Cocoa pod husk, cocoa pod husk compost, Phanerochaete, decomposition. Field experiment was carried out to standardize the protocol for effective decomposing of cocoa pod husk. For these, the experiment comprise of five treatments: cowdung slurry, earthworms, TNAU Biomineralizer, Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Pleurotus sajorcaju. Data on temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon, total nitrogen, carbon: nitrogen ratio, total phosphorus and total potassium were analyzed. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with four replications. The cocoa waste imposed with chrysosporium and Pleurotus sajor-caju showed the rapid decomposition rate than compared with other treatments used in the experiment. The nutrient content of N, P, K were found to be more in the treatment with TNAU Biomineralizer followed by Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Pleurotus sajor-caju.
Seed priming is one of the important method of seed treatment is the process of controlled hydration of seeds. At the time to a level that permits the pre-germinative metabolic activity, but that prevents actual emergence of the radicle is also known as pre germination seed treatment method. Seed priming is useful for increase the speed of seed germination and uniformity of germination particularly under adverse conditions like temperature, moisture and salinity. Seeds are soaked in different solutions like various inorganic salts, sugars and polyethylene glycol (PEG) a chemically inert, high molecular weight compounds, etc. After seed priming increase in hydrolytic enzyme activity especially a-amylase, strong increase of super oxide dismutase, catalase activities and expression of certain proteins related to water stress and heat shock. During germination the primed seeds contain higher scavenging of ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species). This reviews reported the primed spices seeds or rhizomes contain abiotic stress tolerant capacities, increase the antioxidant enzyme activities like peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), lipoxygenase (LOX) and phenyl alanine ammonia lyase (PAL), break the seed dormancy, increase the germination percentage and early growth. This studies gives an overview about the seed priming in spice crops with relevant case studies.
Survey, monitoring and documentation of entomofauna of cocoa was carried out in three cocoa growing states viz., Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh during 2014-2015. Results revealed that a total number of 23 species of insect pests and 13 species of natural enemies were documented and identified. Among the insect pests, 14, 2 and 7 species were sucking pests, borers and defoliators, respectively. Among the natural enemies, 7 species of predators and 6 species of parasitoids were documented and identified on different insect pests of cocoa. Among the insect pests, sucking pests were found to be predominant and maximum number of entomofauna were recorded in major coco growing areas of Tamil Nadu. From the results it was concluded that the list of entomofauna documented can enhance the knowledge on diversity of the entomofauna associated with cocoa in three different cocoa growing states. Sucking pests were found to be predominant and caused huge yield loss in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. While in Andhra Pradesh pod borer and bark eating caterpillar were found to be predominant causing severe yield loss. This information provides a base for development of location specific Integrated Pest Management module.
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