different fungus isolated as aspergillus, penicillium, Trichoderma and Cladosporium. The penicillium colony had abundant growth, aspergillus had moderate growth and Cladosporium had less growth compared to Trichoderma.

How to Cite

Jalajakshi, S., Anagha, J., Buwaneshwari, S., Kalpana, R., Poojitha, P.L., Murthy, S., 2023. Study on Diversity of Fungus Associated with Nephila pilipes. Plant Health Archives 1(2), 14-17. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/1.2.2023/14-17.

]]> Biodiversity, Conidia, Conidiophore, Fungi, Hyphae, Nephila pilipes Research Article Wed, 05 Jul 2023 00:00:00 IST Bacillus thuringiensis in Pest Management Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a widely employed pest management biocontrol agent in the agriculture and forestry ecosystem. In nature, this gram-positive bacterium is found in soil that produces spore-crystal inclusion bodies. This gram-positive bacterium produces a broad spectrum of insecticidal proteins, which are found to be extremely toxic to different groups of insect pests. Bt toxin genes are very selective and specific to pests; they are not toxic to other than the target organisms such as human, animals, and birds, and they are safer for the environment. The Bt toxin is often employed in organic farming as an insecticide spray to manage insect pests. Additionally, it is one of the sources for the insecticidal genes deployed to genetically modify food crops so that they can naturally impart resistance against numerous insect pests.

How to Cite

Rajadurai, G., Anandakumar, S., Raghu, R., 2023. Bacillus thuringiensis in Pest Management. Plant Health Archives 1(1), 11-13. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/1.1.2023/11-13.

]]> Bacillus thuringiensis, Biopesticides, Cry toxin, Transgenic Popular Article Thu, 18 May 2023 00:00:00 IST UAV Technology for Precision Weed Detection and Management In India population increases rapidly day-by-day, therefore food demand also increases. Traditional farming is insufficient to meet these demands. Thus, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) were introduced, enabling Weed Management in less time, efficient use of herbicide and pesticide to bring sustainability to the environment and their resources. One of the most detrimental biotic variables in agriculture, weeds significantly reduces yields across the globe. Weed patches from crop fields can be identified by using drone sensors. Drone camera sensors can optimize weed in relation to leaf density, chlorophyll concentration and other plant canopy characteristics. The article emphasizes weed detection and management by the use of potential sensors of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) technology for better agriculture output.

How to Cite

Debbarma, B., Saha, A., Teli, S., 2023. UAV Technology for Precision Weed Detection and Management. Plant Health Archives 1(1), 08-10. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/1.1.2023/08-10.

]]> Sensors, UAVs, Weeds detection, Weed management Popular Article Wed, 10 May 2023 00:00:00 IST Biological Control of Plant Parasitic-Nematodes by Plant Growth Promoting-Rhizobacteria Plant growth promoting-rhizobacteria (PGPR) contributes a significant part in crop health improvement including pest management. It also protects plants from parasitic nematodes damage by exhibiting biocontrol activity besides improving the growth of plants by supplying nutrients, producing phytohormones and inducing modification of plants metabolisms. PGPR decreases or inhibits the hatching of nematode juveniles and suppresses the nematodes development and reproduction by exhibiting various mechanisms such as hyperparasitism, antibiotic synthesis or antibiosis, substrate competition, synthesis of lytic enzymes and induction of resistance in plants. Hence, PGPR could be an efficient biological protective agent that protects agricultural and horticultural crop plants from the infestation of parasitic nematodes.

How to Cite

Anandakumar, S., Rajadurai, G., 2023. Biological Control of Plant Parasitic-Nematodes by Plant Growth Promoting-Rhizobacteria. Plant Health Archives 1(1), 05-07. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/1.1.2023/05-07.

]]> Biocontrol, PGPR, Plant health, Plant parasitic-nematodes Popular Article Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 IST Climate Smart Weed Management Practices Climate changes are rapidly occurring due to anthropogenic activities. Human activities contribute to global warming by increasing greenhouse gases which are the main factors of extreme climate change. This change increases competition between weeds and crops. Most troublesome weeds are responsive to grow with increasing CO2 gas then crop. Also, high atmospheric temperature helps to reduce uptake of herbicide due to more diffusion and rapidly dry droplets. There is an inevitable need to study how changing climate conditions are affecting crop-weed competition, weed life and herbicide effectiveness in order to create adaptation and mitigation plans for changing climatic scenario. The overall objective of this article is to portray smart weed management approaches under climate change scenario resulting high productivity of crops and more returns for farmers alongwith an effective maintenance of the weeds.

How to Cite

Teli, S., Saha, A., Debbarma, B., 2023. Climate Smart Weed Management Practices. Plant Health Archives 1(1), 03-04. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/1.1.2023/03-04.

]]> Climate smart, Management, Weed, Weed control Popular Article Thu, 20 Apr 2023 00:00:00 IST Roles of Hormone in Crop Production The crop production of our country has increased manifold since the sixties by using improved agricultural technology like seeds, fertilizers, agricultural pesticides. At present, special importance is given to gene-technology, hybrid seeds and tissue culture, etc. for crop production. There is a limit to crop production through the use of agricultural technology. Increasing food production for a changing population is a difficult question for today's world. To cope up with such emerging problems use of hormones in crop production are showing very good results.

How to Cite

Dey, J.K., Debbarma, A., Sarkar, S., 2023. Roles of Hormone in Crop Production. Plant Health Archives 1(1), 01-02. DOI: 10.54083/PHA/1.1.2023/01-02.

]]> Gene-technology, Hormones, Hybrid seeds, Tissue culture Popular Article Sun, 09 Apr 2023 00:00:00 IST