Pest Management in Horticultural Ecosystems 

About: Pest Management in Horticultural Ecosystems is an academic journal published by Diva Enterprises Private Limited. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Population & Meloidogyne incognita. It has an ISSN identifier of 0971-6831. Over the lifetime, 707 publications have been published receiving 2788 citations.

First report of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J E Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), an alien invasive pest on maize in India

Abstract: The global agriculture often faces new threats from invasive alien insect pests, pathogens, weeds etc requiring immediate attention and co-operative action to manage the pestilence In this regard, the fall armyworm (FAW), spodoptera frugiperda is a notorious pestiferous insect with high dispersal ability, wide host range and high fecundity that make it one of the most severe economic pests The FAW has been restricted to the Americas and recently in 2016 reported from various countries in Africa, posing a serious challenge of sustainability in Sub-Saharan African countries Herewith we report the occurrence of the FAW on maize in various districts of Karnataka state, India Identification of FAW has been carried out employing morphological and DNA barcoding Phylogenetic analysis has revealed that FAW clustered with Florida (rice strain), Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda on maize India predominantly being a tropical country favours high rate of multiplication round the year and its high pestiferous nature poses a formidable challenge to Indian agriculture warranting immediate action before it assumes a serious proportion

New record of the invasive South American tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in India

Abstract: The occurrence of the South American tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is being reported for first time as an invasive pest on tomato and potato in India. T. absoluta was observed during regular surveillance on tomato at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) and adjoining farmersi fields in Bengaluru, Karnataka during November 2014 as a part of Real Time Pest Surveillance of Tomato (RTPST) of National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) Project. Subsequent surveys revealed the presence of the pest in six districts of Karnataka State viz., Bengaluru Rural & Urban, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Ramanagar and Tumkur. Incidence of the T. absoluta has also been recorded on potato. Larvae were generally found to feed on leaves, creating blotch-like mines visible from both sides of the leaf and several mines were observed on a single leaf. The larvae were also observed feeding on apical buds, stalks and boring the fruits. The affected fruits carried distinct holes mainly in the upper half towards fruit stalk and usually covered with faecal mass. The infestation of T. absoluta ranged from low to high (up to 15 mines/plant) in different tomato fields surveyed. In some of the fields up to 87% of the tomato plants were infested by T. abosoluta. A zoophytophagous mirid bug, Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) was recorded as predator on eggs and early larval stages of T. absoluta under field conditions. Hence, there is an urgent need to deploy suitable management practices to contain further spread of this potential pest.

Nanotechnology in crop protection: Status and scope

Abstract: Pests, including insects, mites, nematodes and pathogens, are the major limiting factor in profitable crop production. Frequent application of pesticides has resulted in development of pest and disease resistance, accumulating residues in produce and environmental pollution. So there is a need for alternative approach as to control pests and pathogens. Application of nanotechnology in crop protection holds a significant promise in management of insects and pathogens, by controlled and targeted delivery of agrochemicals and also by providing diagnostic tools for early detection. Nanoparticles are highly s table and are biodegradable; it can be successfully employed in production of nanocapsules for delivery of pesticides, fertilizers, and other agrochemicals. Nanoparticles display slow release of encapsulated functional molecules and reduce its frequent applications. Nanoparticles are smaller in size with more charge and larger surface area with higher stability and solubility, so behave differently from their bulk sized counterparts. The biological agents such as plants and microbes have emerged as cost effective and efficient candidates for the synthesis of nanoparticles by green synthesis approaches. They have advantages over conventional chemical methods which associated with eco toxicity. This review is focused on potential applications of nanomaterials in crop protection for a cleaner and greener agriculture.

New promising insecticides for the management of brinjal shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee

Abstract: Two new insecticides, viz., rynaxypyr 20% SC and flubendiamide 480 SC were evaluated in the field against brinjal shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guen. during winter, 2007 and summer, 2008 at the Central Research Station farm, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneshwar with brinjal cv. "Utkal Anushree". Four foliar spray applications of the chemicals were given at 11 days intervals starting from fruit initiation. The results revealed that rynaxypyr 20% SC @ 40 and 50g a.i.lha gave 95-97% reduction in the 'shoot damage and 87-90% reduction in-fruit damage on number basis and 88-90% on weight basis at ten days after fourth spray, compared to untreated control. Both the new compounds were safe to natural enemies at 0, 3, 7 and 10 days after spraying. The healthy fruit yield recorded was significantly highest in plots treated with rynaxypyr 20%SC @ 40 and 50g a.i.lha during both the seasons of field testing.

Emerging insect pest problems in vegetable crops and their management in India: An appraisal

Abstract: In recent past, with changes in the cropping pattern, ecosystems and habitat, climate, and introduction of input intensive high yielding varieties/hybrids, a shift in pest status has been realized in time and space. Many pests have expanded their host horizon, developed resistance to pesticides and often there are secondary out breaks. Incidence of chilli gall midge (Asphondylia capparis) in parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, solenopsis mealy bug (Phenacoccus solenopsis) in brinjal, tomato, okra and cucurbits; Hadda beetle (Henosepilachna vigitioctopunctata and Epilachna dodecastigma) on cowpea and bitter gourd; plume moth (Sphenaeches caffer) in bottle gourd are some of the examples. This paper envisages these emerging insect pests in vegetable ecosystem, their suitable control measures and some issues/challenges in their management.