The aim of the study was to establish the efficacy of nonchemical insecticides, from different groups, for control of Hyalopterus pruni on plum. The experiments were conducted under laboratory conditions. Three botanical insecticides with active ingredients pyrethrum (Pyretrum FS EC - 0.025%,0.05%,0.1%), nicotine (NicoTab - 1:1; 1:2; 1:3 with water) and azadirachtin (NeemAzal T/S – 0.1%; 0.3%; and 0.5% ) were used, as well as two microbial products based on Beauveria bassiana (NaturalisR - 2.3 x 107 spores/mL) and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (PreFeRal WG - 2 x 10 9 CFU/g) in concentration 1%, 2%, 3%. All insecticides are registered in Bulgaria for other pest’s control, except for NicoTab, which is in an ongoing registration process. Experiments have shown that microbial insecticides, based on B. bassiana (NaturalisR) and P. fumosoroseus (PreFeRal WG) in concentration 2% and 3%, as well as botanical insecticides with active ingredients pyrethrum (Pyretrum FS EC in concentration 0.05% and 0.1%) and nicotine (NicoTab in a ratio of 1:1 and 1:2 with water) have high efficacy against H. pruni. They are suitable for pest control in organic orchards. The insecticides based on azadirachtin has low efficacy and are not suitable for control of this aphid

Experiment was conducted to know the effect of oil and granular based formulations of entomopathogenic fungi, Zoophthora radicans against the biology of rice leaf folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis. Among the different formulations of Zoophthora radicans, the highest larval mortality, pupal mortality, adult mortality and the lowest pupal formation and adult emergence was noticed in Z. radicans + Sunflower oil + Glycerol treatment in oil formulation and 81.3 spores/mm2 concentration of granular formulation. The lowest larval mortality, pupal mortality and adult mortality were noticed in Z. radicans alone treatment and 12.2 spores/mm2 concentration of granular formulation. It was concluded that oil formulations with Z. radicans + Sunflower oil + Glycerol were found better in causing mortality of life stages of leaf folder when compared to granular formulation with concentration of 81.3 spores/mm2 

Zearalenone (ZEN) is an estrogenic mycotoxin produced by Fusarium fungi. Pure preparations of the toxin should be available for in vitro and in vivo studies. The growth medium affects the activity of the fungus and the production of the toxin. ZEN producing capacity of three Fusarium species (F. oxysporum, F. graminearum, and F. solani) and the effects of Sabouraud Dextrose Broth (SDB) and rice culture on the ZEN production were investigated. The Fusarium fungi were incubated in SDB and rice culture at a constant temperature of 25°C for 30- and 48-day periods respectively. HPLC with fluorescence detection was used to measure the concentrations of ZEN. The amounts of ZEN produced by various Fusarium species on SDB were not statistically different. However, the quantity of ZEN produced on rice culture was significantly higher for F. graminearum compared to the amounts produced by F. oxysporum and F. solani (P<0.001). F. graminearum produced significantly higher amounts of the toxin (P<0.001) on rice culture than on SDB. In fact, the highest amount of ZEN production was seen by F. graminearum on rice culture. The amount of ZEN produced by F. oxysporum and F. solani were not different between SDB and rice cultures. The in vitro ZEN production by Fusarium fungi may be different on SDB and rice culture. F. graminearum can produce higher amounts of ZEN on rice medium compared to SDB. The activities of F. oxysporum and F. solani appear to be almost similar on these media. 

Spodoptera litura (Fab.) is a commonly encountered and economically important insect pest of Black Gram. Black Gram producers typically use botanicals as mixture with panchagavya to mitigate S. litura population. The compatibility and efficacy of commonly used botanicals extracts mixture were evaluated with panchagavya in vitro which include botanical extracts containing Cleistanthus collinue leaf extract (5%) combination with panchagavya @ 5%, neem oil 3% + panchagavya 5%, pungam oil 3%+ panchagavya 5%, Ocimum sanctum extract 5% + panchagavya 5%, Calotrophis gigantea extract 5%+ panchagavya 5% has been studied for the pest management. Leaf disc with no choice method performed in a laboratory using Black gram to determine the per cent mortality of botanicals extract mixture with panchagavya against S. litura. The results indicated that all binary mixtures recorded visibly the highest per cent mortality in Neem oil 3% + panchagavya 3% followed by Cleistanthus collinue Extract 5%+ panchagavya 5%, Pungam oil 3% + panchagavya 5% and Ocimum 5% extract + panchagavya 5%. The botanicals extracts mixture with panchagavya was found to show the maximum percentage mortality against S. litura 

Keywords: In vitro, Botanical extracts, Panchagavya, Spodoptera litura, Percent mortality. 

ABSTRACT 

The plum fruit moth, Grapholita (syn. Cydia) funebrana on (Tr.), is an important and the most difficult pest to control in plum orchards. The larvae feed fruits and cause damages from early summer till have harvest time. For a long time, pest management in stone fruit orchards in Bulgaria relied on organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides. Considering environmental concerns the eco-friendly means of control, alternative to chemical insecticides are urgently needed. The ecological approach imposes a wider application of the methods of pest management that decrease or completely eliminate the use of chemicals polluting the environment within the integrated fruit production systems. Mating disruption (MD) is a promising solution for control of different pests, particularly plum fruit moth. The possibilities for reducing the number of treatments with chemical insecticides against pests in plum orchards of Bulgaria using synthetic sex pheromones have been studied. The trials were carried out in an isolated 2.5-ha private plum orchard in three consecutive years 2017-2019. Catches of male moths in pheromone traps were almost completely inhibited in the MD block, whereas they were numerous in the reference, conventionally treated orchard during all years of study. Isomate OFM TT dispensers, installed before the first flight of G. funebrana males, reduced fruit damage significantly. The percentage of fruits containing plum fruit moth larvae was below the Economic Injury Level (EIL). The positive results obtained in this study indicate that mating disruption for control of plum fruit moth may be an effective alternative to conventional (pesticide) treatments. 

Investigation was carried out to study the antibiosis mechanisms of resistance in okra accessions and their hybrid derivatives against Shoot and Fruit borer Earia vittella and the role of various biophysical factors of resistance. On estimating the antibiosis effects of the test accessions on the various life stages of E. vittella, the lowest total larval duration (14.62 days) was recorded on Hy2. The accessions Hy1 and Hy2 recorded the shortest larvae of the final instar (1.0 cm) and the longest was (1.8 cm) in the accession Arka Anamika. Regarding mean larval weight, the larvae reared on Arka Anamika gained maximum of 0.680 mg where as accession Hyl gained the lowest weight of 0.315 mg. Highest larval mortality was recorded on the accession Hy2 followed by Hy1. Regarding the pupal characters, highest pupal weight (0.916mg) and maximum length of pupa recorded on the accession Arka Anamika whereas the accession Hy2 recorded the least pupal weight of 0.326 mg. The accession Hy2 recorded maximum total pupal duration (13.2 days). Cent percent adult emergence was recorded in the accession Arka Anamika. There was no adult emergence recoded in the accession Hy2. The highest adult longevity period of both male and female recorded on the accession Arka Anamika. Mean egg period and mean hatchability also high on the accession Arka Anamika followed by Hy6. Among the biopysical factors, maximum number of trichomes and high length and breadth of trichomes were recorded on the accession Hy2. Fruit length of Arka Anamika was greater than other accessions. Fruit width of Salem Local was greater than other accessions. Fruit angle to stem / branch of accession Hy4 was higher than other accessions. A significant negative correlation was observed among trichome density, trichome length, fruit width and fruit angle to stem with larval mortality, pupation percentage and adult longevity. 

India is the world's largest producer and consumer of black gram. India produces about 1.5 to 1.9 million tones of black gram annually from about 3.5 million hectares of area, with an average productivity of 500 kg per hectare. Black gram output accounts for about 10 per cent of India's total pulse production. Root rot caused by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid is one of the most important fungal diseases of Black gram. It inflicts serious economic loss to the crop. It was reported to result in a loss of 28.6 per cent in black gram yield. Trichoderma species are effective biocontrol agents for several soil borne fungal plant pathogens including M. phaseolina and some species are also known for their to enhance systemic resistance to plant disease. Soil application of T. viride significantly controlled the blackgram root rot caused by M. phaseolina by means of several antagonistic mechanisms such as nutrient composition, antibiotic production and mycoparasitism. Results showed in vitro efficiency of antagonist inhibited the mycelial growth. T. viride (Tv3) recorded the maximum inhibition zone (73.74%), followed by T. viride (Tv1) which recorded 71.74 per cent inhibition on the growth of pathogen over control. The isolate T. viride (Tvs) recorded the minimum inhibition (69.37%). 

Biofilm based antagonists were evaluated for growth promotion and soil borne disease management in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp). Nine Trichoderma sp. and five Bacillus sp. were obtained from ten rhizosphere soils of cowpea growing areas of Thrissur district (Kerala). The highest population of Trichoderma sp. was recorded in Chellakara (4.8 x 103 cfu g1) and Bacillus sp. in Pananchery (4.48 x 103 cfu g ́1). Among Trichoderma sp., TCH (Chellakara) isolate recorded maximum inhibition (51,1 %) against Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium aphanidermatum (57.7 %). None of the Bacillus sp. showed antagonistic activity against Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium aphanidermatum. Bacillus sp. were screened for biofilm production, and BCH (Chellakara) isolate (0.0600) was the most efficient followed by BPN (Pananchery)(0.058) and BML (Mala) (0.056). Based on the plant growth promoting traits and antagonistic activities, three most efficient Trichoderma sp. (TCH, TPZ and TMT) and Bacillus sp. (BCH, BPN and BML) were selected for further studies. Three best Trichoderma based Bacillus sp. biofilms (TPZ+BPN, TCH+BCH and TMT+BML) were selected based on the growth promotion, antagonistic activity, biofilm production and compatibility under in vitro. Population of inoculated Trichoderma sp., Bacillus sp. and Rhizobium sp. in the potting mixture showed declining trend till the final harvest of the crop. Among the biofilm based formulations, TCH (Trichoderma sp.) + BCH (Bacillus sp.) (T2) was the most promising treatment for growth promotion and disease management in cowpea under pot culture studies. However, further studies are needed to evaluate under field conditions. 

Microalgae have been recognized in the last several years as source of novel anti-viral, anti-algal, antibacterial and antifungal metabolites. Cladophora glomerata is a branched filamentous green algae commonly found in freshwater bodies. The aim of the present work is to study the antimicrobial screening of the cell extracts of naturally occurring freshwater green algae Cladophora glomerata against clinically significant microorganisms both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and pathogenic fungi. In this study four test pathogens were considered, these test bacterial strains were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and fungal strain was Candida krusei. Crude metabolites were extracted using four different solvents namely chloroform, methanol, butanol and petroleum benzene. The antimicrobial activities of crude extracts were evaluated using agar cup diffusion methods. Among the solvents highest antimicrobial activity was detected in methanol extracts against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, i.e. Bacillus subtilis (19.66±0.57 mm) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15.66±0.57 mm) and Staphylococcus aureus (15.33±0.57 mm) respectively. Moderate activity were detected in chloroform extract against Bacillus subtilis (14.00±0.57 mm) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13.33±1.00 mm) respectively. The less activity was detected in petroleum benzene extract against Staphylococcus aureus (10.66±1.00 mm) and no activity was found against fungal pathogen Candida krusei. The present finding that may serve as leads for the development of new pharmaceuticals addressing the novel therapeutic needs of mankind. It is concluded that the branched filamentous green algae Cladophora glomerata occurring in natural freshwater bodies represents a new source of antimicrobial formulation with stable and biologically active compounds. 

Keywords: Cladophora glomerata, Freshwater bodies, Solvent extracts, Antimicrobial potential. 

The present study was designed to appraise the insecticidal and antibacterial potential of Clove, Syzygium aromaticum (L.) against some laboratory hosts and Escherichia coli respectively. The phytochemicals constituents were extracted with two solvents methanol and acetone. The result of the phytochemical analysis revealed that methanol extract has alkaloids, steroids, tannins, saponins, flavonids, cardiac glycosides, phenolic compounds and aromatic acids but in acetone extract all the constituents are similar as methanolic extract except aromatic acids. Results of the repellent activity observed against Tribolium castaneum and Corcyra cephalonica implies that silver based nanoparticles from methanol extract of 1% concentration showed maximum repellent activity of 71% against T.castaneum. Antibacterial efficacy of clove extracts tested against Gram negative bacterium E. coli revealed that 1% of methanolic extract of clove is found to have maximum growth inhibition (25mm). Results of the larvicidal activity tested against Bombyx mori recorded 100% mortality in 4% acetone extracts of clove. 

Keywords: Syzygium aromaticum, Tribolium castaneum, Corcyra cephalonica, Bombyx mori, Repellent activity, Larvicidal activity 

Cassia angustifolia Vahl. is an important medicinal plant belonging to the family Leguminaceae. Like other plants, medicinal plants too have to bear the attack of injurious insect pests. Extensive monitoring and development of eco-friendly pest management practices are essential in the production of high quality, pesticide residue free produces. Results of field experiments revealed that among the treatments, foliar application of chlorpyriphos 20 EC (standard check) @ 1.0 L/ha was significantly superior over all other treatments, recording the lowest number of pod borer and the untreated control was significantly inferior, recording maximum number of pod borers per plant. Among the biopesticides tested, neem seed kernel extract 5 per cent showed maximum efficacy with the least number of pod borer per plant, followed by neem oil 3 per cent, Bacillus thuringiensis @ 750g/ha and Beauveria bassiana @ 2 kg/ha, which were statistically on par in their efficacy. Results on the efficacy of biopesticides on pod damage revealed that Bacillus thuringiensis @ 750 g/ha showed promising efficacy with the minimum pod damage at 14 DAT, followed by neem seed kernel extract 5 per cent. Regarding yield, neem seed kernel extract 5 per cent treated plots recorded maximum leaf and pod (dry) yield followed by neem oil 3 per cent and Bacillus thuringiensis @ 750 g/ha. Hence, neem seed kernel extract 5 per cent can be recommended as suitable biopesticide for the management of pod borer, Etiella zinckenella infesting senna, C. angustifolia. 

Keywords: Cassia angustifolia, Pod borer, Etiella zinckenella, Bio-pesticides, Yield 

A field experiment on mustard var. Varuna was conducted during Rabi season of year 2013-14 and 2014-15 at CSAUA&T, Kanpur. Among the various insecticides evaluated against the mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi Kalt, imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 0.2 g/litre showed highest reduction Significantly lower mean aphid intensity 14 days after second spray 6.89 and 19.66 aphids/ 10 cm apical shoot were recorded on the crop treated with imidacloprid 17.8 SL with 94.09 and 90.34 percent reduction over control which provided significantly highest seed yield 2287 and 2235 kg/ha with 40.73 and 37.79 percent increase in yield, respectively. Application of Thiamethoxam 25% WP was found second best treatment with 8.49 and 23.46aphids 10 cm apical shoot 14 days after second spraying with 89.91 and 87.54 percent reduction over control during both year with provided 2229 and 2216 kg/ha with 37.71 and 36.62 percent increase in yield. The ranking of insecticides on the basis percent reduction over control after second spraying after 14 days for the management of aphids most effective were imidacloprid 17.8SL and thiametoxam25 WP and least effective spinosad 45 SC. Among biopesticides M.anisopoliae 1.15 WP was more effective than B.bassiana 1.15WP.Among the chemical insecticides imidacloprid 17.8 SL found safe followed by thiamethoxam 25WP with less number of percent reducing over control. 

The aim of the study was to isolate and diagnose the pathogens of the Damping off of pepper seedlings in Babylon province-Iraq and to evaluate the effectiveness of some biological control agents in disease control. 7 species of fungi associated with root rot and Damping off of pepper seedlings were diagnosed. Fusariumsolani was the most common fungus followed by Macrophominaphaseolina and Rhizoctoniasolani. The results showed that Trichodermaharzianium and Pseudomonas fluorescens have a high level of antagonistic contrast with pathogens. The results appeared the efficacy of the Black Cumin (Nigella sativa) extract in inhibiting the growth of pathogenic fungi. All the used treatments resulted in an increase in the percentage of pepper seed germination. A significant improvement in the biologic integration of T. harzianum and P. fluorescens and water extract of the Black Cumin increasing the percentage of germination of pepper seeds and provide good protection from the infection by pathogenic fungi causing Damping off disease, ranging between 62.5 - 87.5%. The conclusion of this study the effectiveness of the T. harzianum, P. fluorescens and the black cumin seed water extract in the protection of pepper seeds and seedlings from the infection by some pathogenic fungi

Keywords: pepper; damping off, Biological control, Plant Extracts, Black Cumin.

Jasmine (Jasminum sambac L.), one of the most important fragrant flowers widely cultivated in India, is seriously damaged by numerous insect pests. To devise a suitable Integrated Pest Management (IPM) module, a study using biofertilizers and biopesticides separately and in combination was conducted in two-year-old jasmine plants in a field at Seeragampatty village during September 2017 to February 2018. The experiment was set up in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with nine treatments for both biofertilizers and biopesticides with three replications. The results strongly endorse the integrative approach for the optimum growth and yield of jasmine plants which was produced by the combined inoculation of Azospirillum sp. and Phosphobacterium sp. along with vermicompost. The infestation of budworms, red mites and white flies were reduced with the application of biopesticides (Trichoderma sp., Bacillus sp. and Paecilomyces sp.) in combination with biofertilizers. It was also found that there was no infestation of budworms during November 2017 and January 2018, and that of red mites in November 2017. The population of white flies was fluctuating throughout the study period. From the findings of present investigation, it has been concluded that the amalgamation of suitable biofertilizers and biopesticides managed the insect pests in a better way and increased the growth and yield of jasmine. 

Keywords: Jasmine, Biofertilizers, Biopesticides, Growth, Yield, IPM. 

Cowpea also known as 'black eye beans' (Vigna ungiculata L.) is an important leguminous and hay crop in tropical and subtropical regions. In recent years root rot caused by Macrophomina phaseolina causes significant losses in cowpea. Hence, the present study was undertaken to assess the bio-potential of neem cake with Pseudomonas fluorescens on the management of cowpea root rot disease. In this study, P. fluorescens as seed and soil application (@ 10 gm/kg and 2.5 kg/ha) with neem oil cake as soil application @ 0.25 t/ha (T6) significantly reduced the root rot disease incidence with a maximum per cent disease reduction and increased the biometrics of cowpea plant under both pot and field trials. 

Basal rot of onion caused by Fusarium oxysporumf. sp. cepa is one of the most serious soil borne diseases causing significant yield loss of up to 50 per cent. Efficacy of various biocontrol agents was evaluated for the potential to manage the basal rot of onion in vitro. Among the tested isolates of Trichoderma viride (Tv5) gave the greatest (82.86%) inhibition and Pseudomonas fluorescens (Pf 2) exerted significantly the greatest (80.82%) reduction of mycelial growth of F. oxysporumf. sp. cepae. Based on the laboratory analysis, effective biocontrol agents were evaluated in glass house conditions. Among the nine treatments tested in the field by RBD, the combination of bacterial and fungal biocontrol agents and Glomusmosseae (Tv5 +P£2+G.mosseae) gave significantly the greatest (89.49%) disease reduction. These biocontrol agents were useful as an alternative to chemical control of the onion basal rot and to enhance growth and yield of onion. 

Keywords: Onion, basal rot, Trichoderma viride, seudomonas fluorescens, Glomusmosseae 

Processed food products can be contaminated by a variety of pathogenic and spoilage microbes. Those are the causative agents of foodborne diseases and cause significant economic losses in the food industries and human health. This was the basis of the present study, carried out with an objective to investigate the antibacterial and antifungal potentials of Mangifera indica bark extract. The antimicrobial activity of plant extracts and phytochemicals was evaluated with antibiotic susceptible and resistant microorganisms. An attempt was made in this study to evaluate these properties to prolong the shelf life of fruits and vegetables at the time of transportation and storage. Parts of the Mango plants have multifarious uses as traditional and asthetic values as well as medicinal implications. Antioxidant property was also evaluated by DPPH method. Methanolic extract of mangifera bark was used to evaluate the properties of phytochemicals and their role as an effective antioxidant and antimicrobial agent. The antibacterial activity was tested against one Gram-positive-Staphylococcus aureus, and three Gram-negative-Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella human pathogenic bacteria; and two fungal strains― Candida albicans and Aspergilus niger. After evaluation, methanolic extract of Mangifera bark the presence of phytochemicals like, alkaloids, glycosides, phenolic compounds, tannins and steroids. Zone of inhibition of extracts were compared with that of different standards like oxytetracycline, levofloxacin for antibacterial activity and fluconazole for antifungal activity. The results showed that the remarkable zone of inhibition against the bacterial growth ranged from 14 to 15 mm for pathogenic strain of bacteria. The zone of inhibition was observed first time of around 13 mm against the fungal strain. After the preliminary screening for antimicrobial activity by agar well diffusion method, MIC & MBC were also determined against above mentioned bacteria ranged from 3.125 to 6.25 μg/mL. However MBC ranges from 1.562 to 3.125 μg/mL. The parameter IC50 (efficient concentration|| value) is used for the interpretation of the results from the DPPH method and the IC50 value for Mangifera indica is 94.04 μg/ml. Therefore, this plant can be used to isolate bioactive natural products and can be employed to control the food spoilage and to improve the quality of fruits and food products and may also play a vital role for the improvement of quality products for food industries. 

Keywords: Mango bark, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, hytochemicals, IC50, MIC, MBC 

Antifeedant and insecticidal properties of thirty plants suggested by the tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands were studied by conducting laboratory bioassay against 3rd instar of Scirpophaga incertulas (W.). The higher antifeedant activity was noticed in Annona muricata (82.97%), Amomum fenzlii (82.11%) and Oroxylum indicum (81.66%). Insecticidal activity was more pronounced in Derris scandens (66.66%) and Tetracera sarmentosa (53.33%). 

Keywords: Scirpophaga incertulas, botanical nsecticide, antifeedant activity 

ABSTRACT 

Chilli is the foremost important spice crop of India. It is affected by many diseases, among which chilli fruit rot is a major fungal disease that causes severe yield loss. A rowing survey was conducted in different places of Tamil Nadu. The overall disease severity ranges from 19 per cent to 3.6 per cent. The highest fruit rot disease incidence was recorded in Kovilpatti and the least was recorded in Sathanoor. The pathogenicity of these isolates through different inoculation methods on unfascinated semi ripe chilli fruit variety K1 revealed that C. capsici Ccl17 was most virulent with an average lesion size of 16.5 mm and a least lesion size observed in Ccl3 was 4.9 mm. Among the twenty isolates, the isolate Ccl17 was significantly the most virulent one, which recorded the highest fruit rot intensity (65.8 %) and leaf infection (59.7 %) followed by CcI19 which was the least virulent. In the present study, an exhaustive survey was conducted in Tamil Nadu during 2019 to know the incidence and severity of the fruit rot disease in a large scale basis. 

Keywords: Colletotrichum capsici, pathogenicity, virulence, chilli.