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Background The gram pod borer ( Helicoverpa armigera Hubner), Bihar hairy caterpillar ( Spilosoma obliqua Walker), tobacco caterpillar ( Spodoptera litura Fabricius) and root knot nematode ( Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood) are the major insect pest and nematodes infesting mungbean, urdbean and other legumes. Bacillus thuringiensis ( Bt ) is a promising biocontrol agent that helps in managing the above pest. Deploying Bt biopesticides instead of chemical pesticides in legume cultivation enhances the soil health substantially. The present study envisages morphological, molecular cum biochemical characterization, entomotoxicity and nematotoxicity potential of four indigenous Bt strains (Ak 2 .IIPR, F8.IIPR, F5.IIPR and F6.IIPR) along with HD1 (standard check from BGSC). Results The SEM micrograph analysis of above four Bt strains along with F1.IIPR revealed the presence of different combinations of insecticidal crystal proteins, viz. cuboidal crystal (CC), bipyramidal crystal (BC), spherical crystal (SC) and irregularly pointed crystal (IC). This was further confirmed by PCR amplification of Cry1 , Cry2Aa , Cry2Ac , VIP3A and chi36 gene-specific primers and their phylogenetic analysis. F8.IIPR and Ak 2 .IIPR recorded the highest toxicity index against second-instar S. obliqua larvae (292.56 and 174.55), H. armigera (150.00 and 113.65) and S. litura (210.71 and 114.19) based on probit analysis. F5.IIPR (91.67%) and F8.IIPR (89.00%) recorded the highest juvenile mortality against M. incognita , followed by Ak 2 .IIPR (70.33%). The protein profiling of supernatant of terrific broth inoculated with F8.IIPR indicated the presence of VIP3A and Cry1I. Conclusion The present study concluded that F8.IIPR and Ak 2 .IIPR were potential Bt strains isolated from Indo-Gangetic plains which is having both entomocidal and nematicidal properties. Further, these strains were deposited at national repository, ICAR-NBAIM with the following accession no.: NAIMCC-SB-065 and NAIMCC-SB-066, respectively. These strains can be formulated as microbial biopesticide.

Pearl millet is considered as one of the future crops in terms of food security due to its drought tolerant nature. However, the plant’s susceptibility to the evolving Sclerospora graminicola causing downy mildew disease has enforced researchers to identify genes in pearl millet associated with disease resistance. This could be achieved by analyzing the dynamics of gene expression with quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). qPCR is a sensitive and reliable approach that requires suitable reference genes (RGs) as internal controls for normalizing transcript abundance of genes of interest (GOI). In the current study, six RGs i.e. ACT, TUB, UBQ, GAPDH, PP2A and EF-1α were evaluated for their expression stability in two experimental datasets: treatment and time-point. The former dataset analyzed the effect of elicitor treatment while the latter analyzed the effect of time-point on the expression stability of RGs in pearl millet during post pathogen inoculation. Three statistical softwares-geNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper facilitated identification of PP2A, TUB and UBQ as stably expressing RGs for treatment dataset and PP2A and EF-1α for time-point dataset. Validation of these stable RGs for both the datasets was performed by comparative analysis of normalization strategies on the transcript abundance of GOI involved in host resistance against downy mildew. Altogether, the present study forms a basis for RG selection during qPCR analysis of pearl millet-downy mildew or other similar plant- pathogen interaction.

Panama wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) is one of the major disease constraints of banana production. Previously, we reported the disease resistance Musa paradisiaca cv. puttabale clones developed from Ethylmethanesulfonate and Foc culture filtrate against Foc inoculation. Here, the same resistant clones and susceptible clones were used for the study of protein accumulation against Foc inoculation by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE), their expression pattern and an in silico approach. The present investigation revealed mass-spectrometry identified 16 proteins that were over accumulated and 5 proteins that were under accumulated as compared to the control. The polyphosphoinositide binding protein ssh2p (PBPssh2p) and Indoleacetic acid-induced-like (IAA) protein showed significant up-regulation and down-regulation. The docking of the pathogenesis-related protein (PR) with the fungal protein endopolygalacturonase (PG) exemplify the three ionic interactions and seven hydrophobic residues that tends to good interaction at the active site of PG with free energy of assembly dissociation (1.5 kcal/mol). The protein-ligand docking of the Peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase chloroplastic-like protein (PMSRc) with the ligand β-1,3 glucan showed minimum binding energy (−6.48 kcal/mol) and docking energy (−8.2 kcal/mol) with an interaction of nine amino-acid residues. These explorations accelerate the research in designing the host pathogen interaction studies for the better management of diseases.

The present study describes the first successful report on in vitro propagation through direct organogenesis for multiple shoot induction of Angelica glauca. Rhizomes were used as explant, and maximum shoot multiplication was observed on MS medium supplemented with 6-Benzylaminopurine 8.0 µM and Indole-3-acetic acid 0.1 µM. Roots were observed within 14 days in the MS medium enriched with 0.5 µM IAA and 0.1 µM Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) with an average production of 4.2 roots per shoot. Rooted plantlets were successfully hardened under greenhouse conditions and subsequently established in field, with a recorded survival rate of 72% after 45 days. The total phenolic content showed significant difference (p < 0.05) between in vitro raised plants (5.87 mM AAE/ g DW) and control (2.36 mM AAE/ g DW). Antioxidant activity, calculated through two in vitro assays, i.e. 1,1-diphenyl-2 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assays revealed higher antioxidant activity in in vitro grown plants in comparison to control plants. Essential oil constituent’s analysis was also carried out in control and in vitro raised plants. Thirty-one compounds were identified in the oil samples through Gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis also identified 31 compounds in the essential oil, representing 98.1–98.7% of total oil compositions. The major components of the essential oils were (Z)-ligustilide (51.1–51.5%), (Z)-butylidene phthalide (31.2–31.6%), (E)-butylidene phthalide (2.6–2.9%) and (E)-ligustilide (2.1–1.8%). Genetic stability of in vitro raised plants, evaluated using 20 Inter Simple Sequence Repeats primers, proved true to typeness of in vitro raised plants.

Across the globe, it is widely observed that current change in climate or weather pattern has marked effect on insect population dynamics and behavior, though with varied aspects and intensity. Understanding the correlations of insect population dynamics with weather parameters is the fundamental first step in formulating an effective integrated pest management programme. In the major citrus growing mid-hill regions of Arunachal Pradesh, fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, is one of the chief reasons for heavy loss leading to pre-harvest fruit drop in citrus. The current study aims to determine how changes in weather parameters influence the population dynamics of fruit flies and to develop an optimized weather-based population prediction model for fruit flies infesting citrus in the mid-hills of Arunachal Pradesh. The population was monitored through standard methyl eugenol para-pheromone traps and a model was developed using stepwise multiple regression technique. The study revealed that the population was highest during the fruit development and ripening stage and it was found that the number of flies per trap and meteorological parameters (temperature and humidity) is positively correlated with appreciable statistical significance. The optimized regression model was developed with variables temperature and humidity, and was found to be 79 percent accurate in the study site. This model will serve as an important tool in pre-estimation of the fruit fly population in the citrus growing mid-hills of Arunachal Pradesh and for formulation of effective preventive management strategies.

2,4-Dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazine-3-one (DIMBOA) known for its antibiotic properties against many pests and diseases in maize plant was extracted from different varieties. In one of the extraction methods of DIMBOA from maize leaves, Amberlite XAD7, an adsorbent, was used for extracting this and it gave a pure fraction containing DIMBOA. The adsorbent Amberlite XAD, being an expensive material, was uneconomical for processing a large number of samples. Therefore, one of the reported solvent extraction method was modified to make the extraction procedure cost effective without losing the target compounds. Using the modified method, DIMBOA was extracted for different varieties under dark and light condition. Results showed that high concentrations of DIMBOA were extracted from plants grown in dark condition as compared to plants grown in light indicating that light played significant role in inhibition of DIMBOA.

Background Medicinal plants are the fundamental unit of traditional medicine system in Nepal. Nepalese people are rich in traditional medicine especially in folk medicine (ethnomedicine), and this system is gaining much attention after 1995. The use of medicinal plants has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic as a private behavior (not under the control of government). A lot of misinterpretations of the use of medicinal plants to treat or prevent COVID-19 have been spreading throughout Nepal which need to be managed proactively. In this context, a research was needed to document medicinal plants used, their priority of use in society, their cultivation status, and the source of information people follow to use them. This study aimed to document the present status of medicinal plant use and make important suggestion to the concerned authorities. Methods This study used a web-based survey to collect primary data related to medicinal plants used during COVID-19. A total of 774 respondents took part in the survey. The study calculated the relative frequencies of citation (RFC) for the recorded medicinal plants. The relationship between plants recorded and different covariates (age, gender education, occupation, living place, and treatment methods) was assessed using Kruskal-Wallis test and Wilcoxon test. The relationship between the information sources people follow and the respondent characteristics was assessed using chi-square test. Results The study found that the use of medicinal plants has increased during COVID-19 and most of the respondents recommended medicinal plants to prevent COVID-19. This study recorded a total of 60 plants belonging to 36 families. The leaves of the plants were the most frequently used. The Zingiber officinale was the most cited species with the frequency of citation 0.398. Most of the people (45.61%) were getting medicinal plants from their home garden. The medicinal plants recorded were significantly associated with the education level, location of home, primary treatment mode, gender, and age class. The information source of plants was significantly associated with the education, gender, method of treatment, occupation, living with family, and location of home during the lockdown caused by COVID-19. Conclusions People were using more medicinal plants during COVID-19 claiming that they can prevent or cure COVID-19. This should be taken seriously by concerned authorities. The authorities should test the validity of these medicinal plants and control the flow of false information spread through research and awareness programs.

Appropriate land configuration and assured nutrient supply are prerequisites for quality organic baby corn ( Zea mays L.) production in high rainfall areas of the delicate Eastern Himalayan Region of India. A long term (5-year) study was conducted during 2012–2016 on a sandy loam soil in the mid attitude of Sikkim, Eastern Himalayan Region of India to evaluate the productivity, produce quality, the profitability of baby corn, and soil properties under different land configurations comprising flatbed, ridge and furrow, and broad bed and furrow, and organic nutrient management practices comprising un-amended control, farmyard manure 12 t ha −1 , vermicompost 4 t ha −1 and farmyard manure 6 t ha −1  + vermicompost 2 t ha −1 . The baby corn sown on broad bed and furrow had the tallest plant (149.25 cm), maximum dry matter (64.33 g plant −1 ), highest leaf area index (3.5), maximum cob length (8.10 cm), cob girth (6.13 cm) and cob weight (8.14 g) leading to significantly higher fresh baby corn yield (1.89 t ha −1 ), and net returns (US$ 906.1 ha −1 ) than those of other treatments. Mineral composition (phosphorus, potassium, iron, and zinc), protein, and ascorbic acid content were also the highest in baby corn grown under the broad bed and furrow system. The soil of broad bed and furrow had a higher pH, organic carbon content, organic carbon pools, microbial biomass carbon, and enzymatic activities (dehydrogenase, fluorescein diacetate, and acid phosphatase) compared to soils of other land configurations. A combined application of farmyard manure (6 t ha −1 ) + vermicompost (2 t ha −1 ) improved the crop growth and produced 117.8% higher fresh baby corn and 99.7% higher fodder yield over control (0.9 t fresh corn and 13.02 t fodder yield ha −1 ), respectively. This treatment also registered significantly higher gross return (US$ 1746.9 ha −1 ), net return (US$ 935.8 ha −1 ), and benefit–cost ratio (2.15) than other nutrient management practices. Fresh cob quality in terms of protein (22.91%) and ascorbic acid content (101.6 mg 100 g −1 ) was observed to be significantly superior under combined application of farmyard manure (6 t ha −1 ) + vermicompost (2 t ha −1 ) than those of other nutrient management systems. However, fresh baby corn cobs produced with vermicompost 4 t ha −1 had the highest concentration of phosphorus, potassium, iron, and zinc. Application of farmyard manure 12 t ha −1 registered the maximum increment in soil organic carbon content (1.52%), its pool (40.6 t ha −1 ) and carbon sequestration rate (0.74 t ha −1  year −1 ) followed by integrated application of farmyard manure (6 t ha −1 ) and vermicompost (2 t ha −1 ). The maximum soil microbial biomass carbon and enzymatic activities [dehydrogenase (22.1 µg TPF g −1 soil h −1 ) and fluorescein diacetate (67.1 µg FDA g −1 soil h −1 )] were noted with the combined use of farmyard manure (6 t ha −1 ) + vermicompost (2 t ha −1 ). Thus, the study suggests that the broad bed and furrow land configuration along with the combined application of farmyard manure + vermicompost could be an economically feasible practice for quality organic baby corn production and soil health improvement in the Eastern Himalaya and other similar eco-regions elsewhere.

This study investigates the adoption of improved orchard management practices among mandarin growers in Sankhuwasabha, Nepal, and identifies the socio-economic factors influencing their adoption. A sample of 88 households was selected using purposive sampling followed by convenience sampling from a frame of 950 households. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the key factors that influence the adoption of improved orchard management practices. The results indicate that farmers with higher education levels, secondary income sources, and access to extension services are 2.45 times more likely to adopt chemical fertilizer use, 1.63 times more likely to implement mulching practices, and 5.70 times more likely to engage in pruning respectively. In contrast, intercropping practices were negatively influenced by education levels and farm size. The major challenges were powdery mildew, fruit flies, and irrigation problems. This study suggests that socio-economic conditions play a vital role in adopting improved orchard management practices in citrus orchards. Thus, policy implications should be tailored to target extension services, subsidies, and localized training programs to strengthen farmers' technical knowledge and financial capacity.