Annual Book Of Astm Standards

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that in developing nations, there are three million cases of agrochemical poisoning. The prolonged intensive and indiscriminate use of agrochemicals adversely affected the soil biodiversity, agricultural sustainability, and food safety, bringing in long-term harmful effects on nutritional security, human and animal health. Most of the agrochemicals negatively affect soil microbial functions and biochemical processes. The alteration in diversity and composition of the beneficial microbial community can be unfavorable to plant growth and development either by reducing nutrient availability or by increasing disease incidence. Currently, there is a need for qualitative, innovative, and demand-driven research in soil science, especially in developing countries for facilitating of high-quality eco-friendly research by creating a conducive and trustworthy work atmosphere, thereby rewarding productivity and merits. Hence, we reviewed (1) the impact of various agrochemicals on the soil microbial diversity and environment; (2) the importance of smallholder farmers for sustainable crop protection and enhancement solutions, and (3) management strategies that serve the scientific community, policymakers, and land managers in integrating soil enhancement and sustainability practices in smallholder farming households. The current review provides an improved understanding of agricultural soil management for food and nutritional security.

Impact of Agrochemicals on Soil Microbiota and Management: A Review

Biological alternatives for termite control: A review

Although many insects successfully live in dangerous environments exposed to diverse communities of microbes, they are often exploited and killed by specialist pathogens. Studies of host-pathogen interactions (HPI) provide valuable insights into the dynamics of the highly aggressive coevolutionary arms race between entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) and their arthropod hosts. The host defenses are designed to exclude the pathogen or mitigate the damage inflicted while the pathogen responds with immune evasion and utilization of host resources. EPF neutralize their immediate surroundings on the insect integument and benefit from the physiochemical properties of the cuticle and its compounds that exclude competing microbes. EPF also exhibit adaptations aimed at minimizing trauma that can be deleterious to both host and pathogen (eg, melanization of hemolymph), form narrow penetration pegs that alleviate host dehydration and produce blastospores that lack immunogenic sugars/enzymes but facilitate rapid assimilation of hemolymph nutrients. In response, insects deploy an extensive armory of hemocytes and macromolecules, such as lectins and phenoloxidase, that repel, immobilize, and kill EPF. New evidence suggests that immune bioactives work synergistically (eg, lysozyme with antimicrobial peptides) to combat infections. Some proteins, including transferrin and apolipophorin III, also demonstrate multifunctional properties, participating in metabolism, homeostasis, and pathogen recognition. This review discusses the molecular intricacies of these HPI, highlighting the interplay between immunity, stress management, and metabolism. Increased knowledge in this area could enhance the efficacy of EPF, ensuring their future in integrated pest management programs.

Entomopathogenic Fungi: New Insights into Host-Pathogen Interactions.

Use of botanical insecticides for sustainable agriculture: Future perspectives

Feeding experiments using three strains of entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Isaria fumosorosea were conducted with newly moulted 3rd–5th instar Ocinara varians Walker larvae in the laboratory. The mortality of larvae immersed individually in spore suspension (1 × 107 spores/mL) of all the strains was ≥ 80% except 5th instar larvae treated with M. anisopliae which transformed into pupae, but did not result in adult emergence. The growth (total body mass), consumption, relative consumption rate and relative growth rate, were reduced at all three larval stages, while developmental time was extended in infected larvae with concurrent significant increase in approximate digestibility in infected larvae. Conversion of digested food (ECD) and ingested food (ECI) values declined in infected larvae as compared to the healthy larvae (control). The 5th instar larvae treated with M. anisopliae showed higher ECD and ECI values than control. Based on mortality and growth inhibition it can be suggested that all the studied fungal strains have a high potential for biocontrol and could be developed into biocontrol agents against O. varians.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1744-7917.2009.01272.x

Entomopathogenic fungi disturbed the larval growth and feeding performance of Ocinara varians (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) larvae

https://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf2017/fpl_2017_hassan001.pdf

Effects of heartwood extractives on symbiotic protozoan communities and mortality in two termite species

The entomopathogenic fungal infection of target hosts depends on pathogen fitness and host defence mechanisms. Pathogen-host interactions in red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus larvae are poorly understood. In order to explore this interaction, 4th, 8th, and 12th instar red palm weevil larvae were immersed in conidial suspensions of four isolates of Beauveria bassiana. Significant differences in the virulence of the tested isolates were revealed by LT50 values. Conidia of B8463, a highly virulent isolate, showed 33.53 % higher relative hydrophobicity and twice as much Pr1 activity than conidia of B8465. Growth indices, calculated after 72 h of incubation, revealed significant differences in the food utilization efficiencies of all studied larval instars infected with different isolates. Conidial infection with B8463 caused 39–45 % reduction in efficacy of consumption of ingested food (ECI) and 55–61 % reduction in digested food (ECD). The least virulent isolate, B8465, caused the smallest reduction in ECI (2–4 %) and ECD (3–9 %). Furthermore, enhanced expression of target antioxidant genes (catalases and peroxidase) was observed in larvae infected with virulent isolates. Similarly, approximate digestibility showed an opposite trend, with the highest values being recorded from samples infected with the most virulent conidia (B8463) at each studied larval instar. In conclusion, isolate B8463 significantly affected the growth and development of red palm weevil larvae and has good potential for use in eco-friendly R. ferrugineus management.

Effect of Beauveria bassiana infection on the feeding performance and antioxidant defence of red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

An experiment was conducted to determine efficacy of four neonicotinoids viz; nitenpyram 10SL, thiacloprid 480SC,imidacloprid 200SL, acetamaprid 20SL and four traditional insecticides such as profenofos 50EC, methidathion 40EC,bifenthrin 10EC, λ-cyhalothrin 2.5EC at their recommended field doses against sucking insect pests of cotton and theirnatural enemies on cotton variety Bt-121 at a farmers’ field in Multan. The data on post spray number of insect per leafwas taken to find difference among treatments. The results showed that nitenpyram, thiacloprid and imidacloprid weresafer to natural enemies and toxic for the sucking pests as compared to conventional insecticides. The range of percentsurvival of the green lacewings (42.5-87.5 and 37.5-57.5), lady bird beetle (50.0-60.0 and 26.6-46.6) and pirate bug(28.0-60.0 and 24.0-57.0) was in neonicotinoids and conventional insecticide treated plots, respectively. The use ofneonicotinoids for compatibility into integrated pest management is discussed.Key words: predators, OPs, pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, sucking insects, Bt cotton, field.

Comparative efficacy of some neonicotinoids and traditional insecticides on sucking insect pests and their natural enemies on Bt-121 cotton crop.

The efficacy of the Metarhizium anisopliae strain ARSEF 6911 was determined in the laboratory and field against two sugarcane pests, Microtermes obesi Holmgren and Odontotermes obesus Rambur (Termitidae: Isoptera). The susceptibility of both termite species to different conidial suspensions (1 × 10(10), 1 × 10(8), 1 × 10(6) and 1 × 10(4) conidia/ml) was determined in laboratory. All conidial suspensions were able to induce mortality. Termite mortality caused by the fungal suspensions was dose dependent. There were no significant differences in the LT50 values between species. Field evaluation of M. anisopliae alone or in combination with diesel oil and thiamethoxam was carried out in two growing seasons (autumn 2005 and spring 2006) at two sites located in Punjab, Pakistan. Dipping the sugarcane setts in these suspensions was tried to determine their effects on germination and percentage of bud damage to sugarcane setts. All treatments significantly reduced termite infestation compared to the untreated control. The combined treatment of M. anisopliae and diesel oil significantly reduced insect damage by attaining higher germination > 55% and lower bud damage < 5.50% at both sites in both seasons. The results suggest that the application of M. anisopliae and diesel oil in combination might be a useful treatment option for the management of termites in sugarcane.

/pdf/laboratory-and-field-evaluation-of-metarhizium-anisopliae-4649gyrlw7.pdf

Sohail Ahmed

Papers

Entomopathogenic fungi disturbed the larval growth and feeding performance of Ocinara varians (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) larvae

Effects of heartwood extractives on symbiotic protozoan communities and mortality in two termite species

Effect of Beauveria bassiana infection on the feeding performance and antioxidant defence of red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

Comparative efficacy of some neonicotinoids and traditional insecticides on sucking insect pests and their natural enemies on Bt-121 cotton crop.

Laboratory and field evaluation of Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae for controlling subterranean termites