Poverty in Nepal, largely a rural phenomenon, is widespread, with 30.8% of the population living below the poverty line. Agriculture is the main source of livelihood of the Nepalese people who are living below poverty. Citrus, the first cash crop, is grown in small to very small orchards producing less than 10 tons/ha. More than 90% of the trees are seedlings of a local mandarin and therefore they are essentially free of most graft-transmissible diseases. Huanglongbing (HLB) and the Asian psyllid vector, Diaphorina citri, were reported in Nepal in the mid-1960s and, in the absence of any control measures, have continued to spread ever since. Here we report the information available regarding the presence of HLB in several important citrusgrowing areas (Armalakur,
In Nepal, the Citrus greening disease (CGD) is spread by the Asian vector Diaphorina citri Kuwayama. This vector was found recently in the low plains of Terai, after having been previously described in the high valleys of Pokhara, Kathmandu, and Dang. A parasite of D. citri, Tetrastichus radiatus Waterston, was also observed in the Eastern Terai. This chalcidoid insect, found for the first time in Nepal, was successfully reared under screenhouse conditions in Pokhara without its attendant hyperparasites. A mass rearing program for releasing T. radiatus in the contaminated high valleys has been initiated.
Biomass such as agricultural and forestry residues are important resources for energy in Nepal. This biomass can be converted into densified soild biofuel by briquetting fuel technology which can address handling, transportation, and storage problems. In addition, it helps to increase a number of applications and enhance its utilization efficiency. The purpose of this study is to quantify the physical and chemical properties of different biomass, such as sawdust, banana stem, rice straw, etc. and combustion in order to investigate clear options. Additionally, it helps to provide the efficiency of stoves available at Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) laboratory. Among the feedstock tested, Mikania micrantha char had highest fixed carbon of 45.92% which clearly shows that it is a good source for biomass briquetting. Out of four stoves tested, Baked Ceramic 4 BHB Stoves had highest efficiency of 33.4% with Banmara briquettes. The study also showed reduced emission of harmful gases ultimately reducing the indoor air pollution. Thus, with the proper densification these fuels can be used as a substitute for the traditional fuels in domestic as well as industrial application in furnaces, boilers and kilns.
Citrus canker, caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas citri (Hasse) occurs in large areas of the world's citrus growing countries including Nepal. Though the disease has serious effect in Nepal, this is the first detailed study carried out to isolate the pathogen and confirm it by available biochemical tests and pathogenicity test. Furthermore, the study was intended to find the proper and economical control measure to combat disease in citrus orchards. The causative agent of the disease was isolated from the diseased plants and pure culture was obtained. The isolated pure culture was subjected to Gram staining, catalase test, oxidase test, O-F test, starch hydrolysis, nitrate reduction test, methylred test, Voges-prausker test, indole production test, urease test and carbohydrate utilization test. To re-confirm it, pathogenicity test was conducted on host plant and after the appearance of the typical citrus canker lesion on host, the bacteria was re-isolated, thus proving the Koch's postulates. Different controlling chemicals, copperoxychloride (2.5%), copperoxychloride + kasugamycin (1000X), bordeaux mixture 1% and 2% were sprayed to the plants in citrus orchard at Dhulikhel and the decrease in disease severity after spraying of the chemicals was calculated with reference to the plants that were not sprayed with the chemicals. It was observed that spraying of the chemicals help in decreasing the disease severity. The chemical spray however was not able to eradicate the disease. The study concluded that Xanthomonas citri was the causative agent of the disease citrus canker and copper based chemicals when sprayed very early with the appearance of first symptoms of the disease could eliminate it in citrus fruits to minimum level.
The shoot tip grafting (STG) technique has been applied in different countries for supplying disease-free citrus. The objectives of these studies were to modify the existing techniques to obtain more successful grafts. The combination of three conditions: a) exposure of seedlings to room light conditions, 12 hr daily for 3-9 days prior to grafting, b) benzyl aminopurine (BAP) treatment of the grafts at 0.5 mgiliter Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium for shoot development of the scion and c) transfer of successful grafts to the control MS medium (without any growth hormone) for 10-15 days prior to transferring to soil, have increased the number of successful grafts of one mandarin and one sweet orange variety gafted to rough lemon rootstock.
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