Life history parameters and predation capacities of Nesidiocoris volucer: a new biological control agent for tomato crop

Whiteflies are one of the major pests of tomato under greenhouses, and their control partly relies on biocontrol strategies. Among those biocontrol agents, parasitoids or predators are widely used. However, the introduction of a biocontrol agent in a new area is not trivial. For that reason, we investigated the use of a tropical native mirid, Nesidiocoris volucer (Hemiptera: Miridae), for the biological control of whiteflies among other insect pests on tomato crops under greenhouses in the subtropical island of La Réunion, France. Nesidiocoris volucer life history traits and plant injury were examined. Nymphs developed and survived between 15 and 30°C and required on average 49.41 days at 15°C and on average 10.50 days at 30°C to develop (nymph survival >94%). At 25°C, each female produced on average 65 eggs. Nesidiocoris volucer was able to feed on several prey species, but performed better on whiteflies than on spider mites or thrips. No N. volucer feeding injury was observed on tomato. Nesidiocoris volucer has also been found in tropical countries of Africa, and we believe that the data presented on this natural enemy could be of great importance for the biocontrol of whiteflies in tropical areas.

The Biodegradation of Soil Organic Matter in Soil-Dwelling Humivorous Fauna

Soil organic matter contains more carbon than global vegetation and the atmosphere combined. Gaining access to this source of organic carbon is challenging and requires at least partial removal of polyphenolic and/or soil mineral protections, followed by subsequent enzymatic or chemical cleavage of diverse plant polysaccharides. Soil-feeding animals make significant contributions to the recycling of terrestrial organic matter. Some humivorous earthworms, beetles, and termites, among others, have evolved the ability to mineralize recalcitrant soil organic matter, thereby leading to their tremendous ecological success in the (sub)tropical areas. This ability largely relies on their symbiotic associations with a diverse community of gut microbes. Recent integrative omics studies, including genomics, metagenomics, and proteomics, provide deeper insights into the functions of gut symbionts. In reviewing this literature, we emphasized that understanding how these soil-feeding fauna catabolize soil organic substrates not only reveals the key microbes in the intestinal processes but also uncovers the potential novel enzymes with considerable biotechnological interests.

Colonial policy studies in Japan: racial visions of Nan'yo, or the early creation of a global South

This article examines Japanese colonial policy studies (shokumin seisaku gaku) with a particular focus on its relationship with the distinct region of ‘Nan'yo’ (the South Seas). Specifically analysing the works of Takekoshi Yosaburo (1865–1950), Nitobe Inazo (1862–1933) and Yanaihara Tadao (1893–1961), it seeks to uncover the ways in which the exponents of this study area accounted for Nan'yo based on their conceptions of race. It also shows how they inflicted envisaged racial hierarchies on the southern Pacific and how such attempts were related to colonial policy debates behind the practice of Japanese imperialism. Part of the findings point out that Takekoshi's and Nitobe's comparable projections of strict racial hierarchies on the Malays served to justify the southward colonization of the Japanese. Yanaihara's depiction of Nan'yo islanders as radically underdeveloped was tailored to championing Japan's sustained espousal of the League Mandate. The article argues that their accounts of Nan'yo formed part of a transnational knowledge chain about colonial and racial victimization. Like their western counterparts including Gustav Le Bon, Paul Leroy-Beaulieu, Paul S. Reinsch and J. A. Hobson, they built purported racial pyramids with the tropical areas at their bottom, the bulk of which correspond to today's global South. They have been accomplices in this colonial present.

Satellite observations of interaction between tropics and mid-latitudes

In certain seasons and over certain locations, the mid-latitude westerlies invade subtropical and tropical areas. Short wave perturbations moving in the broad mid-latitude westerlies amplify the. long wave troughs creating new baroclinic zones in relatively southern latitudes. These. baroclinic zones Interact .with the low-latitude circulations thus leading to development of new circulation pattern .In which low level easterlies extend northward over the Peninsula, central and northwest .India. The paper describes the role of short waves in the interaction between tropics and mid-latitudes and presents satellite data of a few sequences In which such Interactions have actually taken place.

Pelatihan Penggolahan Sampah Organik Skala Rumah Tangga Menggunakan Metode Keranjang Takakura

Every day people always produce household waste. In an average day each resident produces 2-3 liters of waste. To reduce the amount of waste that is disposed of in the TPA, the community needs to carry out their own waste processing techniques. The most appropriate method of processing organic waste is to use the compost. Compost is an effort to process organic waste through a controlled decomposition process. The main product of composting is environmental cleanliness, because the amount of disposing organic waste in the landfill that can be reduced. Subsequence, it can be obtained the compost yield as another advantage. Composting with the Takakura method is very suitable for tropical areas and household scale.

Twelve New Species Reveal Cryptic Diversification in Foliicolous Lichens of Strigula s.lat. (Strigulales, Ascomycota)

We employed a molecular phylogenetic approach using five markers (ITS, nuSSU, nuLSU, TEF1-α, and RPB2) to assess potential cryptic speciation in foliicolous members of Strigula s.lat. (Strigulaceae), including the recently segregated genera Phylloporis, Puiggariella, Raciborskiella, Racoplaca, and Serusiauxiella, from tropical areas in Asia, with selected materials from the Neotropics as reference. On the basis of combined molecular and phenotypic datasets, two new species of Racoplaca and 10 new species of Strigula s.str. are described: Racoplaca macrospora sp. nov., R. maculatoides sp. nov., Strigula guangdongensis sp. nov., S. intermedia sp. nov., S. laevis sp. nov., S. microcarpa sp. nov., S. pseudoantillarum sp. nov., S. pseudosubtilissima sp. nov., S. pycnoradians sp. nov., S. sinoconcreta sp. nov., S. stenoloba sp. nov., and S. subtilissimoides sp. nov. In addition, we propose the new combination Phylloporis palmae comb. nov. (≡ =Manaustrum palmae) and we validate the earlier combination Racoplaca melanobapha comb. nov. (≡ Verrucaria melanobapha; Strigula melanobapha). Our data clearly indicate a considerable degree of cryptic diversification in foliicolous representatives of Strigula s.lat., particularly in the presumably widespread taxa Strigula antillarum, S. concreta, S. nitidula, and S. smaragdula. Given that these phylogenetic revisions are thus far limited to few regions, we predict that our findings only represent the proverbial tip of the iceberg in this group of lichenized fungi.

Review on Ethnobotany and Phytopharmacology on Mesua ferrea Linn

This work was performed to study the ethnobotany and phytopharmacological properties of M. ferrea L. It is widely distributed in the tropical areas of the world, especially in the Asian countries and is traditionally used by the local peoples for curing diseases ranging from head ache to cancer. Mesua ferrea is cultivated as an ornamental plant and young leaves are reddish yellow in color while mature leaves are blue grey to dark green in appearance with fragrant white flowers. This study reveals that almost all part of the plant have high medicinal property against different ailments. M. ferrea Linn being used for its anticancer, antineoplastic, disinfectant, anti oxidant, hepato-protective, anti arthritic, diuretic, analgesic etc. properties. The phytochemical screening confirms the presence of phenyl coumarins, xanthones, triterpenoids, tannin and saponin as main constituents responsible for its biological activity. It is also used in the cosmetics. This can be used as remedial agents for various health issues. This review reveals the phyto-pharmacological role of this medicinal plant.

Qualitative and Quantitative Beach Cleanliness Assessment to Support Marine Litter Management in Tropical Destinations

In addition to its ecological and recreational relevance, beach cleanliness is also one of the five most important aspects (i.e., the “Big Five”) for beach visitors around the world. Nonetheless, few efforts have been carried out to guide the sound management of this rising issue. This paper presents a quantitative and qualitative method to assess the level of beach cleanliness, in order to allow managers to focus their attention on the environmental management of the most frequent and relevant types of litter in tropical areas. In a first step, a survey on users’ perception was applied to 361 beachgoers in eight beaches in Colombia to identify the most relevant types of beach litter and the weighting factors to obtain quantitative calculations. In a second step, the thirteen categories of litter identified were analyzed in relation to beach cleanliness, origin of litter, and environmental impact, to define its individual weighting importance. Some categories were also selected according to particularities of tropical countries, such as the presence of abundant natural vegetation debris and gross polystyrene items, largely transported by rivers in great quantities. In a third step, the method was then tested at eight beaches in the Caribbean coast of Colombia through a period of four months, during which 192 transect samplings were carried out. The qualitative module of the proposed technique, named Beach Litter Assessment Technique—Qualitative and Quantitative (BLAT-QQ), identified the main types of beach litter and the quantitative module gave an overview on the state of beach cleanliness. The method is demonstrated to be quick and effective in diagnosing beach cleanliness, providing a simple instrument to carry out sound environmental management actions in coastal destinations.

TLC-based fingerprinting for Phyllanthus niruri from diverse geographical origins in East and Central Java Indonesia

Phyllanthus niruri L. (meniran), the member of Euphorbiaceae, is a medicinal plant that is commonly found in tropical and sub-tropical areas such as Asia, America, and China. Various factors such as environment, geographical location, harvest time, and post-harvest process can affect the quality of crude drugs produced from P. niruri. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of meniran herbs obtained from 15 geographical origins in East and Central Java, Indonesia using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) profiles analyzed by chemometrics. TLC was carried out using TLC plate Si Gel 60 GF254 as stationary phase; toluene, ethyl acetate, methanol, 85% formic acid (75:25:25:6) as mobile phase; and visualized using NP/PEG Reagent. The results showed TLC-fingerprinting combined with chemometric (PCA and CA) analyses were able to discriminate the origin of P. niruri from different geographical origins. P. niruri from 15 locations of East and Central Java Indonesia were classified into 5 groups based on their chemical similarity. The samples that are grouped in one cluster have the similar quality of chemical compounds, while the samples in different clusters also have different qualities.

Qualitative Analysis of Asparagus Racemosus Willd. (Shatavari) Root of Family Asparagaceae

The purpose of this study is to determine the quality of bioactive phytochemicals in Asparagus racemosus willd roots. Asparagus racemosus willd. is generally known as Shatavari in the Indian traditional system (Ayurveda). It is a well-known herb in Ayurveda. It is grown in Sri Lanka, Nepal, tropical areas of India and the Himalayas. Ayurveda medicine is a medical system that has its origins in the Indian subcontinent. Modernized and globalized practices derived from Ayurveda traditions are complementary or alternative medicine. Ayurveda therapies and practices have been integrated into medical use and general wellness applications in the Western world. Therefore, this paper aims to present an overview of pharmacognostical, traditional, phytochemical investigations on the roots of the plant Asparagus recemosus Willd. Keywords Asparagus racemosus, phytoconstituents, pharmacognostical, phytochemical