Background
Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is the most destructive pest of bitter gourd. Conventionally, it is controlled by chemical insecticides despite their hazardous impacts. Entomopathogenic fungi are considered as eco-friendly and safer alternative of chemical. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae against B. cucurbitae on bitter gourd.
Results
The study revealed that B. bassiana and M. anisopliae were efficient against B. cucurbitae in controlled as well as field conditions. Both mode of application (i.e., contact and oral) were found to be effective; however, high efficacies of them were observed through contact application (73.43 and 59.72%), respectively. Pathogenicity of both fungi increased with increase in concentration and time intervals. Under field conditions, significantly low fruit infestations and significantly a high population reduction of B. cucurbitae were observed at 30 DAT when both fungi were applied with 108 CFU/ml concentrations.
Conclusions
Beauveria bassiana and M. anisopliae had the potential to be used against B. cucurbitae; however, the former showed high efficiency comparatively.
Plutella xylostella (Plutellidae: Lepidoptera) is the one of most destructive and critical cosmopolitan insect herbivores of brassica crops. Globally efforts have been undertaken to develop integrated management strategies for its control, based principally on manipulation of its parasitoids including Diadegma insulare. The research study was conducted to investigate the effects of two cabbage varieties on fitness parameters (i.e. percent parasitism, offspring sex ratio and developmental periods) of Diadegma insulare, a larval parasitoid of Plutella xylostella. All experiments were carried out under controlled conditions maintained at 23±2 ºC, 60±5% RH and 16L: 8D photoperiod. The findings revealed that developmental period was lower on Asha while higher on Golden acre whenever both second and third instars larvae were released on cabbage varieties. Parasitism efficacy was lower on third instars larvae as compared to the second. Higher parasitism (53.53%) was assessed on Asha while lower parasitism (44.95%) was observed on Golden acre when second instars larvae were exposed. Parasitism was higher (61.17%) on Asha while lower (50.1%) on golden acre when third instars larvae were exposed. Offspring sex ratio differed on stages of parasitized larvae. Higher male offspring emerged when second instars larvae were parasitized while more female offspring were emerged when third instars larvae were parasitized by D. insulare reared on both varieties. It was concluded that Asha was recognized as most suitable variety, as developmental period of D. insulare was shorter as well as parasitizing efficacy was also recorded higher on Asha.
The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of Silica gel on the growth and yield of Camelina sativa. A pot experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications at Nanotechnology Laboratory, Department of Agronomy, PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi. The experiment consisted of 4 levels (0.15 mg/g, 0.30 mg/g, 0.45 mg/g and 0.60 mg/g) of each mentioned nutrient along with control. The data were recorded and analyzed according to recommended procedure for following parameters viz., germination %, root and shoot length (cm), root and shoot biomass (g), relative water content of leaf and leaf membrane stability index. It was observed that 0.60 mg/g silica gel application increased the seed germination (80%), root length (6.67) cm, shoot length (35.33) cm, root biomass (1.7) g, shoot biomass (5.57) g, relative water content of leaf (0.69) and leaf membrane stability index (0.07). The study concluded that significant effect of silica gel application is crucial and important to improve vegetative attributes of false flax.
Tin Fruits (Ficus carica Linn) are typical Middle Eastern plants that have been cultivated in Indonesia. Tin fruits are rich in minerals, especially calcium and potassium. In addition, they also contain benzaldehyde which is beneficial against cancer cells. This study aimed to determine the concentrations of calcium and potassium contained in tin fruits. Determination of calcium and potassium contents using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The results showed an analysis of the water content of the sample obtained was 89.065 %, ash content was 1.0165 % and biomass content was 9.9185 %. While the analysis of calcium contents at a wavelength of 422.7 nm and potassium at a wavelength of 766.5 nm respectively obtained that an average yield of calcium was 354.97 mg/100g and 752.68 mg/100g for potassium. The results of this study are expected to be able to attract the interest of the community to cultivate tin fruits, especially in Central Sulawesi.
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