Adventive Gryon aetherium Talamas (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae) associated with eggs of Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae) in the USA

Bagrada bug, Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae), has become a major pest of cole crops (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale) in California since its arrival in 2008. In this study we documented parasitism of B. hilaris eggs at a highly infested site in northern California by deploying sentinel B. hilaris eggs and collecting naturally-laid B. hilaris eggs in the soil. Two parasitoids, Gryon aetherium Talamas (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae) and Ooencyrtus californicus Girault (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae), emerged from sentinel eggs, but only G. aetherium was documented attacking eggs in the soil. Gryon aetherium is currently being assessed as a classical biological control agent for B. hilaris in California, and mating experiments showed that crosses between G. aetherium from Pakistan and California yielded viable female offspring. This report marks the first known record of G. aetherium in the USA, and further work should be conducted to assess the potential of this parasitoid for biological control of B. hilaris.

Cole Crops Disease Management Approaches Practiced by Farmers and its Impact on their Health: A Case Study of Nala, Kavre District of Nepal

A case study was conducted at Nala, Kavre district to assess the present cultivation and disease management status in cole crops in the year 2019 with use of semi-structured questionnaire among the local farmers. It was found that majority of respondent cultivated cole crops seasonally and faced five major disease problem in it namely: stalk root (Sclerotina sclerotiorum), Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria brassicae and A. brassicicola), damping off (Pythium sp.), root rot (Rhizoctonia solani) and club root (Plasmodiophora brassicae). For management of those diseases, 83% respondent used conventional method of disease management i.e. chemical fungicides and insecticides. But the methods of management of disease was found significant with IPM training and awareness on biological approaches they have heard or related program attained. Almost 40% respondent had practices IPM packages of pest control based on training they have received and 33% has practiced based on the awareness program they have received. Also female guided farming has more probability to adapt IPM tools to minimize effect of pesticides and cooperatives had also played major role in mass communicating benefits of IPM. With 83% conventional management practicing farmers, they reported to face piles of immediate and chronic health issues due to continuous pesticidal use. Eye irritation (16.9%), skin problems (21.4%), headache (10.7%), respiratory problems (7.1%), and vomiting (5.3%), and chronically cancer (27.7%) was reported in the area due to prolonged and hazardous use of pesticides in conventional practices as per the respondents.

Growth in Vegetable Production and its Decomposition in Karnataka

Vegetables are important constituents of Indian agriculture and nutritional security. Along with health benefits, vegetables help in flourishing countries economy, as it provides a great opportunity for income and employment generation for the farming sector. The study has an objective to understand the extent of growth each vegetable experiencing and to derive the major factor for the growth in Karnataka, utilizing time-series data. The total area showed an increasing trend over the period with about 40 % increase in a span of two decades. However, figures for increased production were more appealing than its area, as it has shown 60 % increase. Total production of vegetables in Karnataka has increased from 42 lakh tonnes in 1998-99 to 68 lakh tonnes in 2018-19, with an annual growth rate of 3.9 %. The highest growth in production was observed in onion (7.5% annually) followed by tomato and cole crops. The area effect was the most responsible factor for increasing production of tomato, onion, guards, cole crops and other vegetables group. Thus, in effect for overall vegetables, it is 66 % of the total increased production effect. However, for potato and leafy vegetables, only yield effect was found to be positively contributing to the production.

Nematode Management in Cole Crops

Many different plant-parasitic nematodes cause yield loss in cabbage, broccoli, collards, and other valuable Florida cole crops. This 13-page fact sheet written by Z. J. Grabau and J. W. Noling and published by the UF/IFAS Entomology and Nematology Department lists common symptoms, explains how to submit samples to a nematology lab such as the UF/IFAS Nematode Assay Lab for diagnosis, and describes key cultural practices to help agricultural professionals spot and manage nematode problems in cole crops.

2020–2021 Vegetable Production Handbook: Chapter 6. Cole Crop Production

This chapter covers production of cole crops and Asian crucifers, including broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese broccoli, Chinese cabbage, Chinese mustard (bok choy), kohlrabi, lobok/daikon, collards, kale, mustard, and turnip.