Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Fungal metabolites as a natural source of herbicide: a novel approach of weed management: Ajay Kumar Singh* and Akhilesh Kumar Pandey Mycological Research Laboratory, Department of Biological Science Rani Durgawati University, Jabalpur-482001, Madhya Pradesh. India *Corresponding Author: Dr Ajay Kumar Singh [email protected]
Get PDFWeeds are undesirable vegetation directly or indirectly inferring with human welfare. Conventional methods of weed control have failed due to one or other reason. Herbicide-resistant weeds are the main problem in weed control due to the number of weed biotypes resistant to herbicides that constantly increases by the continuous use of the same products for years. Development of alternative weed control methods is needed to help decrease reliance on herbicide use. Biological weed control is an alternative option for weed problems, particularly in agriculture and forestry. It is based on the use of natural enemies, particularly insects and pathogens to control weeds, as a sustainable, low cost and more environmentally acceptable method of weed control. One of the approaches to biological weed control using fungal phytotoxin applied in similar ways to conventional herbicides. Fungal phytotoxins are natural secondary metabolites produced by plant pathogenic fungi during host–pathogen interactions. They have received considerable particular attention for elucidating disease etiology, and consequently to design strategies for disease control. Due to wide differences in their chemical structures, these toxic metabolites have different ecological and environmental roles and mechanisms of action. This review aims at summarizing the studies on the possible use of fungal phytotoxin as a lucrative, novel source of secondary phytotoxic herbicidal compounds for management of broad spectrum, noxious and pernicious weeds
Thermo-tolerance characterization and bioassay of selected entomopathogenic fungal (EPF) isolates on larva of Spodoptera litura Fab.
Get PDFEntomopathogenic fungi viz. Metarizhium anisoplae and Beauveria bassiana are well characterized in respect to pathogenicity to several insects and have been used for biological control of agriculture pests worldwide. Despite their potential, several factors like low resistance to elevated temperature have hindered widespread adoption of fungi as part of biological control regimes. In this study, five isolates of B. bassiana (Bb 01, Bb 02, Bb 03, Bb 04 and Bb 05) and two isolates of M. anisoplae (Ma 01 and Ma 02) were evaluated for thermotolerance capacity and bioefficacy against third instar of Spodoptera litura. Among the isolates studied, Bb 04 recorded the higher temperature tolerance up to 34oC with mean spore germination of 35.00 percent and mean dry mycelial weight of 443.38 mg. Further, in the bioassay studies, Bb 04 caused significantly (@ P<0.01%) higher percent mortality of S. litura larva at 1×108 spores ml-1 on fifth day (80.00 %) with LT50 value of 4.08 days and LC50 value of 2.07×104 conidia ml-1 at five days. Investigation results indicated that BB 04 is a suitable EPF isolate for management of S. litura where higher temperature prevails.  
Germination and vigour of polymer coated cotton seeds under different water holding capacities
Get PDFThe cotton seeds were coated with different polymers namely Genius coat 171, Genius coat 172, Arcus, Myconate and Quick roots and evaluated for various physiological quality parameters at water holding capacities of 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 per cent in sand medium along with untreated control seed. The seeds coated with Quick roots polymer recorded higher speed of germination (8.5), germination (88 %), root length (10.35 cm), shoot length (10.80 cm), dry matter production (489.9 mg seedlings-10) and vigour index (1861), respectively over untreated control (5.5, 68, 9.00, 9.50, 458.6 and 1258, respectively) under suboptimal moisture condition like 30 per cent water holding capacity. Cotton seeds coated with Quick roots can tolerate both high as well as low moisture content and produce better germination and seedling establishment
Productivity enhancement in Finger millet through Frontline demonstration in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu, India: A case study
Get PDFFrontline demonstration was taken up in farmers’ holdings of Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu, India during kharif 2015 to create awareness among the farmers and demonstrate the improved production technologies in finger millet. The integrated crop management practices including cultivation of drought tolerant and short duration finger millet variety ML 365, integrated nutrient management, integrated pest and disease management practices were demonstrated and compared with the existing farmers practice followed in Finger millet cultivation. Results showed that demonstration of finger millet variety ML 365 with integrated crop management practices recorded higher grain yield of 2100 kg/ha and farmers practice recorded lower yield of 1730 kg/ha. Adoption of integrated crop management practices increased the grain yield of finger millet to the tune of 21.7 per cent compared to farmers practice. Farmers earned higher net income of Rs.14244/ha through the demonstration and Rs.10018/ha with farmers practice. Besides, farmers realized higher benefit cost ratio (1.58) through the demonstration compared to farmers practice (1.46). Thus, the frontline demonstration of improved variety with crop management practices increased the grain yield and net income of the farmers growing finger millet under rainfed condition. In the present study, potential of the improved variety and technologies were demonstrated systematically and scientifically in the farmers field along with farmers practice for further adoption by farming community in large scale
Assessment of chromium induced alterations on gut bacterial population of E. eugeniae
Get PDFThe aim of the present study was to enumerate the diversity of gut bacterial population of epigeic earthworm species, E. eugeniae exposed to heavy metal. Adult earthworms were treated with three different doses (0.06%, 0.13% and 0.19% w/v) of potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) for this purpose. The gut samples were serially diluted and inoculated in seven distinct media viz. Jensen\u27s media, King’smedium B base, Burk’s media, Yeast Mannitol Agar media, Vogel- Johnson agar base media, Luria Bertani Broth Miller and Nutrient agar media. Dose dependent decrease in bacterial population was observed in treated worms when compared with control. Maximum percent change (62.59%) in bacterial population was observed in Burk’s media when exposed to 0.19% chromium. The results revealed that chromium alters the microbial population present in gut of earthworms. Therefore, changes in earthworms’ gut microbial community due to soil management practices can also be used as markers of soil fertility and quality
Biological confirmation of resistance from segregating populations of Gherkin (Cucumis anguria L.) against cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)
Get PDFCucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV) is most widespread and destructive disease of gherkin (Cucumis anguria L.) Most of the commercial varieties are susceptible to CMV disease. Thus, identification of resistant genotypes for management of CMV disease in gherkin is essential. A total of 179 F3 progenies derived from crosses of resistant and susceptible parent’s viz., Acc.1 (susceptible) x Acc. 50 (resistant), Acc.3 (susceptible) x Acc.50 (resistant), Acc.48 (susceptible) x Acc 50 (resistant) were screened for CMV. Among 179 F3 families, 7 were Immune, 17 were Resistant, 76 were Moderately Resistant, 73 were Moderately Susceptible and 6 were Susceptible. The immune and resistant progenies were further confirmed for their resistance reaction by aphid transmission. Significant difference between the estimates of PDI or F3 progenies mapped into different response classes justified the classification. 
Effect of nitrogen and potash on Early shoot borer (Chilo infuscatellus Snellen) incidence in differently maturing varieties of sugarcane
Get PDFIt has been argued that fertilization may influence the susceptibility of insect pests, and thus, can increase the crop production by lowering the incidence of insect-pest. Here, the present investigation was carried out to study the influence of nitrogen and potash levels on the incidence of early shoot borer, Chilo infuscatellus Snellen in sugarcane varieties at Regional Research Station CCSHAU Uchani farm, Karnal. The experiment was laid out in split-split plot design with three differently maturing varieties viz., Co 0238, CoH 119 and CoH 150 as main plot, three doses of nitrogen viz., 150, 200 and 250 kg per hectare (kg/ha) as sub plot and two doses of potash viz., 0 and 50 (kg/ha) as sub-sub plot. The early shoot borer mean per cent incidence recorded in April, May and June, 2015 was highest (7.68, 12.19 and 6.35, respectively) in Co 0238 while, lowest (5.16, 8.51 and 5.40, respectively) in CoH 119 followed by CoH 150 (6.29, 8.79 and 5.43, respectively). In relation to nitrogen application, maximum mean per cent incidence (7.12, 11.19 and 6.48, respectively) in April, May and June, 2015 of early shoot borer was recorded at 250 kg N/ha and the minimum (5.68, 8.57 and 5.23, respectively) at 150 kg N/ha. Application of potassium significantly reduced the shoot borer infestation with mean per cent incidence lower at 50 kg K2O/ha (5.90, 9.24 and 5.33, respectively) in April, May and June, 2015 compared to control i.e., no application of potassium (6.85, 10.42 and 6.12, respectively). Results revealed that application of potassium with optimum dose of nitrogenous fertilizer along with selection of suitable variety acted as preventive measures to avoid shoot borer infestation
Size grading Standardization of sieve size for grading of barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea L.) MDU-1
No full textSeed grading is an important practice for better crop and also useful in separation of quality seeds in a seed lot. The aim of grading is to improve the uniformity of the seed lot by removing seeds of the same species with low quality. The present study was carried out to find out the optimum sieve size for size grading of seeds of barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea L.) MDU1. The effect of seed size on physiological parameters were evaluated using BSS 10×10, BSS12×12 and BSS14×14 wire mesh sieves along with control. The barnyard millet seeds graded with BSS12×12 recorded higher seed recovery (76.67%) than other sieves used with required germination (92%), 1000 seed weight (3.9g), root length (14.1cm), shoot length (8.45cm), dry matter production (0.027g/10 seedlings) and vigour index (1983). Hence, seeds of barnyard millet MDU1 could be size graded using BSS12×12 sieve for more seed recovery with required seed quality standards as compared to BSS 10×10, BSS14×14 and ungraded seeds
Monthly variation and interrelationship of physicochemical characteristics of a perennial pond at a biological park in Patna, Bihar, India
Get PDFThe present study was designed to observe the monthly variation and interrelationship among the physicochemical characteristics of the surface water of a perennial pond situated at Biological park also known as Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan, Patna. The different physicochemical parameters was determined for the period of two years i.e from May, 2016 to April, 2018 to analyse the pond water quality. The maximum value of water temperature, transparency, total solids, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, turbidity, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total alkalinity, chloride, total hardness, calcium hardness, magnesium hardness, nitrate, inorganic phosphorus, sodium, potassium were found as 32.6 ± 0.24 °C; 24.57 ± 0.18 cm; 1510.66 ± 4.50 mg/l; 1210 ± 0.89 mg/l; 478.33 ± 2.11 mg/l; 37.46 ± 0.22 NTU; 8.54 ± 0.0245; 542 ± 11.57 µ S cm¯1; 8.216 ± 0.01 mg/l; 6.73 ± 0.074; 14.27 ± 0.114 mg/l, 269.36 ± 0.157 mg/l, 63.51 ± 0.13 mg/l, 333.33 ± 2.581 mg/l; 101.2 ± 0.089 mg/l; 19.13 ± 0.068 mg/l; 1.56 ± 0.004 mg/l; 1.43 ± 0.0078 mg/l; 7.726 ± 0.025 mg/l, 4.81 ± 0.215 mg/l respectively during the study period. This study therefore gives insight about the existing health of the pond and will be helpful to take suitable measure by the authorities to maintain the healthy environment and wholesomeness of the pond
Monocrotophos induced histopathological and biochemical Changes in gills, stomach and intestine of Anabas testudineus (Cuvier)
Get PDFMonocrotophos, an organophosphate pesticide is used frequently in paddy fields of India. Although its impact of toxicity has been reported in many organisms, its effect on digestive and respiratory organs in Anabas testudineus is scanty. The Present investigation was conducted to evaluate the impact of histopathological and biochemical indices on freshwater fish A.testudineus exposed to sub-lethal concentration (45 ppm) of an organophosphorous pesticide monocrotophos (MT). Severe histoarchitectural and biochemical changes were observed in fishes exposed to monocrotophos when compared to fishes of control group. Exposure of fishes to the pesticide resulted in induction of histological abnormalities in gills, stomach and intestine. This was accompanied with reduction in total protein content and an elevation in catalase activity in gills, stomach and intestine. These structural alterations of the gills, stomach and intestine could affect respiration, digestion and absorption of nutrients which in turn could adversely affect growth and survival of the freshwater fish A. testudineus. The result of this investigation serves as a biomonitoring tool for the effects of organophosphorous pesticide MT on the aquatic biota