Antifungal effect from Zingiber officinale, Aloe vera and Trichoderma sp. for control of Moniliophthora roreri in Theobroma cacao in Huánuco, Peru

Theobroma cacao is the main raw material to produce chocolate, as well as for use in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. However, Moniliophthora roreri is one of the most destructive fungal diseases and the main limiting of cacao production worldwide. Thus, this work aimed to assess the inhibitory effect of extracts of Zingiber officinale (T1) and Aloe vera (T2), and Trichoderma harzianum + Bacillus subtillis. (T3) on Moniliophthora roreri infection in Theobroma cacao; in addition, a control (T4) was also evaluated. Each treatment was applied to six plants of cacao. Incidence of monilia infection and fruit weight were monitored every 15 days (in total four periods) after the application of the treatment by spray. Significant differences (P<0.05) were found among treatments for incidence. It was observed that spraying entire cacao trees after two times (approximately 30 days) showed a reduction of monilia infection. After all periods, T1, T2, and T3 showed an incidence of monilia infection by 20.5, 17.7, and 14.9% respectively, compared to cultural control of 41.1%. This reduction of moniliasis infection translates into an increase in fruit weight average for T3 (8.4 kg), T2 (7.3 kg), and T1 (6.9 kg). In contrast, in the control (T3), the fruit weight average decreased by 5.3 kg. Biological control showed efficient management of pathogens as M. roreri. It is recommended to use such antifungal (Aloe vera) spray over at least 120 days which would decrease infection incidence even more.

Effect of the Social and Cultural Control on Young Eastern Ethnic Minority Groups’ Online-Startup Motivation

This study is developed based on particular social and cultural backgrounds and discovers young Eastern ethnic minority groups’ (EMGs) online-startup motivation on live streaming platforms. Drawing on the Hofstede cultural dimensions, this paper explores various influencing factors, including peers’ support, conservative thinking and family support. It analyses young Eastern EMGs’ entrepreneurial motivation and behaviour based on the Stimulus, Organism and Response (S-O-R) model. Compared with traditional research models, the combination of the Hofstede cultural theory and the S-O-R model could be conducive to make the research model reflect influencing factors and present their specific relationships. By analysing 531 valid online questionnaires based on the partial least squares path modelling and variance-based structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), the paper proves that peers’ support and family support can reduce young EMGs’ conservative thinking and positively affect young people EMGs’ online-startup motivation. Based on the analysis results, some suggestions are provided for related departments, aiming to enhance young EMGs’ online-startup confidence.

Coffee Leaf Rust (Hemileia vastatrix) in Kenya—A Review

Coffee is one of the most important cash crops and beverages in the world. Production of coffee is limited by many factors, which include insect pests and diseases, among others. One of the most devastating coffee diseases in many coffee-producing countries is Coffee Leaf Rust caused by the fungus Hemileia vastatrix. Kenya is a coffee-producing country and has conducted studies to understand and manage the disease. Management strategies for the disease include the development and use of fungicide spray programs, cultural control practices, breeding resistant coffee varieties, and biological control agents. This paper reviews the status of the disease and management options applied in Kenya.

Organic Control Strategies for Use in IPM of Invertebrate Pests in Apple and Pear Orchards

Growers of organic tree fruit face challenges in controlling some pests more easily suppressed by broad-spectrum insecticides in conventionally managed orchards. In recent decades, there has been a move towards organically growing varieties normally reliant on synthetic chemical pesticides (e.g., Gala), often to meet retailer/consumer demands. This inevitably makes crop protection in organic orchards more challenging, as modern varieties can be less tolerant to pests. In addition, there have been substantial reductions in plant protection product (PPP) approvals, resulting in fewer chemical options available for integrated pest management (IPM)-maintained orchards. Conversely, the organic management of fruit tree pests involves many practices that could be successfully implemented in conventionally grown crops, but which are currently not. These practices could also be more widely used in IPM-maintained orchards, alleviating the reliance on broad-spectrum PPP. In this review, we evaluate organic practices, with a focus on those that could be incorporated into conventional apple and pear production. The topics cover cultural control, biological control, physical and pest modifications. While the pests discussed mainly affect European species, many of the methods could be used to target other global pests for more environmentally sustainable practices.

Investigating factors affecting Chinese tertiary students’ online-startup motivation based on the COM-B behaviour changing theory

Purpose This study aims to present the Chinese entrepreneurial environment and explore Chinese tertiary students’ online-startup motivation on live streaming platforms. Based on the COM-B behaviour changing theory, this paper discovers various influencing factors from environmental opportunity and personal capability aspects. It analyses their effects under the cooperative system established among official departments, industries and universities. Meanwhile, considering social and cultural control, it also refers to the uncertainty-avoidance dimension from the Hofstede cultural theory and re-evaluates its influence on Chinese tertiary students’ online-startup motivation. Design/methodology/approach The authors analyse 474 responses from online questionnaires through partial least squares path modelling and variance-based structural equation modelling. The paper claims that environmental opportunity and personal capability factors positively affect students’ online-startup motivation, but uncertainty-avoidance thinking plays a negative role. The study also measures the importance-performance map analysis to explore additional findings and discuss managerial implications. Findings Both platform support and official department support positively impact Chinese tertiary students’ online-startup motivation and entrepreneurial skills learned from universities are beneficial for them to build online-startup confidence. Meanwhile, influenced by the cooperative system implemented among official departments, industries and universities, official department support positively affects platform support and entrepreneurial skills. Conversely, influenced by Chinese traditional Confucian culture, uncertainty-avoidance thinking negatively affects tertiary students’ online-startup motivation. Originality/value This paper demonstrates the analysis of Chinese tertiary students’ online-startup motivation drawing on the COM-B behaviour changing and Hofstede cultural theories. Specifically, this study divides influencing factors into three specific aspects as follows: environmental opportunity, personal capability and social and cultural control. Unlike existing research applying traditional research models, the combination of the COM-B behaviour changing theory and the Hofstede cultural theory could be conducive to making the research model reflect influencing factors and present their different relationships.

Impact on Knowledge of Blackgram Growers in Periyar Vaigai Command Area of Madurai District

The World Bank Supported TN IAM (Irrigated Agriculture Modernization) Project is a follow up of IAMWARM presently it was called as (Irrigated Agriculture Modernization and Water-Bodies Restoration and Management) Project which has made significant development and impacts in the Tamil Nadu state by modernizing irrigation infrastructure, improving water use efficiency, enhancing yield and productivity of agriculture in a climate resilient production systems, diversification towards high-value crops, strengthening the institutional reforms through Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) and Water Users Association (WUA). Madurai District of Tamil Nadu was purposively selected for this study because Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization Project was conducted under Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. The foremost objective of the study is to assess the knowledge level of respondents in the study area. According to crop production technology aspects revealed that (79.00%) of the beneficiaries possessed knowledge in using VBN 6 variety for cultivation. The study concluded that majority (80.00%) of the beneficiaries were possessed knowledge on (cultural control) fixation of light traps, crop rotation (77.50%) and sowing carry out in proper season.

Decolonising the Marketing Academy: An Indigenous Māori Perspective on Engagement, Methodologies and Practices

In a context where the marketing discipline and its institutions has no choice but to face up to its embeddedness in social issues it is therefore important and timely to consider how marketing in colonial states – in which indigenous lands were/are appropriated, cultures systematically discriminated against, and identities, language and generations stolen – acknowledges its past and confront its future. This essay calls for the understanding and incorporation of indigenous knowledges and worldviews. It further asks for considerations of cultural control, nonappropriation and participatory approaches in marketing. Acknowledging that a university or business school is sited on indigenous lands, or opening a meeting with greetings or formal introductions are relevant, but they become little more than indigenous tokenism unless they are part of a wider journey of change and understanding. Any incorporation of indigenous worldviews into marketing education and research must be cognisant of the potential for exploitation.

Why ethnic minority groups’ online-startups are booming in China’s tight cultural ecosystem?

Purpose Although most Chinese ethnic minority groups (EMGs) hold conservative thinking to online-startups, the new entrepreneurial model is booming on live streaming platforms. In China’s tight cultural ecosystem, the tight cultural control would lead EMG entrepreneurs to keep conservative thinking and avoid challenging careers. Still, it would be helpful for Chinese Governments to issue systematical entrepreneurial policies and improve online-startup environment for EMGs. To discover the relationships among influencing factors and EMGs’ online-startup motivation, this paper aims to draw on the tight and loose cultural theory and the capability-opportunity-motivation-behaviour (COM-B) behaviour changing theory and establishes the research model based on China’s tight cultural ecosystem. Design/methodology/approach Through analysing 617 questionnaires from 37 EMGs based on the partial least squares path modelling and variance-based structural equation modelling method, the study proves that environmental opportunity factors and personal capability factors have positive impacts on EMGs’ online-startup motivation and EMGs’ conservative thinking negatively moderates the relationship between their online-startup motivation and entrepreneurial development behaviour. In addition to testing the hypotheses, the paper also measures the importance-performance map analysis to explore additional findings of influencing factors and provide suitable suggestions for EMG entrepreneurs and related departments. Findings Regarding the environmental opportunity unit, both policy support and platform support significantly impact Chinese EMGs’ motivation to promote online-startups. For the personal capability unit, a platform using skills positively influences Chinese EMGs to develop online-startups. Meanwhile, EMG cultural knowledge is also necessary for EMG entrepreneurs because abundant cultural resources can be applied to live content and attract online consumers’ watching interests. Furthermore, influenced by the tight cultural control, Chinese EMGs tend to hold conservative thinking to new careers and it negatively moderates the relationship between Chinese EMGs’ online-startup motivation and their final entrepreneurial behaviours. Finally, Chinese EMGs’ online-startup motivation positively affects them to develop online-startups on live streaming platforms. Originality/value This study uses the tight and loose cultural theory to analyse the Chinese entrepreneurial environment and discover influencing factors based on the tight cultural ecosystem. Meanwhile, based on the COM-B behaviour changing theory, this paper divides influencing factors into three different units, including the environmental opportunity unit, the personal capability unit and the Tight cultural control unit. Considering the inter-relationships among these units, the research model is established based on the tight cultural ecosystem to discover Chinese EMGs’ online-startup motivation.

Different controlling methods of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in maize farms of small-scale producers in Cameroon

Fall armyworm (FAW) is a polyphagous and voracious pest, destroying maize plants in farms in Cameroon. An annual yield loss is estimated to range from15 to 78%, valued at US$ 2,481 to US$ 6,187 million. With most damage experienced in the mono-cropping system. Maize is the most widely grown cereal crop globally due to its several uses, namely human consumption, animal feed and biofuel. In Cameroon, maize is a staple food grown by small- scale producers in all ten regions. The control of FAW is unsuccessful with only the use of pesticide method, the application is knowledge-intensive, and misuse often leads to pesticide resistance, resurgence and increased production cost. The purpose of this review was to explore the different controlling methods adopted to suppress FAW from causing economic damage in maize farms of small-scale producers in Cameroon. Integrated pest management (IPM) approach was used to control FAW, including cultural control, chemical control, botanicals, push-pull farming system, biological control and indigenous knowledge. Results showed that push-pull farming system provides protection and improves maize nutrition, botanicals have similar efficacy like synthetic insecticide, and wood ash is a bio-pesticide. The combined application of pesticides and handpicking FAW was effective though feasible in small surface areas. Based on the general assessment, the push-pull farming system deserves to be promoted due to its numerous benefits: eco-friendly, enhancement of natural enemies, increased soil fertility and economic returns. Natural enemies and bio-pesticides application are essential to control FAW since farmers are resource-poor, causes no health problem and are environmentally friendly.