Effect of Selected Essential Oils and Botanicals on Alternaria Blight (Alternaria brassicae (Berk) Sacc) of Mustard (Brassica juncea (Linn) Czern and Coss

Indian mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.coss) is also known as sarson, rai or raya, toria or Lahi.it is a herbaceous annual plant. Mustard is the second important oilseed crop in the world after sunflower, soybean and palm oil. Alternaria blight disease caused by Alternaria brassicae (Berk.) Sacc. It has been reported from all the continents of the world. Average yield losses occur due to various pest and diseases among which Alternaria blight is an important disease. Field experiment was conducted at the research plot of the Department of Plant Pathology, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh during the rabi season of 2020-2021 to test, Effect of selected essential oils and botanicals against Alternaria blight (Alternaria brassicae (Berk.) Sacc) of mustard (Brassica juncea (Linn.) Czern and Coss), by foliar spray of certain essential oil, plant extracts and fungicide. The treatments were Neem oil @2%, Eucalyptus oil @2%, Pongamia oil @2%, Lawsonia inermis extract @15%, Chenopodium album extract @15% Mancozeb (treated check) @ 0.2% and control (untreated check). The percent disease intensity on leaves at 45, 60 and 75 DAS, number of siliquae per plant, number of seeds per siliquae, length of siliquae (cm), test weight of seed (1000 number), biological yield (gm) and seed yield were recorded. Among the treatments, maximum number of number of siliquaes (243.13), maximum number of seeds per siliquae (12.27), length of siliquae (5.16 cm), minimum disease intensity (%) (29.01 %), maximum test weight (3.57 gm), maximum yield (9.43 qt) and biological yield (24.70 gm) were recorded in the treatment T2 Eucalyptus oil @2% followed by T1 Neem oil @2%, T4 Lawsonia inermis extract @15%, T3 Pongamia oil @2%, T5 Chenopodium extract @15%, when compared to treated check T6 Mancozeb @ 0.2% and untreated check T0. Higher gross return value (Rs. 66295), net return value (Rs. 29295), and B: C ratio (1.7:1) was found in the treatment T2 – Eucalyptus oil @2% as compared to T5–mancozeb and T0–control.

Exploring Natural Alternatives for Annual Bluegrass Control

A field experiment was conducted to identify and examine the effectiveness of potential non-traditional chemical products and alternatives for controlling annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.), a plant with increasing herbicide resistant problems. In managed turf systems annual bluegrass can be a difficult winter annual weed to control having negative impacts on turfgrass quality. This study included 12 different treatments [untreated check, baking soda, white vinegar + lemon juice, Suppress herbicide, superphosphate (0-20-0), clove oil, Weed Zap, Avenger Weed Killer, Fiesta Turf Weed Killer, Ecologic Weed & Grass Killer, Alcohol (43% ethanol), and Pool Time Algicide] applied to a TifEagle bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon × C. traansvalensis) putting green where a natural infestation of annual bluegrass was present. Treatments were assessed visually for annual bluegrass control and turf phytotoxicity 1, 2, and 4 weeks after application. Overall, no treatment provided long-term control which was non-selective. Control was short-lived with annual bluegrass recovery beginning approximately two weeks after applying treatments. Greatest Poa burndown (~85%) was temporarily (1 to 2 weeks after application) with a combination of caprylic and capric acids (Suppress Herbicide) and a combination of clove oil and dishwashing detergent but plants fully recovered by three weeks after application. These products also produced similar temporary turf phytotoxicity. Bermudagrass turf phytotoxicity from selective treatments was most evident one week after applying treatments and turf had mostly fully recovered by four weeks after treatment. Suitable alternatives were not identified from products tested.

Effect of Oil Cakes and Bio-agents Each Alone and in Combination for Management of Root Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) in Green Gram

A pot experiment was carried out in the net house of Department of Nematology, OUAT, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India during June to August, 2017 on the application of oilcakes (mustard cake and neem cake) and bio-agents (Trichoderma viride, Glomus fasciculatum, Rhizobium leguminosarum) each alone and in combination for the management of root knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) in green gram. Result of the experiment indicated that soil application of mustard or neem cake @ 50 g m-2 with AM fungus (Glomus fasciculatum) @ 5 g m-² and seed treatment of Rhizobium @ 25 g kg-1 of green gram seed declined the root knot nematode population, number of galls plant-1, number of eggmass plant-1and root knot index with corresponding increase of plant growth parameters and chlorophyll content in green gram plant as compared to other treatments and untreated check. But integration of mustard cake @ 50 g m-2 at 2 weeks prior to sowing with AM fungus @ 5 g m-2 at 10 days before sowing and seed treatment of Rhizobium @ 25 g kg-1 green gram seed exhibited the lowest M. incognita population 200 cc soil-1 (153.33 J2), number of galls plant-1 (7.0), number of eggmass plant-1 (2.0) and root knot index (2.0) reflecting enhancement of plant growth parameters, number of pods (206.67%), number of nodules (691.17%) over untreated check. This integrated management module also recorded maximum increase in the availability of NPK content in soil and chlorophyll content as compared to other treatments.

Cartilage Repair Activity during Joint-Preserving Treatment May Be Accompanied by Osteophyte Formation

Knee joint distraction (KJD) treatment has shown cartilage repair and clinical improvement in patients with osteoarthritis, as has high tibial osteotomy (HTO). Following KJD, TGFβ-1 and IL-6 were increased in synovial fluid (SF), factors related to cartilage regeneration, but also to osteophyte formation. As such, osteophyte formation after both joint-preserving treatments was studied. Radiographic osteophyte size was measured before, one year, and two years after treatment. Changes were compared with natural progression in patients from the CHECK cohort before undergoing total knee arthroplasty. An additional KJD cohort underwent SF aspiration, and one-year Altman osteophyte score changes were compared to SF-marker changes during treatment. After two years, both KJD (n = 58) and HTO (n = 38) patients showed an increase in osteophyte size (+6.2 mm2 and +7.0 mm2 resp.; both p < 0.004), with no significant differences between treatments (p = 0.592). Untreated CHECK patients (n = 44) did not show significant two-year changes (+2.1 mm2; p = 0.207) and showed significant differences with KJD and HTO (both p < 0.044). In SF aspiration patients (n = 17), there were significant differences in TGFβ-1 changes (p = 0.044), but not IL-6 (p = 0.898), between patients with a decrease, no change, or increase in osteophyte Altman score. Since KJD and HTO showed joint space widening and clinical improvement accompanied by osteophyte formation, increased osteophytosis after joint-preserving treatments may be a bystander effect of cartilage repair activity related to intra-articular factors like TGFβ-1 and raises questions regarding osteophyte formation as solely characteristic of the joint degenerative process.

Effect of Method of Application, Herbicide Rate and Cultivar on Processing Pea Tolerance to Saflufenacil

The purpose of this work was to determine the effect of method of application, herbicide rate and cultivar on tolerance of processing pea tolerance to saflufenacil. Two field experiments were established to address this&mdash;each experiment was conducted over a 3-year period. The first experiment, conducted in 2014, 2015 and 2016, was arranged in a split-plot design with method of application (pre-plant incorporation (PPI) or preemergence (PRE)) as the main plot factor, and saflufenacil rate (0, 75 and 150 g ai ha-1) as the subplot factor. Pea (Pisum sativum L.) was not injured, and dry matter, pea tenderness and yield were not less than the untreated check when saflufenacil was applied either PPI or PRE, at 75 and 150 g ai ha-1 of the herbicide. The second experiment was conducted from 2017 to 2019, at two locations each year; each repetition of this experiment was arranged in a factorial design to determine the effect of two factors on processing pea: saflufenacil rate (0, 75 and 150 g ai ha-1) and cultivar. Saflufenacil did not cause more than 5% visible injury to pea, nor did it reduce pea dry matter, tenderness or marketable yield of the eight cultivars included in the experiment. Application method, saflufenacil rate and cultivar did not affect pea tolerance across a wide range of soil and environmental conditions. Registration of saflufenacil in processing pea would significantly improve growers&rsquo; options for control of Group 2 resistant broadleaf weeds such as common lamb&rsquo;s-quarters (Chenopodium album L.), eastern black nightshade (Solanum ptycanthum Dunal.) and common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.).

First Report of Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium brachygibbosum, and Lasiodiplodia theobromae Causing Fungal Watermelon Vine Decline in Southwest and West-Central Florida

Wilt and vine decline symptoms were observed on watermelon plants in Glades and Hardee Counties in Florida in spring 2017 that resembled viral watermelon vine decline caused by squash vein yellowing virus (SqVYV). When no SqVYV was detected, greenhouse studies and morphological and molecular analyses revealed three fungal pathogens, Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium brachygibbosum, and Lasiodiplodia theobromae, that were not previously reported on watermelon in Florida. A previously reported oomycete, Pythium spinosum, was also detected in some, but not all isolates, and but when applied independently, resulted in disease incidence that was comparable to the untreated check, ruling it out as a primary causal agent of the symptoms observed in the field. In one of three experiments, seedlings inoculated with a combination of Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium brachygibbosum, and Pythium spinosum suffered the highest disease severity based on AUDPC values. In another experiment, seedlings inoculated with F. brachygibbosum exhibited the most severe symptoms and rapid disease development following inoculation. When seeds were inoculated with either a single or a combination of the isolated fungi, those inoculated with L. theobromae resulted in seedlings with the greatest disease severity. This is the first report of these three fungal pathogens on watermelon in Florida.

Screening of fungicides and plant extracts for controlling blight disease of Tagetes spp.

A field experiment was conducted in the Botanical research garden, Department of Botany, University of Dhaka during 2015, 2016 and 2017 to evaluate the efficacy of two fungicides and two plant extracts against blight disease of Tagetes erecta L. and T. patula L. Both the fungicides Bavistin 50 WP and Tilt 250 EC and leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. and Citrus medica L. showed effective management of the disease over the untreated check. However, among the treatments, Bavistin 50 WP and Tilt 250 EC at 100 ppm concentration and A. indica and C. medica L. at 10% concentration were found significantly superior in controlling percent disease index and increasing number of healthy flowers. The number of healthy flowers was highest per plant, 17.13 in T. erecta in 2017 and 25.00 in T. patula in the year 2016. J. Asiat. Soc. Bangladesh, Sci. 47(1): 79-89, June 2021

Effect of Some Bacterial and Fungal Bioagents for Management of Root-knot Nematode and Soil Born Fungus in Cucumber under Protected Conditions

Background: Complex disease caused by root-knot nematode and Fusarium fungus in cucumber is the most destructive disease under polyhouse conditions. The study was conducted to determine the potential of biocontrol agents viz. Trichoderma viride, Pseudomonas fluorescence, Purpureocillium lilacinum against root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum disease complex on cucumber.Results: All bioagents were taken @ 0.3 and 0.5 g/kg soil and liquid formulation of bioagents, @ 0.5 and 1 ml/ kg soil, Chemical checks as well as untreated check were also maintained. The bio-agents were mixed with the potted soil treatment wise. All the treatments significantly improved the plant growth parameter, viz., shoot length, root length, fresh shoot weight, fresh root weight, dry shoot weight and dry root weight as compared to untreated check. However, maximum improvement in plant growth parameter was recorded in case of carbofuran followed by higher dose of liquid formulation of bioagents. Among bioagents, liquid formulation of bioagents was significantly improved the plant growth parameter, viz., shoot length (147.3), fresh shoot weight (55.6), dry shoot weight (22.51) and dry root weight (4.50) and most effective in suppressing root knot nematode galling (43) and final population in soil (131) and fungus wilt incidence (25 %) at 30th day of after germination followed by P. lilacinum T. viride and P. fluorescence. Conclusion: The results suggest that the liquid formulation of bioagents was more effective in suppression of root-knot nematode and fungus complex disease than the powder formulations of bioagents. More studies should be needed in future to evaluate the efficacy of bioagents as seed treatments and soil applications under field conditions.

Comparative Efficacy Trials with Two Different Bacillus thuringiensis Serovar kurstaki Strains against Gypsy Moth in Mediterranean Cork Oak Forests

The efficacy of two formulations (Foray® 76B AVIO and Rapax® AS AIR) containing different Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Btk) strains (ABTS-351 and EG-2348, respectively) was evaluated against Lymantria dispar larval populations in cork oak forests in Sardinia (Italy), in 2018 and 2019. The experimental design involved the following treatments: (I) untreated control; (II) Foray® 76B at the dose of 2.0 L/ha; (III) Foray® 76B at the dose of 2.5 L/ha; (IV) Rapax® AS AIR at the dose of 2.0 L/ha. Aerial applications were carried out using a helicopter equipped with four electronic rotary atomizers adjusted to sprinkle 160 micron-sized drops. Btk efficacy was evaluated by assessing the larval density reduction 7, 14, and 21 days after the application in each experimental plot in comparison with an untreated check. In addition to field surveys, the mortality of second and third instar larval samples, randomly collected from each plot after treatment and fed with foliage from the same plot, was determined in the laboratory. All Btk treatments were similarly effective, and no differences in larval density reduction among Btk strains and doses were found in either year. Twenty-one days after application, the average larval density reduction in the field was approximately 70% in all treated plots in 2018, whereas in 2019 it reached 80% only in areas treated with Foray 76B at 2.5 L/ha. Laboratory observations showed that all Btk-based products were effective against gypsy moth larvae, with significant differences in mortality between untreated control and the different Btk treatments. Our results shed light on the possibility of alternating different Btk strains for resistance management purposes and of applying lower doses than labeled, in order to achieve cost savings for product shipment and distribution and to reduce the environmental impact.

Influence of herbicides under biofertilizer application on fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) yield and quality with special reference to herbicide residues

Background Weed occurrence and fertilization are considered two of the most factors influencing fennel yield. A two season’s field study was undertaken to investigate the response of fennel crop to two different herbicides under the application of biofertilizers. The two herbicides are pendimethalin (at reduced rate), fluazifop-p butyl and a combination of sequential application of both of them. The biofertilizers were used in 3 rates of 1:1:1, 2:1:1 and 1:1:2 (v/v/v) from atmospheric nitrogen-fixating, phosphorous-dissolving and potassium-solubilizing bacterial strains. Results The results indicated that under all rates of the biofertilizers, the two herbicides applied individually caused significant reduction in growth parameters of the fennel plant estimated. Hand weeding (untreated check) increased fruit yield by 63% and oil yield by 78% compared to unweeded control, while sequential application of pendimethalin + fluazifop increased fruit yield by 45% and oil yield by 83% under biofertilizers at the rate of 2:1:1. Slight decrease in protein content using pendimethalin + fluazifop (12.94, and 12.96%) compared to 13.56% for hand weeding was observed. However, fluazifop alone showed no significant differences (13.63 and 13.13%) during both seasons under the biofertilizer rate of 2:1:1. No detectable residues of pendimethalin and fluazifop applied alone or sequentially were found in the analyzed dry seeds. Conclusion The obtained results concluded that using proper level of biofertilizer combined with herbicides would increase the seed yield and oil content of fennel. Nevertheless, further investigation is needed to search for safer and effective weed control methods in medicinal plants.