International Journal of Plant & Soil Science
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Pollen Analysis of Elaeis guineensis-Dominated Honeys in Lower Casamance: Floral Diversity and Honey Typology
No full textBackground: A honey\u27s pollen spectrum serves as an indicator for determining its place of origin in terms of vegetation resources. This data might be utilised to create pollen analytical standards, which would help certify honey. The melliferous plants are plant species on which the bee takes substances, including nectar, pollen and resin to feed and to develop its various products (honey, royal jelly...).
Aim: The aim of this study was carried out to contribute to melliferous plants in Casamance (Senegal) : pollen spectrum of honeys with Elaeis guineensis dominant.
Results: Pollen analysis of 14 samples of dominant Elaeis guineensis honey from Lower Casamance in the Ziguinchor region identified 25 plant taxa in 11 families foraging for bees. The species richness varied from 5 to 10 taxa per honey sample. The most representative families are Fabaceae with 7 species, followed by Malvaceae with 3 species, Combretaceae, Myrtaceae, Rubiaceae, Poaceae, Arecaceae, Lamiaceae with 2 species and Avicenniaceae, Méliaceae, Asteraceae with 1 species. Pterocarpus erinaceus is present in 11 spectra including 7 spectra where it is isolated and in 3 spectra where it is isolated. It is the only taxon that is a companion pollen in 1 of the spectra. The most common taxa associated with Elaeis are Detarium senegalense, Daniellia oliveri and Myrtaceae.
Conclusion: The data reflects the floral situation of the place were particular honey was produced and the identification of geographical origin based on the presence of a combination of pollen types of that particular area
Economic Evaluation of Crop Transition Patterns in Ananthapur District, Andhra Pradesh, India
No full textThe study aims to examine the crop shifts in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. Anantapur is the southern-most district of the Rayalseema region of Andhra Pradesh. While agriculture remains the most important economic activity of the district, it is characterized by high levels of instability and uncertainty. Being in the rain-shadow region of Andhra Pradesh, the district is drought-prone. The results revealed that the groundnut which is an important crop in the district recorded a negative and non-significant growth rate of 0.69 per cent in area, but the productivity and production were significant. The result of Markov chain analysis shown that groundnut was the most stable crop with high retention probability compared with other crops in the district. The crops from which groundnut gained were bengalgram, redgram, jowar, chillies and sunflower but with varying transfer probabilities. The area under paddy was significantly influenced by rainfall. The area of ragi, cotton and bengalgram were influenced by their own lagged prices
Diversity of Soil Macro Arthropods in the Arable Land of Cotton Zone, North Cameroon
No full textArthropods constitute the most diverse and dominant species of biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems. Despite this great abundance, our understanding of their ecological organization and diversity remains unknown in certain habitats. The present study aimed to evaluate the diversity of soil macro-arthropods in the arable land of six localities in the arable land of cotton zone of Cameroon. For this purpose, collections of soil macro-arthropods were carried out using Barber traps and subpots for two consecutive years 2018-2019. During the entire duration of the study, nearly 33.423 soil macro-arthropods were collected belonging to 67 species divided into 11 orders and 27 families. After classification, the most abundant insect groups were Coleoptera (36.9%), Hymenoptera (33.5%), and Orthoptera (22.9%), while the groups of Neuroptera, Hemiptera and Isoptera practically a low level of relative abundance. The proportions of the different families of soil macro-arthropods sampled varies from one locality to another and three large families were in the majority: Formicidae (32.4%), Acrididae (19.5%) and Tenobrionidae (15.7%). Soil macro-arthropod samples collected in Kodek, Sanguere Njoï and Gashiga, respectively recorded the highest species richness as well as the Shanon-Weaver Diversity and Evenness index. In all the arable soils of the localities studied, the soil arthropods tend to have an Equidistribution of individuals and Equitability varies from 0.5 to 0.8. The soil macro-arthropods collected in the arable land of the cotton zone of North Cameroon were mainly phytophagous and saprophagous with a strong beneficial potential in these different ecosystems
Unveiling Genetic Diversity in Grain Amaranth through K-Means Clustering and Principal Component Analysis
No full textGrain amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) is a highly versatile and nutrient-dense pseudo-cereal that has gained increasing importance in global food systems. Developing diverse varieties and hybrids of grain amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) is essential for harnessing its full potential as a climate-resilient and nutritionally rich crop. Germplasm studies provide a comprehensive understanding of the genetic diversity within amaranth, facilitating the breeding of improved cultivars that combine desirable traits such as higher yield, enhanced nutritional content, and increased tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Varietal development and hybridization can optimize characteristics like seed size, growth habit, and adaptability, making amaranth more suitable for a range of agroecological zones. In this direction present study conducted by evaluating 180 grain amaranth germplasm accessions for yield and contributing factors during the summer 2024 at the ICAR-IISS Regional Station in Bengaluru adjacent to NSP. Genetic distances among 180-grain amaranth germplasm accessions were determined using K-means clustering, resulting in 06 distinct groupings. Cluster V comprised of more number of accessions (48) and the least number of accessions in cluster VI (15). As per PCA, eight eigen values explains the total variance; among which PC1 explained maximum variance 82.06% followed by PC2, PC3, PC4, PC5, PC6, PC7 and PC8 explained 8.87%, 5.39%, 1.63%, 1.02%, 0.51%, 0.45% and 0.07 % respectively
Impact of Time of Sowing, Variety and Crop Geometry on Growth, Yield, Quality and Economics of Rabi Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)
No full textThe field experiment was carried in rabi season of 2015-16 at Agronomy Instructional Farm, S. D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat to examine the consequences of different time of sowing, varieties and spacing on rabi fennel. The experiment was laid out in spilt plot design with three sowing times (D1:3rd week of October, D2:1st week of November and D3: 3rd week of November) as main plot, three varieties (V1: GF-2, V2: GF -11 and V3: GF-12) and two spacings (S1: 45 cm and S2: 60 cm) in sub plot with four replications. The results revealed that early sown crop i.e. 3rd week of October recorded significantly higher growth and yield viz, plant height and total number of branches and umbels per plant, number of umbellates per umbel, test weight and seed yield as well as productivity per day, quality attributes viz., volatile oil and protein content, volatile oil yield as well as economics in term of gross and net realization, net income per day and benefit cost ratio (BCR). While, fennel variety GF-12 superior in terms of growth, yield, quality as well as economics parameters over a GF-2 and GF-11. Whereas, fennel sown at optimum space of 45 cm recorded significantly higher growth, yield and economics as compared to over 60 cm, however spacing did not exhibit a significant influence on test weight, volatile oil and protein content. The interactive effect between 3rd week of October and 45 cm was significantly superior as compared to rest of treatment combination
Comparative Efficacy of Selected Chemicals and Bio-pesticides Against Gram Pod Borer [Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner)] on Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)
No full textThe experiment was conducted at Central Research Farm (CRF), Sam Higgin bottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj during Rabi season in 2023-24. The experiment was carried out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with eight treatments viz., Neem oil 2% @ 2ml/lit, Beauveria bassiana 1×1010 conidia/ml @ 2gm/lit, Profenofos 40% + Cypermethrin 4% @ 3ml/lit, Bacillus thuringiensis @ 2gm/lit, Indoxacarb 14.5 SC @ 0.5ml/lit, Spinosad 45 SC @ 0.5ml/lit, Emamectin benzoate 5% SG @ 1gm/lit and untreated control, with three replications. The data recorded on larval population of pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) on third, seventh and fourteen days after two sprays revealed that Emamectin benzoate 5% SG was superior among all treatments with larval population of 2.12 and with highest cost benefit ratio and marketable yield of 1:3.65 and 29.16q/ha, followed by Spinosad 45 SC with a larval population of 2.42 and cost benefit ratio and yield 1:3.14 and 26.66 q/ha, Indoxacarb 14.5 SC with a larval population, cost benefit ratio and yield of 2.57, 1:3.12 and 25.83 q/ha, Profenofos 40% + Cypermethrin 4% EC with a larval population,cost benefit ratio and yield of 2.79, 1:2.81 and 22.5 q/ha, Bacillus thuringiensis @ 5mg/ml with larval population, cost benefit ratio and yield of 3.04, 1:2.79 and 21.25 q/ha, Beauveria bassiana @ 1×1010 conidia/ml with a larval population, cost benefit ratio and yield of 3.25, 1:2.26, 17.08 q/ha
Impact of the Seasons on the Evolution of Tomato-infecting Geminivirus and Identification of Plant Reservoirs Harboring Geminivirus in Burkina Faso
No full textGeminiviruses are known as responsible for huge damage to vegetable crops in many tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions. In Burkina Faso, tomato was reported as the most infected vegetable crop with the involvement of several geminivirus species despite its socioeconomic importance. This suggests and underlines the pressing need for additional information on virus population evolution (diversity, prevalence, and host plant reservoirs). Thus, to address this problem, surveys and sample collection were carried out in three localities in Burkina Faso (Goué, Léguéma, and Toussiana). Tomato leaves and those of cultivated and non-cultivated plants around the tomato fields were collected. The total DNA extracted from these samples was subjected to diagnosis based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol with or without amplicon sequencing. Results showed that depending on the season and locality, the prevalence of the disease varied from 0 to 53.33% and that of the virus species varied from 0 to 76.67%. The highest prevalence was observed in the dry season. In addition, PepYVMLV was the virus that was widely detected in all three localities in the rainy (18.89%) and dry (52.22%) seasons. The DNA-B molecule associated with this virus was associated with other begomoviruses (ToLCMLV). In addition, out of 200 samples collected in the vicinity of the tomato fields, only 63 were positive based on PCR diagnosis. Amplicon sequencing yielded 63 partial sequences of virus from ten plant species, including six non-cultivated species. Based on phylogenetic analysis, the 63 partial sequences belonged to three phylogenetic groups (the ToLCV group, the PepYVMLV group, and the CLCuGV group). This study allowed a better understanding of the evolution of tomato leaf curl/yellow disease in Burkina Faso and the diversity of plant species serving as reservoirs for involved viruses. This constitutes an important step in the search for adequate control methods
Comparative Analysis of Wide-band Tracheids and Equisetum Sporangial Lining Cells: Similar Only in Function and Not by Evolutionary Origins
No full textWide-band tracheids are unique to several related succulent families (Aizoaceae, Cactaceae, and Portulacaceae) and serve as either the primary water conducting cells (as in stems of most cacti and in the genus Anacampseros [Portulacaceae] and in leaves in species of both Aizoaceae and Portulacaceae). Wide-band tracheids are characterized by their wide secondary walls that resist hydrogen-bonding collapses under water stress events. In the horsetail genus Equisetum, similar cells line the sporangia (sporangial lining cells or SLCs) in the cone-like reproductive structure but are not found anywhere else in the xylem.
The question examined here was that of function—do these cells in Equisetum sporangia function in a similar manner (i.e., not collapsing under stress), or is this a question of completely different functions resulting in a physical similarity? In other words, is this similarity a simple tweaking of existing cells, or two independent evolutionary events that result in a similar cell type? Analysis of the dimensions, cell wall characteristics, and locations argue for an independent evolutionary origin of wide-band tracheids in comparison to the cells that line the sporangia of Equisetum. 
Compatibility of Indigenous Trichoderma spp. with Selected Fungicides and Insecticides
No full textAims: Evaluation of compatibility of indigenous Trichoderma isolates obtained from different agro ecological units of Kasaragod district, Kerala, India, with commonly used soil fungicides and insecticides.
Study Design: CRD.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture Padannakkad, between November 2022 and November 2023.
Methodology: Purposive sampling surveys were conducted in eighteen different locations within the agro ecological units viz., AEU 2 (Northern coastal plain), AEU 7 (Kaipad lands), AEU 11 (Northern laterites), AEU 13 (Northern foot hills) and AEU 15 (Northern high hills) of Kasaragod district, Kerala, India. Native Trichoderma species were isolated in Trichoderma Selective Medium (TSM) by using dilution plate technique. The compatibility of promising indigenous Trichoderma isolates with commonly used fungicides at recommended concentrations viz., copper hydroxide (0.15%), mancozeb (0.3%), carbendazim (0.2%), hexaconazole (0.2%) and metalaxyl (0.1%); and insecticides viz., chlorpyriphos (0.06%) and carbosulfan (0.05%) was evaluated using poisoned food technique. Statistical analysis of the results obtained was carried out.
Results: At the lowest tested concentration of copper hydroxide (0.1%), isolates Tr 37, Tr 52, and Tr 55 demonstrated complete compatibility, without any growth inhibition. Isolates, Tr 5, Tr 12, Tr 37, Tr 40, and Tr 41 were highly susceptible to mancozeb, displaying 100% inhibition at all tested concentrations. Carbendazim was found inhibitory for all isolates at every concentration tested, resulting in complete growth inhibition. Hexaconazole showed a high level of inhibition, with inhibition rates exceeding 70% across all tested concentrations. Metalaxyl significantly suppressed radial growth across all concentrations, though isolates, Tr 37, Tr 52, and Tr 55 exhibited relatively low inhibition regardless of the concentration. The Trichoderma isolates were found relatively more compatible with insecticides chlorpyriphos and carbosulfan.
Conclusion: T. harzianum isolates exhibited a higher sensitivity to fungicides tested. T. koningiopsis isolates demonstrated relatively higher compatibility with all tested fungicides but were found to be affected by insecticides. All the isolates were found relatively more compatible with insecticides chlorpyriphos and carbosulfan
Nanotechnology Interventions in Fruit Production: Enhancing Production and Quality
No full textNanotechnology has gained significant importance in enhancing fruit production and quality, offering novel solutions to challenges faced by traditional horticultural practices. The various applications of nanotechnology in fruit cultivation, focusing on Nano fertilizers, nanopesticides, nano-based fungicides, and post-harvest management technologies. Nanofertilizers have shown promise in improving nutrient uptake efficiency, stimulating vegetative and reproductive growth, enhancing yield, and reducing environmental impacts compared to conventional fertilizers. Similarly, nanopesticides and nanofungicides provide targeted pest and disease management, reducing the overuse of chemical inputs and minimizing their harmful effects on soil health. Post-harvest nanotechnologies, such as silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles, have been effective in extending the shelf life of fruits by preventing microbial decay and maintaining fruit firmness. Innovations in smart packaging, such as nanocomposite films and nano coatings, help slow down ripening and spoilage, significantly reducing post-harvest losses. Precision fruit cultivation techniques utilizing nanosensors and nano-based biosensors offer enhanced monitoring of soil conditions, nutrient levels, and early pathogen detection, improving overall fruit quality and sustainability. Despite these advancements, the widespread adoption of nanotechnology in fruit production is still limited by concerns related to public acceptance, potential environmental impacts, and regulatory challenges. Continued research is needed to address these issues and to explore the full potential of nanotechnology in fruit production