Bioefficacy of entomopathogenic mycoformulations and effect of adjuvants against nymphs of cabbage aphid, Brevicornye brassicae (Linnaeus)

Cabbage aphid, Brevicornye brassicae (Linnaeus) is one of the major insect pests of cabbage. Chemical control is mostly used to manage this pest. The present investigation was conducted to evaluate an environmentally benign approach for the pest management through different entomopathogenic mycoformulations against nymphs of B. brassicae to identify effective mycoformulation. The effect of mycoformulations supplemented with different adjuvants against nymphs of B. Brassicae was also evaluated under laboratory conditions. The bioassay studies of fungal bioformulation against nymphs of B. brassicae recorded maximum cumulative per cent mortality (53.33%) in talc formulation of L. lecanii MTCC 956 and commercial L. Lecanii formulation @12g L-1 and these were at par with each other. Maximum percent reduction of nymphal population over control 54.66 and 51.33 per cent was recorded @12 g L-1in talc formulation of L. lecanii (MTCC 956) and commercial L. Lecanii formulation ten days after treatment respectively. Laboratory studies undertaken to evaluate talc formulation of L. lecanii MTCC 956 lecanii with and without adjuvants against the nymphs of B. brassicae recorded maximum percent increase in mortality over control (7.89%) in L. lecanii formulation + tween80@1%. Results of this study signified that L. lecanii formulation, when supplemented with adjuvants enhanced the growth of L. lecanii and increased mortality of nymphs of B. brassicae and could be used as a part of the integrated pest management program.

Comparative studies of egg parasitoids of the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa, Den. & Schiff.) in historic and expansion areas in France and Bulgaria

To investigate enemy pressure across the range of the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa, Den. & Schiff.) as it spreads northwards in Europe because of climate change, a survey of 206 egg batches from historical and newly colonized areas at both the westernmost and the easternmost ends of the front was carried out in 2016–2018. Out of them, 97 egg batches were collected from nine locations in three regions in France and 109 from four localities in two regions in Bulgaria, both within historical and newly colonized ranges of the pest. The average number of eggs per batch collected in Bulgaria (226.6 ± 43.2) was higher than that in France (194.3 ± 50.1). However, the hatching percentage was higher in French samples, varying from 69.8 to 95.7, vs 49.8 to 85.2 per cent in Bulgarian samples. Four primary parasitoids (Ooencyrtus pityocampae, Baryscapus servadeii, Anastatus bifasciatus, Trichogramma sp.) and a hyperparasitoid (Baryscapus transversalis, found only in two regions of the historical range in Bulgaria) were identified. The oligophagous species B. servadeii was present at all sites within the historical range of the pest. In newly colonized areas, the impact of primary parasitoids on the host was distinctly low, suggesting that they lag behind the range expansion of pine processionary moth. In France, the most abundant species in the T. pityocampa parasitoid complex were B. servadeii in Ré Island and Orléans (97.3 and 87.4 per cent, respectively), and Trichogramma sp. (99.7 per cent) in a newly colonized locality in Fréhel. Ooencyrtus pityocampae prevailed in three of four Bulgarian localities (72.1 per cent in Sandanski, 89.7 per cent in Maglizh and 65.7 per cent in Sladak kladenets), whereas B. servadeii was the most abundant in Gega (75.4 per cent). Mortality of B. servadeii and O. pityocampae caused by the hyperparasitoid B. transversalis amounted to 4.8–6.2 per cent. The impact of predators on the pine processionary moth in the egg stage was negligible at most sites, reaching 12.5 per cent in only one site (Maglizh).

Pathogenecity of Metarhizium anisopliae on Helicoverpa armigera larvae instars

Studies on pathogenicity of M. anisopliae against Ist - VIth instar H. armigera larvae revealed that larval mortality. The effect of Metarhizium anisopliae spore/ml against Helicoverpa armigera larval instars was significantly higher recorded showed that in the results revealed that all the treatments were significantly larval mortality. The results revealed that all the treatments were significantly higher effective in larval mortality as compared to other larval instars. The data recorded on 4, 6, 8 11 and 14 day after pathogencity of various larval instars in the Ist instar of H. armigera with 1.8 x 109 spores suspension, was the best Ist instars larva H. armigera per cent mortality by M. anisopliae up to (35.63) followed by 73.39 (85.69) (98.37) and (100.0) production was significantly recorded.

Biochemical changes in Holotrichia repetita Sharp (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae) and Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) due to the biopesticide Steinernema sp.

In the present study, Steinernema- sp. were isolated from Tirupur soil sample and tested for its antagonistic potential against larvae of Galleria mellonella and Holotrichia repetita in laboratory condition. 100 per cent mortality was observed after 24 and 48 hours for G. mellonella and repetita respectively. Further biochemical estimations viz., protein, carbohydrates and lipids were carried out after 24 and 48 h of application. The results showed that there was a significant decrease in all biochemical parameters of parasitized larvae compared to control. Steinernema sp. can be incorporated in IPM program for the control of G. mellonella and H. repetita.

Evaluation of different solvent extracts of sweet flag rhizome, Acorus calamus (L.) on pulse beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.)

Investigation was conducted to test the insecticidal activity of sweet flag rhizome (Acorus calamus L.) extracts on Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) on cow pea in storage during 2016-2017 at the Department of Agricultural Entomology, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Coimbatore. Sweet flag (SF) extracts obtained by different extraction methods (soxhlet and mechanical shaker extraction) using various solvents viz., hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol exhibited varied levels of insecticidal action on Callosobruchus maculatus (F.). Pulse beetle on cow pea seeds, there was a positive correlation between the concentration of the sweet flag extracts and the insecticidal action. The LC50 value of hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol extract of SF obtained in soxhlet extraction for C. maculatus was 0.042, 0.230 and 0.069 per cent at 48 hours, respectively. The LC50 value of hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol extract of SF obtained in mechanical shaker extraction for C. maculatus was 0.009, 0.275 and 0.069 per cent at 48 hours, respectively. Hexane extract of SF obtained from both extraction methods (soxhlet and mechanical shaker) showed cent per cent mortality at 0.09 and 0.1 per cent on 5th day after treatment (DAT). For ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of SF obtained from both extraction methods (soxhlet and mechanical shaker), caused more than 80 per cent mortality was observed on 6th DAT at 0.09 and 0.1 per cent on pulse beetle respectively. On 90 DAT, hexane extract of SF obtained from both extraction methods and of ethyl acetate extract of SF obtained from mechanical shaker extraction, there was no progeny development of C. maculatus at 0.05, 0.07, 0.09 and 0.1per cent concentrations. Cent per cent mortality and there is no progeny development C. maculatus in 0.09 and 0.1 per cent of hexane extract of SF (both extraction methods) and ethyl acetate extract of SF (mechanical shaker extraction) treated cowpea seeds upto 90 days when compared to untreated control.

Anemia at Discharge in Elderly Trauma Patients is Not Associated with Six-Month Mortality

Few studies have evaluated outcomes in geriatric trauma patients discharged with anemia. Our hypothesis was that anemia at discharge was not associated with six-month mortality. A 22-month retrospective study of trauma patients ≥ 65 years was conducted from 2015 to 2016. The end point was six-month mortality. The degree of anemia at admission (admission hemoglobin [AHb]) and discharge (discharge hemoglobin [DHb]) was categorized as follows based on hemoglobin (Hb) (g/dL): I (>10), II (>9 and ≤10), III (>8 and ≤9), and IV (≤8). Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were performed to determine the association of AHb and DHb with the end point. Nine hundred forty-nine patients were analyzed (median age, 82 years). Six-month mortality was 11 per cent. Mortality was associated with AHb by univariate analysis (I:10% [84/831]; II: 13% [9/67]; III: 22% [7/32]; and IV: 26% [5/19]) ( P = 0.003). DHb was not associated with mortality (I:11% [65/613]; II: 12% [21/183]; III: 10% [12/116]; and IV: 18% [7/39]) ( P = 0.37). Logistic regression found that AHb category IV, age, and chronic kidney disease were independently associated with the end point. In geriatric patients, the severity of anemia at admission and not at discharge predicted six-month mortality. Discharging patients with an Hb of ≤8 g/dL was not adversely associated with mortality.

Management of rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae using essential volatile oils

Effect of four essential volatile oils viz., clove (Syzygium aromaticum L.), cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume), lemon grass (Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees ex steud)) and pepper (Piper nigrum L.) on mortality of rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae L. in stored rice was studied under laboratory conditions. Preliminary toxicity bioassays (without food and with food) were carried for fixing the concentrations of these oils. Percentage mortality of weevils by volatile essential oils increased with increase in concentration and period of exposure. Pepper oil @ 200 μl/500 cm-3 volume caused cent per cent mortality without any progeny emergence whereas cinnamon oil @ 30 μl 500 cm-3 caused 95.55 per cent mortality of weevils with 98.81 inhibitions on progeny emergence. The highest concentration (30 μl 500 cm-3) of clove oil caused 76.67 percentage mortality of weevils while lemon grass oil (200 μl 500 cm-3) caused 68.89 percentage mortality.

In vitro efficacy of cypermethrin against Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum

The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate in vitro efficacy of cypermethrin against H. a.anatolicum. The engorged H. a.anatolicum females dropped on ground were collected from dairy farms of nearby villages of Mhow and were maintained in the laboratory till hatching of the eggs and larvae were used for further study. Larvae were placed in filter paper packets impregnated with 100, 200, 400, and 800 ppm concentrations of cypermethrin for 24 hours which revealed the per cent mortality 89.84, 93.70, 100 and 100%, while the corrected percent mortality and efficacy was found 89.30, 93.36, 100 and 100%

Larvicidal action of Nux-vomica (Strychnus nux-vomica L.) against Diamond back moth (Plutella xylostella L.)

The present investigation reports on larvicidal efficacy of plant extracts of Nux-vomica, Strychnus nux-vomica against Diamond back moth (DBM). In this investigation shade dried and powdered nux-vomica plant sam-ples (leaves, root bark, stem bark, seed and fruit rind) were extracted with organic solvents ethanol, methanol, ace-tone, hexane and chloroform and also formulated as Emulsifiable Concentrates (EC) using surfactant and solvents. This formulated plant extracts were tested against third instar larvae of DBM for larvicidal efficacy using leaf disc bioassay method under laboratory condition. Among the five solvent extracts tested, hexane extracts of root bark 11.11 EC @ 2 % showed highest larval mortality of 76.66 % followed by seed 14.25 EC, leaf 16.66 EC, stem bark 12.50 EC and fruit rind 12.50 EC extracts exhibited maximum mortality @ 2 % concentration recording 66.66, 63.33, 56.66 and 40.00 per cent mortality respectively. Positive and negative control such as respective solvent and water showed 10.00 and 3.33 % larval mortality respectively. The results of these experiment clearly indicate that nux-vomica plant possess promising larvicidal action against diamond back moth.

Comparative development of sorghum, redgram and rice breeding population of Sitophilus oryzae (L.) feeding on cereals and split redgram dhal

Rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (L.) mainly attacks whole grains such as wheat, corn, barley and rice and have been found actively breeding in such foods. The host range of S. oryzae now extended to split pulses. An experiment was carried out at the Entomology Laboratory, TNAU, Coimbatore during 2014-2015 to study the comparative development of sorghum, redgram and rice breeding population of S. oryzae feeding on cereals and split redgram dhal. The assessed parameters were survival percentage, per cent mortality and F1 progeny. The per cent mortality was higher in sorghum breeding population while feeding on redgram (98.33%) and rice (44.67%). In case of redgram breeding population per cent mortality was maximum in rice (21.67%) and sorghum (19.67%). The survival percentage was maximum in sorghum population while feeding on sorghum (95 %). F1 progeny emergence of sorghum breeding population was higher while feeding on sorghum (75.67%) and rice (36.67%). In case redgram breeding population F1 progeny emergence was maximum in redgram (62.33%) and sorghum (15.33%), whereas in rice breeding population maximum progeny emergence was observed in rice (72.33%) and sorghum (65.67%). The cereal bred population did not survive on redgram, whereas redgram bred population able to survive on cereals, but the progeny emergence and their development was affected.