Pashtiwan J.M. Zeebaree1* and Ghurbat Hassan Mohammed2
1Department of Food Production and Technology, Technical College of Duhok, Duhok Polytechnic University, Iraq. 2Department of Horticulture, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Duhok, Iraq. ?pashtiwan.mahmood@dpu.edu.krd
Abstract: A field experiment was performed at Dinaran village, Bardarash district, Duhok governate, Kurdistan region-Iraq during the spring season of 2024 aiming to study the impact of three levels of nano NPK fertilizer (0, 2 and 4 g L-1) and three levels of amino acid (0, 3 and 6 mL L-1) as foliar application on vegetative growth, yield traits and mineral content in leaves of two potato cultivars (Harry and Lucinda). The experiment was arranged in a split-split plot design, following the randomized complete block design (RCBD), with three replicates. The results showed that the Harry cultivar was better than Lucinda cultivars in chlorophyll content (44.36), leaf nitrogen content (2.25 %), plant yield (1.309 kg plant-1) and total yield (50.02 t ha-1). No significant differences were observed between cultivars in the number of aerial stems, phosphorus, and potassium content in leaves. Spraying the potato plant with both individual doses of both factors significantly increased all parameters compared to the control treatment. Furthermore, the dual and triple combination treatments among cultivars, as well as the use of nano NPK fertilizer and amino acid, yielded the highest values for the studied parameters of potato plants.
Angelo L. Lozano*and Jay Mark G. Cortado
1Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, Bacnotan, La Union 2515 Philippines. Corresponding e-mail: alozano@dmmmsu.edu.ph
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2025.v27i04.109
Key words: Crop improvement, Durio zibethinus, horticulture, pest and disease management, orchard, postharvest technology
Abstract: Durian (Durio zibethinus L.) is an economically important fruit crop in Southeast Asia, with the Philippines showing increasing interest in expanding its durian industry to meet rising domestic and global demand. This review synthesizes 25 years (2000–2025) of research on durian in the Philippines, focusing on 22 Scopus-indexed publications. The review highlights key advances in varietal development, disease diagnostics, postharvest innovations, digital agriculture, and the valorization of by-products. Some of the breakthroughs are in participatory breeding and fertilization trials; machine learning for disease detection and fruit classification, as well as tools with capacity to rapidly detect diseases and ensure food safety. Sustainable production is also enhanced through the incorporation of native knowledge systems and climate-smart farming methods. However, systemic constraints persist, such as no centralized breeding program, lack of availability of certified planting materials, uneven extension service and undeveloped market infrastructure. The results highlight the necessity of efforts to promote technology adoption while improving farmer-extension links and addressing climate and disease pressures. This paper serves as the basis for guiding future research, policy, and development interventions to develop a more resilient, inclusive and globally competitive durian industry in the Philippines.
P.T.Pham¹*,T.T.Nguyen²andM.T.Le³
1Faculty of Biology, Hanoi Pedagogical University 2, Hanoi, Vietnam. 2Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry (TUAF), Thai Nguyen, Vietnam. 3Thai Nguyen University – Lao Cai Campus, Lao Cai, Vietnam. Corresponding e-mail: phamphuongthu@hpu2.edu.vn
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2025.v27i04.110
Key words: Paphiopedilum dianthum, in vitro propagation,shootmultiplication,plantgrowthregulators,rooting,organicadditives
Abstract: This study aimed to develop an in vitropropagation protocol for Paphiopedilum dianthum, an endemic Vietnamese orchid currently under severe threat in its natural habitat due to overexploitation and habitat degradation. This study presents the first optimized protocol for the mass propagation of P. dianthum in vitro. The full-strength MS medium was identified as optimal for asymbiotic seed germination, achieving a germination rate of 76.67% and protocorm formation within 70–84 days. During shoot regeneration from protocorms, the addition of 1.0 mg L-1 BAP resulted in the highest regeneration rate (83.17%) and produced morphologically uniform shoots. Furthermore, a combination of 1.0 mg L-1 BAP and 0.5 mg L-1 TDZ yielded a favorable shoot multiplication rate (1.47) while maintaining shoot quality. Organic additives such as 20 mL L-1 coconut water or 30 g L-1 banana pulp enhanced shoot height and leaf number, indicating the stimulatory effects of natural hormone sources. For rooting, 1.0 mg L-1 IBA was the most effective auxin, producing superior root number and length. During acclimatization, a substrate mixture of pine bark, charcoal, sawdust (1:1:1), and forest moss led to the highest survival rate. This protocol contributes to the conservation and propagation of the rare and endangered orchid species P. dianthum in Vietnam.
Ibtissam Boussaoudi1*, Hajar Afqir2,3, Brahim Mahamat Ousman4, Ahmed Lamarti5 and Noureddine El Mtili1
1Laboratory of Biology and Health, Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences BP. 2121, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, 93002 Tetouan, Morocco. 2 Laboratory of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, Faculty of Science, Ibn Tofail University, Morocco. 3 Department of Plant and Environment Protection, National School of Agriculture, Meknes, Morocco. 4 Biology, Ecology and Health Laboratory (UAE/U 08). 5 Faculty of Sciences, BP. 2121, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco, and the National Federation Associations of Healers and Practitioners of Medicine, the Ministry of Public Health of Chad, N’Djamena, Republic of Chad. 5Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences BP. 2121, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, 93002 Tetouan, Morocco. Corresp
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2025.v27i04.111
Key words: Laurus nobilis L, chemical profile, HPLC-DAD, and phenolic compounds
Abstract: Laurus nobilis L., bay leaf, is widely used as a spice and medicinal herb. The purpose of this research was to characterize the chemical profile of different vegetative organs from Moroccan L. nobilis (leaves, shoots and roots) using HPLC-DAD method. Magnetic stirring extraction was used to extract biomolecules with higher biological activities, utilizing two solvents with higher polarities, namely acetone and ethanol. The extracts were then analyzed by HPLC-DAD technique. The current study revealed that acetone and ethanol are the good solvents for extraction and identification of biomolecules with different percentages (GA (3.78118-5.9418%), Q (15.4982-100%); than ethanol (Q (8.539-25.787%) and R (88.913%)). According to the findings, acetone solvent was shown to be the most efficient solvent for extracting of phenolic compounds from L. nobilis than ethanol. We demonstrated that L. nobilis is a rich source of phenolic compounds, including gallic acid, quercetin, and rutin, that may be used as candidate drugs to cure or prevent diverse and complex disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease. Although more research in the future should be conducted to reveal the beneficial effects of this plant in different fields, including food, cosmetics, and phytotherapy.
1Department of Economics, PDUAM, Tulungia, Bongaigaon-783383, Assam, India. 2Department of Economics, T.H.B. College, Jamugurihat-784189, Assam, India. 3Department of Economics, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh -786004, Assam, India, 4Department of Economics, Madhabdev University, Narayanpur, Lakhimpur-784164, Assam, India. Corresponding e-mail: manuranjan7@gmail.com
Abstract: Organic tea cultivation tends to exhibit distinct pricing and profitability dynamics compared to conventional tea farming practices. Guided by this objective, this study aims to analyze the price spread and identify marketing channel patterns, as well as assess the marketing efficiency of Assam’s organic tea. The study selected a total of 156 samples, comprising 94 organic tea growers, 35 retailers, and 27 village traders. The study employed specific formulas to analyze the price spread and marketing efficiency, utilizing Acharya’s approach to calculate the marketing efficiency of organic tea growers. The study identified four distinct marketing channels for organic tea: Channel I was the direct link where growers sell tea directly to consumers. In Channel II, retailers act as intermediaries between growers and consumers. Channel III includes an additional step where tea passes from growers to village traders, then to retailers, and finally to consumers. Channel IV connects growers to village traders, who then sell tea directly to consumers. The study found that Channel I exhibited higher marketing efficiency for both types of organic tea, i.e., green tea (0.68) and black tea (0.65). Additionally, the second most efficient channel for both types of tea is Channel IV, with an efficiency score of 0.19. Furthermore, the efficiency levels of Channel II and Channel III were found to be the same for green tea, at 0.18. In the case of black tea, the efficiency scores for Channel II and Channel III were 0.18 and 0.17, respectively.
Rubeena Abbas, Sumit K. Soni and Israr Ahmad*
Division of Crop Improvement and Biotechnology, ICAR-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Rehmankhera, P.O. Kakori, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh-226101, India. Corresponding e-mail: israr15ahmad@gmail.com
Abstract: The mango (Mangifera indica L.) is one of the major fruit crops in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world, especially in Asia. In North India, thousands of farmers depend on the commercial mango cultivar ‘Dashehari’; however, the fruit quality is severely impacted by a mesocarp-specific malady called Jelly Seed. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and microRNAs (miRNAs) are naturally occurring, endogenous, non-coding RNA molecules that play a crucial role in post-transcriptional gene regulation either by directing mRNAs for cleavage or translational repression. Raw reads from Jelly seed transcriptome data were used for lncRNA identification and the sequences of identified lncRNA were used to mine miRNA encoded by lncRNA. A total of 11 putative miRNAs from 5 different families were identi?ed. psRNA Target tool and BLAST2GO analysis were used to identify and annotate targets. The predicted targets of miRNAs revealed a wide range of gene targets for both translational and cleavage-type inhibition, conforming the hypothesis that a single miRNA might target genes engaged in several metabolic pathways and physiological functions. Predicted miRNA target genes, transcription factors (Glutathione peroxidase, Phytoene synthase, ACS, CNR8, TIFY, MYBetc) and structural genes (Histone) associated with different functional pathways. This work has led to the discovery of conserved putative miRNAs encoded by putative lncRNA, targeting the regulation of lncRNA, enzymatic and TFs genes. The findings of this study will help to study the functions and regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs in jelly seed malady and fruit ripening.
Tarek A. Fayed1, Mohamed A. Abd-Elfattah1 and Aya M. Abd El-Aziz1*
1Pomology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt. Corresponding e-mail: aya.mohamed3007@Agr.cu.edu.eg
Abstract: Organic fertilization has been proposed as an alternative method for supplying fruit trees with nutrients in the context of organic and sustainable agriculture. Seaweed extracts offer a natural alternative to chemical fertilizers. A field experiment was conducted in the plum research orchard at the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt, over two successive seasons (2022-2024) to evaluate the impact of organic manures and foliar seaweed application on enhancing the vegetative growth of young solar eclipse trees. Organic manure treatments were applied as cattle manure (12.6 kg per tree), sheep manure (10.6 kg per tree) and cattle plus sheep manures (1:1) compared to NPK chemical fertilizers (120 N, 60 P and 100 K). The treatments were applied alone or in combination with the foliar application of seaweed extract at a rate of 0.75 g/L once every two weeks during the growing season. The obtained results revealed that the treatment, cattle plus sheep manure exhibited significantly the highest values in trunk diameter, new shoot length, leaf number and tree canopy volume. The cattle plus sheep manure treatment had almost the highest leaf area. Leaf chlorophyll content was significantly higher using cattle plus sheep manures. In addition, a mixture of cattle and sheep manures applied to the soil, combined with foliar application of seaweed extract, showed the highest content of leaf nutrients, total carbohydrates, and total amino acids. Chemical characteristics and vegetative growth were improved by using organic manures combined with foliar applications of seaweed extract. This method could be considered an alternative to traditional fertilization of young plum trees.
Loan Thanh Pham* and Thu Le Thi Hoang
Institute of Applied Research and Development, Hung Vuong University, Nong Trang Ward, Viet Tri City, Phu Tho Province, Vietnam. Corresponding e-mail: phamthanhloan@hvu.edu.vn
Abstract: The study was undertaken to determine the appropriate concentration of Atonik formulation (plant growth regulator containing sodium-5-nitroguaiacolate, sodium-O-nitrophenolate and sodium-P-nitrophenolate) to obtain good growth, high seed productivity and high silymarin content in the seeds of milk thistle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.). The experiment consisted of four treatments with different Atonik concentrations (0.25 mL L-1, 0.5 mL L-1, 0.75 mL L-1 and a control treatment with only water spray), arranged in a completely randomized block design and conducted in Xuan Ang commune, Ha Hoa district, Phu Tho province, Vietnam in 2023-2024. Monitoring the growth parameters, yield, and silymarin content in the seeds. The research results show that Atonik has increased the yield and silymarin content in milk thistle seeds. The milk thistle plants treated with Atonik at a concentration of 0.5 mL L-1, produced 82.9 seeds/flower head, with 63.4 firm seeds/flower head and a firm seed weight of 1.55 g per flower head. On the main flower head, the number of firm seeds reached 87.5 seeds/flower head with a firm seed weight of 2.21 g/flower head. At this treatment concentration, seed yield increased to 532.2 kg/ha, with the majority of the yield (82%) concentrated in the first harvest. At the same time, the silymarin content in the seeds was also significantly improved, with the silymarin content in the seeds at the main flower heads being 2.54% and the silymarin content in the seeds at the lateral flower heads being 2.26%. Therefore, treating with Atonik at a concentration of 0.5 mL L-1 twice, 40 days and 60 days after planting, is suitable to enhance the yield and silymarin content of milk thistle seeds in Vietnam.
Heba M. Naguib¹*, Mohammed Hewidy², Mohsen Nabil³, Mohamed A. Aboelghar³, Marwa S. Moustafa³, Nasser Salem³, and Abdelraouf M. Ali³,?
¹Department of Environmental Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Environmental Research, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. ²Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, 68 Hadayek Shoubra, 11241 Cairo, Egypt. ³National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences, 23 Joseph Tito Street, El-Nozha El-Gedida, P.O. Box 1564 Alf Maskan, Cairo, Egypt. ?Department of Environmental Management, Institute of Environmental Engineering, RUDN University, 6 Miklukho-Maklaya St, 117198 Moscow, Russia. Corresponding e-mail: heba.mohamed.nagib@iesr.asu.edu.eg
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2025.v27i04.116
Key words: AdaBoost, Moraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, k-Nearest Neighbors, machine learning, plant species identification, Principal Component Analysis, Random Forest, spectral reflectance, Support Vector Machines.
Abstract: Plant species identification using spectral profiles is crucial for agriculture, ecology, and remote sensing, enabling accurate biodiversity monitoring and precision farming. A two-step scheme is proposed in this study for classifying plant species based on spectral reflectance profiles. In the first stage, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was employed for dimension reduction, and in the second stage, feature selection was achieved using the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO). Four machine-learning algorithms, namely the Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machines (SVM), AdaBoost, and k-Nearest Neighbours (KNN), were employed to study the spectral signatures of 31 plant species from three families: Moraceae (with 16 species), Fabaceae (with 8 species), and Euphorbiaceae (with 7 species). Results indicated that the two-stage classification framework enhanced model performance, with SVM and RF attaining accuracies of 89.0% and 87.0%, respectively, compared with 75.0% for KNN and 68.0% for AdaBoost. These results confirm the potential of a two-stage process approach for scalable and high-throughput species identification in ecological and agricultural applications.
Haiyan Wang1,#, Fei Xu1,#, Yang Liu1, Lu-Lu Yu1*
1Center for Applied Biotechnology, Wuhan University of Bioengineering, Wuhan 430415, Hubei, China. Corresponding e-mail: lulu2019@whsw.edu.cn. #The first two authors contributed equally to this work.
Abstract: We developed an efficient in vitro propagation system for Haworthia truncata Schönland by testing hormone treatments for primary culture, callus induction, bud differentiation, and rooting. Young, unopened flower buds were the best explants. The optimal initiation medium, consisting of MS with 3.0 mg/L 6-BA and 0.2 mg/L NAA, resulted in callus formation within 7 days. For bud induction, a medium with 1.0 mg/L kinetin achieved a 17-fold callus proliferation rate and 83.7% bud induction after 30 d. Rooting was best on 1/2 MS medium with 1.0 mg/L NAA, with root tips appearing within 10 days, yielding 3.0 taproots per plantlet, averaging 2.0 cm in length after 30 days. These findings show enhanced propagation efficiency of Haworthia truncata tissue culture, addressing issues related to vitrification and leggy growth.
Naimur Rahman, Amrul Kayes, Tanzena Akter Shawon1, Tristy Rani Mohonto, Nazrul Islam and Shormin Choudhury*
Department of Horticulture, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh. Corresponding e-mail: shormin2000@gmail.com
Abstract: A study was conducted to investigate the impact of various seed priming methods on the germination, vigour, yield, and quality parameters of spinach under both laboratory and field conditions. The treatments used for germination and vigour test were: control (no treatment), coconut water (50%), CaCl2 (2%), KCl (1%), NaCl (3%), ZnSO4 (400 ppm), ascorbic acid (40 ppm), salicylic acid (50 ppm), PEG-6000 (20%), GA3 (25 ppm), GA3 (50 ppm), GA3 (100 ppm), distilled water, and hot water (50° C for 5 minutes. The result revealed that the maximum germination percentage (100%) was obtained by coconut water, CaCl2, salicylic Acid, and PEG-6000. For rate of germination, CaCl2 performed the best (25.08). In the case of the vigour index, ascorbic acid and GA3 (50 ppm) showed the best result, at 8.91. Among the 14 treatments, the best performing nine treatments (coconut water, KCl, ZnSO4, ascorbic acid, salicylic acid, PEG, GA3 (50 ppm), and distilled water) were selected for the field experiment based on germination % (90%), rate of germination (≥20) and vigor index (≥6). The results revealed that GA3 performed best in most parameters, including plant height, root length, number of leaves per plant, both shoot and root fresh and dry weight, leaf area, yield, ascorbic acid content, and titratable acidity, when grown under field conditions. However, CaCl2 yielded the best results in terms of photosynthetic pigments and total soluble solids. It can be concluded that GA3 (50 ppm) primed seeds produce more vigorous seedlings and a maximum yield of leaves under field conditions.
Pankaj Nautiyal*, Anjali Sahu, Mohit Singh, Trilok Nath Rai, Traloki Singh and Thanga Anusya S
Abstract: Banana (Grand Naine, G-9) cultivation, integrated with ICAR-FUSICONT and CSR GROW-SURE bio-inputs, has shown encouraging results in improving productivity and sustainability in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. On field demonstrations conducted under ICAR-CSSRI, KVK initiatives in Hardoi district (U.P.) showed that the combined use of these bio-formulations significantly improved plant growth and profitability. The two-year average yield of banana stood at 573 q/ha, nearly seven times higher than the average combined yield of the rice-wheat system (81.07 q/ha). Gross returns increased from Rs. 1.67 lakh/ha (control) to Rs. 7.62 lakh/ha (treated), while net returns also increased from Rs. 1.17 lakh/ha to Rs. 6.10 lakh/ha. The Benefit–Cost ratio (B:C ratio) also improved, increasing from 2.10 to 4.02. It was observed that, at an overall level, the coefficient of determination (R²) was 0.88, indicating that 88% of the variation in banana production was explained by the variables included in the function. It was also revealed from the data that variables such as plants (X1), ICAR-FUSICONT (X4), CSR GROW-SURE (X5), potassium (K) (X8), and irrigation cost (X9) have a positive and statistically significant effect on output at the 5% level. Moreover, the negative signs for the coefficients of nitrogen (N) (X6), phosphorus (P) (X7), and plant protection cost (X10) indicate a misuse or inefficiency in their application. Feminine work (X3) also has a large negative effect at 1%. Male labour (X2) proved to be insignificant, meaning that X2 had a minimal influence on productivity in the model. The study also indicates that the use of planting material, ICAR-FUSICONT, CSR GROW-SURE, and irrigation charges is underutilised, and its MVP/Px ratios vary between 5.36 and 19.42, indicative of an opportunity cost with scope for additional application in a gainful operation. In comparison, the negative or low MVP/Px ratio of labour (male and female), N, P, K and plant protection charges indicates overuse of these resources.
M. Chumber1, S. Jhanji2*, M. Bala2 and M. Dhingra3
1Department of Botany, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India. 2Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India. 3Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India. shalinijhanji@pau.edu
Abstract: Chrysanthemum is renowned in the floriculture market for its cut flowers, with commercial value highly dependent on its postharvest longevity. Both pre- and postharvest factors influence the postharvest life of oranamental crops. This study evaluated the postharvest performance of five spray chrysanthemum varieties grown under three planting treatments: early planting in March (P1), early planting along artificial SDs (P2) in March and normal planting (P3) in August. The analyzed results for postharvest quality parameters were found to be significantly affected with planting treatments. Yellow Delight flowered earlier under manipulated photoperiod and temperature (P1 and P2) but exhibited shorter vase life (took 16.83 and 13.00 days for complete floret senescence and 12.00 and 11.00 days for 50% leaf yellowing under P1 and P2, respectively). In contrast, Punjab Shyamli, despite delayed flowering under P1 and P2 synchronizedblooming with P3 and had the longest vase life(took 20.50 and 21.83 days for complete floret senescence and 16.67 and 17.83 days for 50% leaf yellowing under P1 and P2, respectively). The planting treatments P1 and P2 also had a negative impact on postharvest quality due to the suboptimal temperatures experienced during both the growth stage and the postharvest life. Pearson Correlation analysis revealed strong direct correlations between RWC, MSI, TSS, and TSP. RWC was inversely related to peroxidase (POD) activity, implying that lower water retentions and membrane stability under stress were associated with increased POD activity, which served to scavenge stress. Proline and (POD) activity were found to be negatively correlated with senescence, indicating that they may play a role in stress tolerance. These findings highlighted the effect of pre-harvest environmental conditions on the postharvest life of cut chrysanthemum stems, as well as the potential role of physiological and biochemical markers in improving stress tolerance and vase life of cut chrysanthemum flowers.
Jeetmanyu Pratikbhai Agrawal1 and Ajay Goyal2*
1Ahmedabad International School, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380054 India. 2Institute of Design, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 382481, India.Corresponding e-mail: ajay.goyal@nirmauni.ac.in
Abstract: Crop availability is determined by the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil, as well as environmental factors. The majority of crop recommendation models are primarily based on physical soil properties. Nonetheless, these approaches typically do not incorporate biological features, predict only one crop per sample, or use low-flexibility learning algorithms. To address the aforementioned limitations, this study introduces a biologically inspired machine-learning methodology for predicting the single and three most suitable crops based on soil-function indices (Soil Health Index and Contaminant Risk Index) calculated from microbial responses, soil structural properties, and contaminant markers. A dataset containing the physical and chemical properties of various types of soil was examined, which included soil samples collected from diverse agroecological regions across India, representing a broad range of soil types and climatic zones. The percentages of low SHI (62% degraded) and high CRI (66.66% contaminated) were 76.69 and 80.41, respectively. Supervised learning algorithms were implemented to handle a total of 13 single-crop responses. The model that combined Random Forest with Bagged Trees achieved 91.25% accuracy and an F1-score of 91.05%, with full (100%) test sample classification performance for the crops Coconut, Coffee, Rice, and Wheat. For multi-label classification, Bagged Trees achieved an exact match ratio of 84.00% and a Precision@3 of 79.08% in predicting the top three crops per sample. Errors occurred when crops had overlapping soil requirements (e.g., tomato and zucchini). This study may provide support for biologically guided crop selection in intercropping and a sustainable land-use system.
Aura Senson1*, T. Santhosh Kumar2, N. Chitra3, B.G. Sangeetha4 and Thania Sara Varghese5
1Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani (Kerala Agricultural University) 695522, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. 2Coconut Research Station, Kerala Agricultural University, Balaramapuram, Kerala, 695501, India. 3Department of Microbiology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani (Kerala Agricultural University) 695522, India. 4Division of Crop Protection, ICAR-CTCRI, Sreekariyam. P.O., Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695017, India. 5AICRP in honeybees and pollinators, College of Agriculture, Vellayani (Kerala Agricultural University) 695522, India. Corresponding e-mail:aurasenson@gmail.com
Abstract: Coconut rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes rhinoceros L., is a major pest of coconut, with its larval stages dwelling in rotten or decomposed organic matter. Insecticides, a part of integrated pest management, act as a curative measure. However, chemicals recommended for managing the rhinoceros beetle grubs have been phased out. Hence this study evaluates comparative toxicity of four different insecticides at two different doses viz., Fipronil 0.3 % GR 0.0375 g kg-1, 0.075 g kg-1, Cartap hydrochloride 4 % G 0.05 g kg-1, 0.1 g kg-1, Chlorantraniliprole 0.4 % GR 0.025 g kg-1, 0.05 g kg-1 and Thiamethoxam 25 % WG 0.0002 g kg-1, 0.0005 g kg-1 against the third instar larval stages in laboratory. The experiment was a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 9 treatments and 3 replications. The highest mortality was observed with Cartap hydrochloride 4 % G 0.1 g kg-1 within 15 days after treatment (DAT), followed by chlorantraniliprole 0.4 % GR 0.05 g kg-1 and Cartap hydrochloride 4 % G 0.05 g kg-1. The above three treatments showed 100% mortality at 20 DAT. The time required for 50 % mortality (LT50) was lowest with Cartap hydrochloride 4 % G 0.1 g kg-1 (7 days), followed by chlorantraniliprole 0.4 % GR 0.05 g kg-1 and Cartap hydrochloride 4 % G 0.05 g kg-1, as determined by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, compared to the total microbial count in untreated cow dung, bacterial and actinomycete colony count decreased in all treatments, while fungal count increased in treatments such as fipronil 0.3 % GR 0.0375 g kg-1, Cartap hydrochloride 4 % G 0.05 g kg-1, 0.1 g kg-1, andthiamethoxam 25 % WG 0.0002 g kg-1, 0.0005 g kg-1.
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