Entomopathogens : role of insect pest management in crops

Entomopathogens are microorganisms that pathogenic to insect pest. Several species of naturally occurring viz; fungi, bacteria, viruses and nematodes, infect a variety of insect pests and play an important role in agricultural crops controlling insect pest management. This kind of biopesticide has many advantages and alternative to chemical insecticides, highly specific, safe, and environmentally sustainable. Pest problems are an almost inevitable part of agriculture. They occur largely because agricultural systems are simplified and modifications of natural ecosystems. Viruses, bacteria are host specific and fungi generally have broader host range and can infect both underground and aboveground pests, soil-dwelling nature nematodes are more suitable for managing soil pests. Growing crops in monoculture provides concentrated food resource that allows pest populations to achieve higher densities in natural environments. Some of the most important problems occur when pests develop resistance to chemical pesticides. These cause highly significant damage to crops, there are also threats from emerging new strains of pests. Crops cultivation can make the physico-chemical environment more favourable for pest activity. Agricultural pests are reducing the yield and quality of produce by feeding on crops, transmitting diseases. Agricultural production significantly loss crop yields, suggest that improvements in pest management are significant forward for improving yields. Crop growers are under immense pressure to reduce the use of chemical pesticides without sacrificing yields, but at the same time manage of pests is becoming difficult due to pesticide resistance and the decreasing availability of products. Alternative methods are needed urgently. These need to be used as part of Integrated Pest Management safety and environmental impact.

Analysis of trend in area, production and yield of major vegetables of Nepal

Vegetable production is an important sector of economy for farmers in Nepal. The analysis was carried out to explore the trends in vegetable production sector in Nepal along with the recent trend of some major vegetables in terms of area, production and yield. The time series data from 1977/78 to 2016/17 (40 years) of vegetables production and 5 years data (2011/12 - 2015/16) of major vegetables were collected from reliable source and analysis was done through Microsoft Excel. The results show that between 1977/78 and 2016/17 the area under vegetables cultivation has jumped by 222.8% while production is increased by 728.21% and productivity is increased by 156.6% during this course. The result also reveals that during the period of 5 years (2011/12 - 2015/16), solanaceous and cruciferous vegetables has an increasing trend in area, production and yield except for the area under cultivation for eggplant (declined by 5.2%) and for radish (declined by 6.0%) respectively while cucurbitaceous vegetables has increasing trend in area and production but an declining trend in yield except for the yield of cucumber (increased by 15.8%). However, the trend of other major vegetables is seen highly fluctuating over the years.

Stem transcriptome of cold stressed Eucalyptus globulus and E. urograndis

Eucalyptus is an important source of cellulose and a widely cultivated plant. Biotechnology tools can save time spent in breeding and transcriptomic approaches generate a gene profile that allows the identification of candidates involved in processes of interest. RNA-seq is a commonly used technology for transcript analysis and it provides an overview of regulatory pathways. Here, we selected two contrasting Eucalyptus species for cold acclimatization and focused in responsive genes under cold condition aiming woody properties – lignin and cellulose. The number of differentially expressed genes identified in stem sections were 3.300 in Eucalyptus globulus and 1370 in Eucalyptus urograndis. We listed genes with expression higher than 10 times including NAC, MYB and DUF family members. The GO analysis indicates increased oxidative process for E. urograndis. This data can provide information for more detailed analyses for breeding, especially in perennial plants.

Effects of different packaging materials coated with aloe vera extract on the microbial quality of african breadfruit flour (treculia africana) during storage

Antimicrobials in food packaging are used to enhance quality and safety by reducing surface contamination of processed food. This study investigated the effects of Aloe vera- coated packaging materials on the microbial quality characteristics of breadfruit flour. Breadfruit flour was packaged in Jute bag (JB), Kalico bag (KA), low-density Polyethylene-lined Brown paper (LDPEBP) and they were compared with control. Samples were analyzed for changes in microbiological (total colony count and total fungal count) and moisture content during a storage period of 12 weeks interval during storage at ambient temperature of 25 ± 2oC. Packaging significantly (p< 0.05) affected the moisture content and microbiological of breadfruit flour during storage. The moisture content, total colony count, and total fungi count significantly (p< 0.05) increased as the storage time increased. The sample packaged in Brown paper (BP) were more acceptable than those in other packaging materials.

An overview of sweet cherry fruit cultivation in Turkey

Sweet cherry is a type of fruit that is high on demand in exports for table consumption. Turkey is a gene centre for sweet cherry fruit. Fruits are produced over an extended period because of the ecological richness and large cultivation area, which allows Turkey to remain as the leader of sweet cherry production in the world. The variety, ‘0900 Ziraat’, also known as the Turkish sweet cherry fruit, has the highest production volume. Mazzard and Mahaleb are the commonly used rootstocks for sweet cherry cultivation; and Mazzard is used more frequently than Mahaleb. Clonal rootstocks are used to maintain cultivation in new orchards. The present study provides a detailed information on the current status of sweet cherry fruit cultivation in Turkey as well as its cultivation practices and exports. It is targeted that modern irrigation techniques, good agricultural practices, and increased cultivation areas are established to maintain Turkey’s position as the leader in global sweet cherry production and exports.

Effect of the marine algae cystoseira mediterranea on growth of hordeum vulgare (l.) and it chlorophyll content

Algerian coast contains a high species diversity of marine algae; however, there are only few reports on their bio-stimulant properties. Different concentrations of the brown seaweed Cystoseira mediterranea. Extracts were used to determine their efficiency as biostimulant of barley growth and productivity. All growth parameters and chlorophyll content were found to be highest at the 50% concentration. Our results have clearly shown that algerian seaweed extract could serve as an alternative to chemical fertilizers, as is abundant, with high quality, ecofriendly, and deliver environmental and economic benefits to farmers.

A novel launch of public- scientist- partnership (psp) project as engine for conserving natural resource and creating economic prosperity

Some developmental projects are created by people- private -partnership (PPP), particularly where recovery is acquirable by levying the users. Such PPPs are successful for construction of roads, bridges, running toilet facilities and conveyance facility in mode of use and pay. Likewise, public Scientist Partnership (PSPs) will be successful, where monitored impacts can be used to derive benefit. But, such example cases are not so popular in utilizing new research results and derive benefits from natural resources and enhance productivity. There exists need of similar partnership projects in research area. In this study modality of the PSP to create boost engine for natural resource conservation and bringing economic prosperity is established. A novel PSP launch was synthesized on useful food crop viz finger millet (Elusiane corcona (l)), known since long past, and now regaining popularity. It was possible to enhance additional annual production of 5.755 million Tonnes of finger millet grain, equivalent to additional income of Rs 11,510 crores. Against this the scientist partnership share was 0.49x million Tonnes grain and economic equivalency of Rs 992 crores, which was just 7-8%, with same level of input in agriculture. Additional benefits were sustainability of production and resources consecration, reduction of Green House Gas emission (GHGs), particularly nitrous oxide (N2O), largely emanating from agriculture and responsible for depletion of ozone layer. The finger millet stiff stem will be useable for production of ply-board filling material that will be innovative building material for housing and infrastructure developments. and making furniture.

Waste management using vermicompost derived liquids in sustainable horticulture

The technology of vermicomposting containing their leachates, teas and other extracts such as vermiwash as a result of earthworm action is widely applied for safe management of agricultural, industrial, domestic and hospital wastes. Remediation of polluted soils, improving crop productivity and inducing the resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses are other advantages of vermicompost derived liquids when used in agriculture. Contrary to the fact that chemical fertilizers are still widely used in agriculture, societies gradually become aware of the negative effects of these fertilizers on their health. Therefore, vermicompost derived liquids contain high amount of valuable plant nutrients which has the potential to be used as liquid fertilizer. This paper reviews the potential of vermicompost derived liquids as as an efficient combination of nutrient source of vermicompost derived liquids contributing to plant growth and acting as a deterrent to biotic and abiotic stresses.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis improves growth and antioxidative response of Stevia rebaudiana (Bert.) under salt stress.

To investigate the possible role of arbuscular mycrrhizal fungi (AMF) in alleviating the negative effects of salinity on Stevia rebaudiana (Bert.), the regenerated plantlets in tissue culture was transferred to pots in greenhouse and inoculated with Glomus intraradices. Salinity caused a significant decrease in chlorophyll content, photosynthesis efficiency and enhanced the electrolyte leakage. The use of AMF in salt –affected plants resulted in improved all above mentioned characteristics. Hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents increased in salt stressed plants while a reduction was observed due to AMF inoculation. CAT activity showed a significant increase up to 2 g/l and then followed by decline at 5 g/l NaCl in both AMF and non-AMF treated stevia, however, AMF inoculated plants maintained lower CAT activity at all salinity levels (2 and 5 g/l). Enhanced POX activities in salt- treated stevia plants were decreased by inoculation of plants with AMF. The addition of NaCl to stevia plants also resulted in an enhanced activity of SOD whilst, AMF plants maintained higher SOD activity at all salinity levels than those of non-AMF inoculated plants. AMF inoculation was capable of alleviating the damage caused by salinity on stevia plants by reducing oxidative stress and improving photosynthesis efficiency.

MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION OF SELECTED FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES SOLD IN HAWASSA, CAPITAL CITY OF SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

For good health, including fresh fruits and vegetables in our daily diet is very important. Fresh fruits and vegetables are highly perishable and affected by different microbial contaminants from production up to consumption. The objective of this study was to evaluate the important microbial spectrum of selected fruits and vegetables and their management from Hawassa town markets. A total of 27 fruit and 9 vegetable samples were analyzed for pathogens from their surface wash. The mean aerobic mesophillic count (AMC) ranged from 2.04x10-7cfu/ml to 4.2x10-6cfu/ml from the surface wash and the total coliform count (TC) ranged from 2.50LTBccfu/ml x10-7 to 1.5x10-6cfu/ml. Fecal coliform ranged from 3.2x10-6 to 0 cfu/ml and the range for Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus were 1.8x10-6 to 0 cfu/ml and 2.50LTBcx10-7 to 0 cfu/ml respectively. Mold and yeast count ranged from 7.6x10-6 to 0.2x10-4 from the fruit surface wash. There was statistically significant difference regarding to AMC and TC between markets in between banana and orange samples and they were detected in all fruit samples. From the 36 samples E. coli and molds and yeast were found in all fruit samples, and Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus were detected in 89% fruit samples in each. Activities during harvesting, transportation, storage and marketing conditions favored contamination of most commonly used fruits banana and orange. Besides, poor hygiene of the venders, using microbial unsafe containers, poor handling practice and poor environmental conditions such as sanitarily unsafe marketing environment were identified to be another sources of contamination. Hence, for safe and clean supply of fruits, community members working with the fruits must be trained on the ways by which fruits can be contaminated and the safe methods of harvesting, transportation, storage and vending the fruits.