Melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) is one of the most important pests of bitter gourd, Momordica charantia L. Because of the difficulties associated with chemical control of this pest, it is important to identify the traits associated with resistance and their influence on pest multiplication. There were significant differences in test genotypes for fruit infestation and larval density/fruit. The wild accessions, IC 256185, IC 248256, IC 213311, IC 248282, IC 256110 and IC 248281 were identified as resistance sources to melon fruit fly. There was a significant and positive correlation (r ¼ 0.96) between percentage fruit infestation and larval density/fruit. Percentage fruit infestation and larval density/fruit were positively correlated with depth of ribs, flesh thickness, fruit diameter and fruit length, and negatively associated with fruit toughness. Flesh thickness and fruit diameter explained 93.0% of the total variation for fruit fly infestation, and flesh thickness and fruit length explained 76.3% of the variation for larval density/fruit. Ascorbic acid, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, protein, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars and total sugars were negatively correlated, while the moisture content showed a positive association with fruit fly infestation and larval density/fruit. Moisture, potassium and reducing sugar content explained 97.4% of the total variation in fruit infestation, while moisture, phosphorus, protein, reducing and total sugars explained 85.7% variation for larval density/fruit.
A field experiment was conducted at the Crop Research Centre of Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology Pantnagar, Udham Singh Nagar during continuous two years to study the weed flora, yield and nutrient uptake of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under different wheat establishment methods in main plots and seven weed management in sub plots. Phalaris minor was the most dominant weed at 60 DAS contributed 55.0 per cent of total weed population. Melilotusindica was the major non grassy weeds in wheat which contributed 11 per cent to total weed population during respective years. Sowing of wheat with zero tillage significantly reduced the Phalaris minor density as compared to conventionally tilled wheat after transplanted rice, 60 per cent Phalaris minor emerged from 0-3 cm in reduced and conventional tillage where as in zero tillage after transplanted rice there was 55 per cent emergence from 0-3 cm layer.The highest grain yield was obtained in two hand weedings done at 30 and 60 DAS and was at par with Isoproturon 1.0 kg ha-1 + Metsulfuron methyl 4 g ha-1 at 30 DAS and Clodinafop – Propargyl 60 g ha-1 at 30 DAS fb. Metsulfuron methyl 4 g ha-1 at 37 DAS. Zero tillage resulted in significantly higher uptake of NPK by wheat plants as compared to conventional tillage, whereas reduced tillage recorded minimum NPK, which was significantly lower over the other treatments of wheat establishment methods.
Despite the vast exploration of rhizospheric microbial wealth for crop yield enhancement, knowledge about the efficacy of microbial agents as biocontrol weapons against root-knot disease is scarce, especially in medicinal plants, viz., Bacopa monnieri. In the present investigation, rhizospheric microbes, viz., Bacillus megaterium, Glomus intraradices, Trichoderma harzianum ThU, and their combinations were evaluated for the management of Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood and bacoside content enhancement in B. monnieri var CIM-Jagriti. A novel validated method Fourier transform near infrared was used for rapid estimation of total bacoside content. A significant reduction (2.75-fold) in root-knot indices was observed in the combined treatment of B. megaterium and T. harzianum ThU in comparison to untreated control plants. The same treatment also showed significant enhancement (1.40-fold) in total bacoside contents (plant active molecule) content using Fourier transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) method that analyses samples rapidly in an hour without solvent usage and provides ample scope for natural product studies.
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