ABSTRACT An in vitro experiment was conducted during 2018–2020 at BARI, Bangladesh, Gazipur to screen the antagonistic effects of nine fungal and five bacterial antagonists against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary. White mold disease of mustard is one of the most important diseases of mustard caused by the phytopathogen S. sclerotiorum. Among the fungal antagonist tested, Aspergillus niger 2, A. niger 3, Penicilium sp, Trichoderma harzianum, T. viride and T. virens were most effective in inhibiting 89.35% to 100% mycelial growth of S. sclerotiorum in the dual culture method on PDA medium. Among these antagonist fungi, Aspergillus niger 2, A. niger 3, T. harzianum, T. viride and T. virens were capable of completely stopping the sclerotia formation of S. sclerotiorum. The Culture filtrates of Trichoderma species viz., T. harzianum, T. viride, T. virens completely (100%) inhibited the radial growth of the test pathogen. The highest inhibition of radial growth of S. sclerotiorum observed with the volatile metabolites of Trichoderma viride (90%) followed by T. harzianum (89.39%) and T. virens (89.35%). More than 90% of mycelial growth was inhibited by Pseudomonas sp. and Bacillus subtilis strain B20 in dual culture on PDA medium and also effective in stopping sclerotia formation. In the volatile method, all the tested antagonistic bacteria showed moderate antagonistic effects against S. sclerotiorum. Further study is required to develop effective formulation of those biocontrol agents for controlling this alarming pathogen in field condition in an eco-friendly manner. Keywords: White mould, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Antagonism, Biological control
ABSTRACT Streptomyces scabiei is a gram-positive soil dwelling actinobacteria, that causes the scab disease in many plants, especially in potatoes. This causes black blotches on the tuber that negatively impacts the economic and market worth of potatoes. Plant species like Chromolaena odorata and neem are known for their antibacterial potential against common human microflora and agricultural pathogens. Aiming to find natural solutions to plant pathogens, the current study analyzes, the antimicrobial effect of these plant extracts at different concentrations using well diffusion, MIC and MBC. Combination study was also performed to test the synergistic antimicrobial effect against Streptomyces scabiei. In addition, another soil dwelling bacteria, Paenibacillus polymyxa, known for its plant growth promoting potential was also tested against the plant pathogen to understand microbe-microbe interactions through cross streak assay. Both plant extracts showed promising antimicrobial effect against Streptomyces scabiei, however, they showed very less antimicrobial potential against the plant growth promoting bacterium. Moreover, cross streak assay showed that both the bacterium coexisted together. Hence, further studies can be conducted to formulate a biofertilizer containing the two-plant extract in optimum concentrations and Paenibacillus polymyxa to prevent scab disease and also enhance plant growth. Keywords: Well diffusion, MIC, MBC, Phytochemical analysis, FTIR analysis, GC-MS analysis.
ABSTRACT A total of 178 microbial cultures were isolated from rhizospheric soil, of which 45 cultures were identified as actinomycetes based on morphology. After primary and secondary screening, the actinomycete GK-121 was found to be a potent biocontrol agent for the rice blast pathogen Pyricularia oryzae. The culture was identified using conventional microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and molecular characterization of the 16S rRNA sequence, and showed 99% similarity with Streptomyces maritimus, which was further confirmed by phylogenetic analysis. The culture exhibited a 45 mm zone of inhibition during in vitro screening against P. oryzae. The greenhouse experiment further proved the effectiveness of the isolate, as the seeds treated with S. maritimus showed very low disease incidence in plants inoculated with the pathogen P. oryzae, whereas untreated seeds showed high disease incidence. This is the first report to suggest that S. maritimus is effective in controlling the rice blast pathogen, P. oryzae, in vitro and in vivo. Keywords: Rhizosphere, Actinomycetes, Antiphytopathogenic activity, Molecular characterization, Biocontrol
Abstract This study assessed the dynamics of mosquito larval populations and species diversity in paddy fields in Alappuzha district, Kerala, and investigated the pesticide resistance of Culex tritaeniorhynchus and Culex sitiens to malathion and deltamethrin. Mosquito larvae were gathered biweekly over the three-month study duration. The density and diversity of research were evaluated independently for each category using the traditional diversity index. The World Health Organization (WHO) tube test was utilized to evaluate the pesticide susceptibility of adult Culex sitiens and Culex tritaeniorhynchus mosquitoes to malathion and deltamethrin. A total of 2,426 immature mosquitoes were captured. Two genera and ten species were gathered and identified as follows: Anopheles barbirostris, Anopheles peditaeniatus, Anopheles subpictus, Anopheles vagus, and five species of Culex: Cx. bitaeniorhynchus, Cx. gelidus, Cx. quinquefasciatus, Cx. sitiens, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, and Cx. vishnui. Cx. tritaeniorhynchus exhibited intermediate tolerance to both malathion and deltamethrin, but Cx. sitiens shown great sensitivity to both pesticides under identical exposure settings. The increasing population of Culex tritaeniorhynchus mosquitoes in rice farming regions may present considerable threats to human health. An improved understanding of mosquito variety and pesticide resistance would facilitate the formulation of successful, regionally tailored vector control methods. Key words: Paddy field, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, Cx. sitiens, pesticides, resistance
ABSTRACT An experimental investigation was carried out to evaluate the biocontrol efficacy of two Trichoderma species on pathogenic fungi isolated from the rhizospheric soil. Experiments revealed the beneficial interactions between the test biocontrol agents against the isolated pathogenic fungi. Two Trichoderma species viz. T. harzianum, and T. virens were assessed for their biological control efficiency against ten different pathogenic fungi viz. Alternaria alternata, Chaetomium cochliodes, Cladosporium cladosporoides, Colletotrichum fructicola, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium oxysporum, F. ventrichosum, F. proliferatum, F. solani and Mucor hiemalis. T. harzianum exhibited the highest mycelial growth inhibition against F. solani (71%), followed by C. cochliodes and C. lunata (70%), F. ventrichosum (69%), and C. fructicola (68%). Moderate inhibition was recorded against F. oxysporum, A. alternata, C. cladosporioides, and F. proliferatum (58–65%), while the lowest inhibition (44%) was observed against M. hiemalis. Similarly, T. virens showed maximum mycelial growth inhibition against C. fructicola (80%), followed by F. oxysporum (75%), C. cochliodes and C. lunata (72%), and F. proliferatum (70%). Inhibition against F. solani, A. alternata, F. ventrichosum and C. cladosporoides ranged from 59–68%, while the lowest inhibition was observed against M. hiemalis (54%). The study also assessed parameters such as the time to colony contact, overgrowth, and plate coverage by the biocontrol agent, pathogen radial growth, resistance, and Pakdaman’s Biological Control Index (PBCI). These attributes collectively also revealed the significant biocontrol efficacy of T. virens and T. harzianum against the tested soil-borne fungal pathogens. Keywords: Dual culture; confrontation; Trichoderma; growth inhibition; pathogen resistance
ABSTRACT This article provides an explanation of climate-resilient strategies for the management of fruit flies in horticultural crops. These strategies include biodiversity surveillance using an insecticide-free and climate-resilient liquid lure trap, advanced liquid lure formulation, climate-resilient novel trap hood cap, on-farm demonstrations and validation, as well as commercialization and impact.
The genus Anomala (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae:Rutelinae), also called shining leaf chafer. These beetles exhibit acharacteristic life cycle where the larvae, or grubs, feed on the roots ofcrops and adults on stem regions, often becoming significant agriculturalpests. In India, Anomala species are prevalent across variousagro-ecosystems. This study reports the first documented occurrence of Anomalacommunis (Burmeister, 1844) in the Deccan Peninsula region of Maharashtra,India. The grubs of A. communis are known to damage the roots of variouscrops, including groundnut, maize, and guava. Adults are attracted to lighttraps and are active during the monsoon months, with peak emergence observedfrom June to August. The expansion of A. communis into Maharashtraunderscores the need for integrated pest management strategies to mitigate itsimpact on agriculture. In this paper some Integrated Pest management strategiesare also suggested.
ABSTRACT Galls are any deviation in the normal pattern of plant growth produced by a specific reaction to the presence and activity of a foreign organism, such as an animal or plant parasite. Psyllid Pauropsylla tuberculata causes leaf gall disease in Alastonia scholaris. The object of study was to evaluate the efficacy of plant-derived extracts against Pauropsylla tuberculata-induced galls on Alstonia scholaris. Field trials were conducted using ethanolic leaf and petroleum ether seed extracts from six plant species, such as Annona squamosa, Albizia lebbek, Lantana camara, Pongamia pinnata, Eucalyptus globulus, and Limonia acidissima, applied as neem oil-based emulsions. This study showed that Lantana camara leaf extract was 22.70% effective as to repellent activity against Pauropsylla tuberculata. These findings support the use of botanical extracts as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic pesticides. Keywords: Galls Disease, Leaf Extract, Field trials, Biopesticide, Pauropsylla tuberculata, Alstonia scholaris.
ABSTRACT Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is among the most extensively grown vegetables globally, but its yield is significantly under attack by early blight caused by Alternaria solani, which could contribute to more than 80% loss of yield under ideal conditions. Routine management is based primarily on chemical fungicides like mancozeb and chlorothalonil, but their excessive use has led to fungicide resistance, environmental issues, and health hazards. This underscores the imperative demand for sustainable and environmentally friendly substitutes. Pseudomonas fluorescens, a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR), is also a potential biocontrol agent owing to its multi- faceted systems, such as antibiosis by production of secondary metabolites (2,4- diacetylphloroglucinol, pyoluteorin, phenazines), siderophore-mediated iron sequestration, nutrient and niche competition, and induction of systemic resistance in tomato plants. Field, greenhouse, and laboratory tests have all consistently shown that it can inhibit the growth of hyphae, conidial germination, disease severity, and improve plant vigor and yield. Powder and liquid forms of commercial formulations are already available and have proven to be effective in farmer demonstrations in various parts of India and other nations. In addition, integration of P. fluorescens with Trichoderma spp., neem extracts, organic amendments, and reduced fungicide regimens further enhanced disease suppression and lowered chemical inputs. Its application in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems highlights its ability to decrease fungicide application by 50%, improve ecological resilience, and facilitate residue-free tomato production. This review integrates available evidence regarding the biocontrol potential of P. fluorescens against tomato early blight and highlights its potential as part of sustainable agricultural tactics in the future. Keywords: Antifungal metabolites; Siderophore production; Bioformulations; Integrated pest management; 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol.
ABSTRACT In India, Parthenium hysterophorus is locally known as carrot grass, congress grass, gajar ghas or dhanura. Parthenium hysterophorus, a highly invasive plant species belonging to the family Asteraceae, has gained attention due to its potential in controlling pests through biopesticidal properties. This review explores the biopesticidal activity of P. hysterophorus extracts against common agricultural pests like aphids, mealy bug, termites, cotton bollworm, moth, fall armyworm etc. The plant contains various bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids and alkaloids, which contribute to its pesticidal effects. Literature has suggested that the methanolic extracts exhibited the highest toxicity, with significant mortality rates in the treated pest populations Spodoptera litura and Aphis gossypii followed by ethanolic and aqueous extracts. Some bioactive components in Parthenium were identified as key contributors to its pesticidal action, including sesquiterpene lactones and phenols. Additionally, the plant’s impact on the pest growth, development, and reproduction was also observed, showing substantial interruption in life cycle processes. The literature has suggested that P. hysterophorus can act as a natural bio pesticide and a good alternative for pest management in sustainable agriculture. This review briefly discussed the selected studies from a few past years regarding the biopesticidal activity of P. hysterophorus against various pests. It highlights the potential of utilizing plant-derived compounds to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides, thus contributing to integrated pest management strategies and promoting eco-friendly farming practices. Keywords: Parthenium hysterophorus, Allelopathy, Natural pesticides, Insecticidal activity Weed management
The intensifying demand foreco-friendly alternatives to synthetic pesticides has propelled the advancementof plant-based biopesticides as a sustainable solution in modern agriculture.Derived from botanical sources, these biopesticides including essential oils,plant extracts, and secondary metabolites offer multi-target pest control withminimal environmental impact, improved food safety, and enhanced compatibilitywith integrated pest management (IPM) systems. This review comprehensivelyexplores the historical context, chemical diversity, and biological efficacy ofplant-based biopesticides, while highlighting innovations in extraction andformulation technologies such as nanoencapsulation, microencapsulation, andcontrolled-release systems that enhance their stability, bioavailability, andfield performance. Furthermore, it discusses recent regulatory frameworks,market challenges, and the integration of multi-omics, synthetic biology, RNAinterference (RNAi), and CRISPR-based approaches for the development ofnext-generation biopesticides. While plant-based solutions face adoption barrierssuch as regulatory complexity, variable efficacy, and higher production costs,advancements in biotechnology and interdisciplinary collaboration offerpromising avenues for overcoming these challenges. Future research must focuson improving formulation stability, streamlining regulations, expanding pestcontrol spectra, and ensuring scalability for wider adoption. This reviewunderscores the transformative potential of plant-based biopesticides inachieving resilient, environmentally sound, and health-conscious agriculturalsystems.
Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusariumoxysporum f. sp. ciceri, is a major threat to chickpea (Cicerarietinum) production, leading to significant yield losses. This studyexamined the disease progression under different inoculation methods steminoculation, root dip, and pipette application—revealing peak wilting at 35-days after inoculation(DAI). Among fungicides tested, Carbendazim and Thiram demonstrated the highestinhibitory effects on fungal radial growth and zone of inhibition, withcomplete pathogen suppression at 2000 ppm. Additionally, botanical extractsfrom Azadirachta indica (Neem) and Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi)exhibited antifungal activity, with Tulsi proving more effective due to itsbioactive compounds. The study also assessed biocontrol agents Trichodermaviride and Pseudomonas fluorescens, where T. virideexhibited greater inhibition (58.82%) than P. fluorescens (47.30%),highlighting their potential in disease management. The findings emphasizeintegrating chemical, botanical, and biological control strategies forsustainable management of F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceri. Futureresearch should explore resistant cultivars and field applications ofbiocontrol agents to mitigate pathogen impact [
Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is a significant pest of berry cropsin Europe and beyond. The rise of worldwide markets and the unrestrictedmovement of commodities is heightening the risk of D. suzukii proliferation.The research was carried out from 2022 to 2023 in the village of Mirolyubovo,Burgas region, focusing on strawberry plantations of the "Buddy" and"Petra" kinds. Food traps, specifically the Suzukii Trap from"Bioiberica," together with traditional traps utilizing apple cidervinegar and red wine, were employed for monitoring purposes. The initial adult D.suzukii specimens in the food traps were detected in early June, coincidingwith the onset of fruit ripening. The pest's population density peaks duringthe mass ripening of fruits, coinciding with their maximum sugar content. Atelevated concentrations, D. suzukii may pose a significant threat toberry crops for fruit producers.
ABSTRACT Many phytochemicals have been used to manage the economically important insect pest. One of the most promising phytochemicals is azadirachtin, a bioactive principle of Azadirachta indica. This key ingredient is present in the leaves, stem, fruit, flower, and bark of the neem tree. There is numerous research work that has been done against insect pests using azadirachtin as a pesticide. So far no work has been done by using unripe neem fruit milk against insect pests. In this work, unripe neem fruit milk is used as the toxicant at different concentrations (0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8%) against Dysdercus koenigii fourth nymphal instars, Spodoptera litura third stadium larvae, Helicoverpa armigera third stadium larvae, Aulacophora foveicollis adults, Sphenarches caffer larvae, and Dysdercus koenigii eggs. From this study, the result reveals that unripe fruit of neem milk at 0.8% is highly effective against S. litura third-stadium larvae (100±0.00%) and A. foveicollis adults (100±0.00%), followed by D. koenigii fourth nymphal instars (91.67±8.33%); S. caffer larvae (68.75±11.97%) at 96 hours; and the toxicant is least effective against H. armigera third-stadium larvae (12.00±4.89). The ovicidal activity is effective at 0.8% against D. koenigii eggs at 72 and 96 hrs. The test material also caused morphological deformities, and hence we suggest utilizing unripe neem fruit milk as a pesticidal material. Key words: Unripe neem fruit milk, toxicant, leaf dip method, Insect pests, LCs
The powdered samples derivedfrom the fruit, leaf, and bark of the Prosopis cineraria (L.) plant were evaluated for theirability to safeguard green gram seeds from damage caused by the pulse beetle Callosobruchus chinensis. The biologicalparameter examined for C. chinensis was "Percentadult emergence," which refers to the proportion of adult insects thatemerged from the green gram seedsupon which C. chinensis lay its eggs. Formulations derived from plant extracts were observedto inhibit the development of the pulse beetle from the egg stage to the adult stage and eliminate it within thegrain. The ovicidal and larvicidal effects of P. cineraria were demonstrated, as the extractsdramatically decreased the percentage of adult emergence by 56 to 93% at a 5% level of significance,compared to 96% in control groups. A minimum adult emergence rate of 56.68% was recorded in the groupstreated with 10% aqueous bark extract of P. cineraria.Significant inhibition of emergence was seen in groups treated with 10% fruit formulations, with a range of 56 – 59%.
Spodoptera frugiperda JE Smith, known as the fall armyworm (FAW), is amajor pest of maize crops. This bug damages maize plant leaves, leadingto yield declines of up to 79.9%. An alternative approach to controlling S. frugiperda entails the use ofentomopathogenic fungi. Many entomopathogenicfungi are present, including Trichodermaasperellum, which resides endophytically withinplants. This study aims to evaluate the pathogenicity of T. asperellum incontrolling S. frugiperda larvae.Five isolates of T. asperellum (A116, PC21, S2D11, SD34, and AB2B3) were procured from various plant tissues.Two milliliters of conidia suspension, with a concentration of 10^8 conidia/ml, and sterile distilledwater as a control were supplied to S. frugiperda larvae. The measured variables encompassed themortality rate of S. frugiperda larvae, the percentage of pupae that matured, and the percentage ofadults that emerged. The results demonstrated that the endophytic fungus T. asperellum can eradicate S.frugiperda larvae. The mortality rate of S. frugiperda larvae ranged from 34.67% to 57.33%. Theutilization of T. asperellum on S. frugiperda led to a 44.00% reduction in pupae formation and a 36.00%reduction in adult formation. T. asperellum S2D11 is the most efficacious isolate for infecting S.frugiperda larvae.
Poophilus costalis (Aphrophoridae), is known for producing a protectivefoam during its nymphal stage. This study investigates the chemical andbiological properties of the biofoam produced by P. costalis nymphs. Stability of the foam decreased significantlyat temperatures above 50°C. For the first time, metabolic waste products suchas urea, uric acid, and creatinine were identified in the biofoam. Insecticidalactivity of the biofoam was assessed using a choice test against three cottonpests: Phenacoccus solenopsis, Dysdercus koenigii, and Aphis craccivora. The froth exhibitedrepellent properties against D. koenigiiand A. craccivora, while P. solenopsis showed attraction at allconcentrations except 0.05%. Antibacterial activity was tested against three phytopathogens (Xanthomonas malvacearum and Xanthomonas citri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa), plant growth promotor (Proteus vulgaris) and four microbes including G+ (Bacillussubtilis, Enterococcus faecalis)and G- (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae). The froth aloneand in combination with gallic or tannic acid exhibited significant,dose-dependent inhibition activity. Notably, E. faecalis and E. coli showedthe highest growth suppression. Gallic acid combinations enhanced theinhibition of E. faecalis and X. malvacearum, while tannic acid wasmore effective against X. citri.These findings suggest that P. costalisfroth has promising potential as a natural antimicrobial agent against bothhuman and plant pathogens.
Tribolium castaneum (Herbst, 1797) is apest of stored food that inflicts significant economic damage. Developinginnovative methods for controlling this pest can benefit insect and integratedpest management system development. A laboratory study was conducted to assessthe sub-lethal effects of carbon nanobiocide against the T. castaneum pest. This paper evaluated how carbon nanotubesinfluence several life characteristics of theT. castaneum insect. The larval mortality was reduced, yielding a mean rankmortality score of 33.3 at a 0.1 mg/mL concentration. The mean ranked adultmortality score for the concentration of 0.1mg/mL was 36.7. The fecundity offemales, measured by the number of eggs laid, varied across different CNTtreatments, with the 0.05 mg/mL concentration resulting in nearly no eggs laidper female compared to the other CNTs concentrations employed in this work. Thegermination rates of wheat seeds subjected to different CNTs concentrationsacross all studied materials were analyzed. To our knowledge, there is nopublished research examining the impact of CNTs on stored product insects.Thus, this study serves as a reference for future research by analyzing themerits and demerits of different CNT concentrations on stored pests such as thered flour beetle and forecasting their developmental trajectories.
The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitiscapitata (Wiedemann), is found in most tropical and subtropical areas ofthe world. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the chillingtreatment method to reduce the cooling time and the cost. Thisinvestigation evaluated post-harvest cooling treatmentat 1 and 2oC on the immature stages of C. capitata inValencia orange and the effect of these temperature degrees on certain physical and chemical parameters of Valenciaorange fruits. The result revealed that the mortalitypercentage of immature stages increased by exposure time. The egg recorded 100%mortality after 8 days of exposure at 1oC, whereas the time ofexposure was extended to reach 10-12 days in the case of larvalinstars. Cooling time was extended for the tested stages; egg stage andthe three larval instars to 10, 12, 14, and 14 days after post-treatment at 2oC,till the mortality reached 100%. The data clarified that the mortalitypercentage increased with decreasing the temperature and the exposure timewhich decreased by decreasing temperature in all immature stages. Thisinvestigation clarified that the third larval instar of C. capitata wasthe most tolerable in Valencia oranges. The results showed that 12 days wereenough time for killing all immature stages of C. capitata aftertreatment at 1oC and 14 days of exposure to cold treatment at 2oCin Valencia orange were sufficient to achieve this infestation. There are nosignificant differences in both physical (weight loss, color, and hardness) andchemical parameters (acidity and soluble solid) of Valencia orange fruitsexcept vitamin C.
Control of Spodoptera litura in the tropical sugar beet is a critical issue for sustainable agriculture. The purpose of this field experiment was to assess the efficacy of botanical and non-chemical techniques against S. litura to identify ecologically viable management alternatives. Spodoptera litura responded best to a neem oil solution at a concentration of 3.0 mL/L. In terms of insect infestation, the plot treated with neem oil outperformed the untreated control plot. The infection rates for plants, leaves, and beets were 5.66/plot, 5.33/plant, and 11.00/plot, respectively. In terms of larvae decrease over control, the plot treated with neem oil had the greatest effectiveness (84.33%), followed by pheromones, which had an efficiency of 80%. Plants treated with neem oil showed the highest Brix and Pol values (17.61% and 12.62%, respectively). Weight per beet was lowest in the control plot (690.33 g), and highest in the best treatment (791.33 g). It clearly shows that when insect infestation grows, beet yield falls. The control plot was unable to effectively resist S. litura, resulting in unhealthy sugar beet output. In contrast, eco-friendly techniques such as NPV spraying, Bio Neem Plus®, Tracer 45SC (spinosad), hand picking, light trap, and polythene mulching trap outperformed the control plot.
