Transgenic Bt cotton with genes from soil inhabiting spore forming bacterium Bacillus thuringiens... more Transgenic Bt cotton with genes from soil inhabiting spore forming bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner produces δ-endotoxin for the control of lepidopteran insects. The prey-mediated effects of Cry protein on the third trophic level is the most realistic exposure pathway that needs to be addressed as an important component of environment risk assessment. The green lacewing, Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Esben-Petersen) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) is the most important generalist predator in the cotton ecosystem in India. The tri-trophic interactions involving Bt cotton expressing single (Cry1Ac) and dual toxins (Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab) fed herbivores, i.e. mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) and leafhopper, Amrasca biguttula biguttulla (Ishida) on the fitness of C. zastrowi sillemi, were studied. The development, survival and body weight of C. zastrowi sillemi had no deleterious effect as there were insignificant differences in any of the studied fitness parameters regardless of having consumed prey fed on Bollgard, Bollgard II and non-Bt cotton plants. The feeding potential of C. zastrowi sillemi on mealybug was also not different on Bt or non-Bt cotton plants. ELISA studies confirmed the presence of Cry proteins in Bt cotton leaves; however, no Cry1Ac or Cry2Ab protein was detected in prey herbivores (P. solenopsis, B. tabaci and A. biguttula biguttula) or in the predator C. zastrowi sillemi. It could be concluded that transgenic cotton that expresses single (Cry1Ac) or dual (Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab) toxins had no apparent effect on the fitness of the predator through its preys P. solenopsis, B. tabaci and A. biguttula biguttulla.
A survey was conducted to record the diversity of lac insect Kerria lacca (Kerr) associated natur... more A survey was conducted to record the diversity of lac insect Kerria lacca (Kerr) associated natural enemies (predators/ parasitoids) during 2019-2020. In katki crop, the abundance of natural enemies ranged from 1.08 to 44.09%. There were three parasitoids viz, Parechthrodryinus clavicornis (Cameron) (1.08%), Aprostocteus purpureus (Cameron) (26.88%), Tachardiaephagus tachardiae somervilli (2.15%); and two predators; Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (5.38%), Eublemma amabilis (44.09%) and only one hyperparasitoid viz; Bracon greeni (Ashm.) (20.43%). Shannon-Weiner diversity index, evenness index and dominance index for natural enemies was found to be 0.67, 0.80 and 0.20. In baisakhi crop, the abundance ranged from 6.56 to 45.90% with maximum abundance of predator E. amabilis (45.90%) and the least of parasitoid T. tachardiae How. (6.56%); and the Shannon-Weiner diversity index, evenness index and dominance index was 0.65, 0.77 and 0.23, respectively.
Development time, survival and weight of Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi fed on Phenacoccus solenops... more Development time, survival and weight of Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi fed on Phenacoccus solenopsis reared on Bt and non-Bt cotton cultivars. (DOCX 31Â kb)
Cabbage aphid, Brevicornye brassicae (Linnaeus) is one of the major insect pests of cabbage. Chem... more Cabbage aphid, Brevicornye brassicae (Linnaeus) is one of the major insect pests of cabbage. Chemical control is mostly used to manage this pest. The present investigation was conducted to evaluate an environmentally benign approach for the pest management through different entomopathogenic mycoformulations against nymphs of B. brassicae to identify effective mycoformulation. The effect of mycoformulations supplemented with different adjuvants against nymphs of B. Brassicae was also evaluated under laboratory conditions. The bioassay studies of fungal bioformulation against nymphs of B. brassicae recorded maximum cumulative per cent mortality (53.33%) in talc formulation of L. lecanii MTCC 956 and commercial L. Lecanii formulation @12g L-1 and these were at par with each other. Maximum percent reduction of nymphal population over control 54.66 and 51.33 per cent was recorded @12 g L-1in talc formulation of L. lecanii (MTCC 956) and commercial L. Lecanii formulation ten days after tr...
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 2021
Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill; Solanaceae) is one of the major horticultural crops cultiva... more Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill; Solanaceae) is one of the major horticultural crops cultivated in India. In order to ensure year-round availability of tomatoes, farmers are shifting to protected cultivation practices. Although the name ‘protected cultivation’ suggests freedom from biotic as well as abiotic hindrances in crop cultivation, incidence of pests have been reported in crops grown under polyhouses. This causes net house cultivators to use more chemical insecticides. Thus, an environmentally safe and economical method, comprising sticky traps, was evaluated for the management of sucking pests of tomato grown under protected conditions. Sticky traps of different shapes (rectangle, circle and triangle) and colours (yellow, blue and silver) were evaluated against sucking pests of tomato in 2018. The sticky trap, which found most efficient during 2018, was installed at different rates (2, 4 and 6 traps/250 m2) in the year 2019. Among the various sticky traps evaluated, yel...
Field experiments were conducted in farmer's rice fields at village Saholi, Punjab, India dur... more Field experiments were conducted in farmer's rice fields at village Saholi, Punjab, India during 2012 and 2013 to test the efficacy of different plant based biopesticides and microbials against insect pests of aromatic rice ( Pusa 1121 and Basmati 386) grown under organic farming system. In all, five biopesticide formulations (2 plant based; 3 microbials) were tested for their efficacy. Neem azal 1% @ 1250 ml/ha showed its supermacy in reducing the incidence of leaf folder (0.97-5.66% DL), dead hearts (0.98-1.67% DH), white ear heads (1.07-2.05%), plant hopper(s) population (0.11-0.40/plant) and resulted in higher grain yields (25.54-36.47 q/ha) compared with ohter treatments. Similarly, the application of Neem azal 1% @ 1000, Dipel WP @ 2.0 kg/ha, Karanja oil 2.0% and Myco-Jaal 10% SC @ 2.0 litre per ha significantly reduced the incidence of leaf folder, dead hearts and white earheads increased grain yields in comparison to untreated control. Microbials, by large, were ineffect...
A biological alternative to pesticides in agriculture is an important subject as it promotes envi... more A biological alternative to pesticides in agriculture is an important subject as it promotes environmental health. Unlike synthetic persticides, they do not harm other beneficial insects and natural enemies of pests. Here, we studied the influence of five biopesticides/botanicals [Dipel WP (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki), Myco-Jaal 10% SC (Beauvaria bassiana), entomopathogenic nematode (EPN), Steinernema feltiae), Neem azal 1% (10000 ppm azadirachtin) and Karanj oil 2% (20000 ppm karanjin)] on adult emergence and the parasitisation efficiency of Trichogramma spp. in basmati rice. Our results revealed that all the biopesticides/botanicals tested at varied doses against adult emergence of the Trichogramma spp were harmless to slightly harmful, though negative relationship between dose and the emergence was observed. Neem azal 1% @ 5.0 mL/L and karanj oil 2% @ 20.0 mL/L affected the adult emergence of Trichogramma chilonis and T. japonicum negatively. The parasitization efficien...
The two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) is a very serious pes... more The two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) is a very serious pest of many crops in temperate and tropical climates. Several of the attempts to control this mite by using chemical insecticides have failed mainly because of development of pesticide resistance. Though several natural enemies have been recorded as potential predators of T. urticae, the predator used most often has been the phytoseiid mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot. Earlier studies have also indicated that anthocorid predators are effective biological control agents of spider mites. An anthocorid predator Blaptostethus pallescens Poppius (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) was collected from the field and successfully multiplied on the eggs of the rice moth Corcyra cephalonica Stainton. Laboratory studies indicated that B. pallescens could feed on 190 and 116 T. urticae nymphs during its nymphal and adult stages, respectively. In the net house studies, there was a 78% reduction in th...
Studies on the comparative efficiency of Myzus persicae and Lipaphis erysimi in transmitting radi... more Studies on the comparative efficiency of Myzus persicae and Lipaphis erysimi in transmitting radish mosaic virus (RMV) on radish (Raphanus sativus L.) were carried out in screen houses at Entomological Research Farm, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Pre-acquisition fasting increased the transmission efficiency of both aphid species and maximum transmission was obtained with pre-acquisition fasting of 30 minutes. Both aphid species acquired the virus in 30 seconds. However, maximum transmission was obtained with an acquisition of 10 minutes. Both aphid species transmitted virus to the healthy test plants with minimum inoculation access of 30 seconds. Inoculation access of 20 minutes resulted in maximum transmission of the virus. Single viruliferous aphid of both vectors transmitted the virus and maximum transmission was obtained when 10 adults of M. persicae and 7 adults of L. erysimi were released per plant. The viruliferous aphids lost their infectivity rapidly when given ...
Transgenic Bt cotton with genes from soil inhabiting spore forming bacterium Bacillus thuringiens... more Transgenic Bt cotton with genes from soil inhabiting spore forming bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner produces δ-endotoxin for the control of lepidopteran insects. The prey-mediated effects of Cry protein on the third trophic level is the most realistic exposure pathway that needs to be addressed as an important component of environment risk assessment. The green lacewing, Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Esben-Petersen) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) is the most important generalist predator in the cotton ecosystem in India. The tri-trophic interactions involving Bt cotton expressing single (Cry1Ac) and dual toxins (Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab) fed herbivores, i.e. mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) and leafhopper, Amrasca biguttula biguttulla (Ishida) on the fitness of C. zastrowi sillemi, were studied. The development, survival and body weight of C. zastrowi sillemi had no deleterious effect as there were insignificant differences in any of the studied fitness parameters regardless of having consumed prey fed on Bollgard, Bollgard II and non-Bt cotton plants. The feeding potential of C. zastrowi sillemi on mealybug was also not different on Bt or non-Bt cotton plants. ELISA studies confirmed the presence of Cry proteins in Bt cotton leaves; however, no Cry1Ac or Cry2Ab protein was detected in prey herbivores (P. solenopsis, B. tabaci and A. biguttula biguttula) or in the predator C. zastrowi sillemi. It could be concluded that transgenic cotton that expresses single (Cry1Ac) or dual (Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab) toxins had no apparent effect on the fitness of the predator through its preys P. solenopsis, B. tabaci and A. biguttula biguttulla.
A survey was conducted to record the diversity of lac insect Kerria lacca (Kerr) associated natur... more A survey was conducted to record the diversity of lac insect Kerria lacca (Kerr) associated natural enemies (predators/ parasitoids) during 2019-2020. In katki crop, the abundance of natural enemies ranged from 1.08 to 44.09%. There were three parasitoids viz, Parechthrodryinus clavicornis (Cameron) (1.08%), Aprostocteus purpureus (Cameron) (26.88%), Tachardiaephagus tachardiae somervilli (2.15%); and two predators; Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (5.38%), Eublemma amabilis (44.09%) and only one hyperparasitoid viz; Bracon greeni (Ashm.) (20.43%). Shannon-Weiner diversity index, evenness index and dominance index for natural enemies was found to be 0.67, 0.80 and 0.20. In baisakhi crop, the abundance ranged from 6.56 to 45.90% with maximum abundance of predator E. amabilis (45.90%) and the least of parasitoid T. tachardiae How. (6.56%); and the Shannon-Weiner diversity index, evenness index and dominance index was 0.65, 0.77 and 0.23, respectively.
Development time, survival and weight of Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi fed on Phenacoccus solenops... more Development time, survival and weight of Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi fed on Phenacoccus solenopsis reared on Bt and non-Bt cotton cultivars. (DOCX 31Â kb)
Cabbage aphid, Brevicornye brassicae (Linnaeus) is one of the major insect pests of cabbage. Chem... more Cabbage aphid, Brevicornye brassicae (Linnaeus) is one of the major insect pests of cabbage. Chemical control is mostly used to manage this pest. The present investigation was conducted to evaluate an environmentally benign approach for the pest management through different entomopathogenic mycoformulations against nymphs of B. brassicae to identify effective mycoformulation. The effect of mycoformulations supplemented with different adjuvants against nymphs of B. Brassicae was also evaluated under laboratory conditions. The bioassay studies of fungal bioformulation against nymphs of B. brassicae recorded maximum cumulative per cent mortality (53.33%) in talc formulation of L. lecanii MTCC 956 and commercial L. Lecanii formulation @12g L-1 and these were at par with each other. Maximum percent reduction of nymphal population over control 54.66 and 51.33 per cent was recorded @12 g L-1in talc formulation of L. lecanii (MTCC 956) and commercial L. Lecanii formulation ten days after tr...
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 2021
Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill; Solanaceae) is one of the major horticultural crops cultiva... more Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill; Solanaceae) is one of the major horticultural crops cultivated in India. In order to ensure year-round availability of tomatoes, farmers are shifting to protected cultivation practices. Although the name ‘protected cultivation’ suggests freedom from biotic as well as abiotic hindrances in crop cultivation, incidence of pests have been reported in crops grown under polyhouses. This causes net house cultivators to use more chemical insecticides. Thus, an environmentally safe and economical method, comprising sticky traps, was evaluated for the management of sucking pests of tomato grown under protected conditions. Sticky traps of different shapes (rectangle, circle and triangle) and colours (yellow, blue and silver) were evaluated against sucking pests of tomato in 2018. The sticky trap, which found most efficient during 2018, was installed at different rates (2, 4 and 6 traps/250 m2) in the year 2019. Among the various sticky traps evaluated, yel...
Field experiments were conducted in farmer's rice fields at village Saholi, Punjab, India dur... more Field experiments were conducted in farmer's rice fields at village Saholi, Punjab, India during 2012 and 2013 to test the efficacy of different plant based biopesticides and microbials against insect pests of aromatic rice ( Pusa 1121 and Basmati 386) grown under organic farming system. In all, five biopesticide formulations (2 plant based; 3 microbials) were tested for their efficacy. Neem azal 1% @ 1250 ml/ha showed its supermacy in reducing the incidence of leaf folder (0.97-5.66% DL), dead hearts (0.98-1.67% DH), white ear heads (1.07-2.05%), plant hopper(s) population (0.11-0.40/plant) and resulted in higher grain yields (25.54-36.47 q/ha) compared with ohter treatments. Similarly, the application of Neem azal 1% @ 1000, Dipel WP @ 2.0 kg/ha, Karanja oil 2.0% and Myco-Jaal 10% SC @ 2.0 litre per ha significantly reduced the incidence of leaf folder, dead hearts and white earheads increased grain yields in comparison to untreated control. Microbials, by large, were ineffect...
A biological alternative to pesticides in agriculture is an important subject as it promotes envi... more A biological alternative to pesticides in agriculture is an important subject as it promotes environmental health. Unlike synthetic persticides, they do not harm other beneficial insects and natural enemies of pests. Here, we studied the influence of five biopesticides/botanicals [Dipel WP (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki), Myco-Jaal 10% SC (Beauvaria bassiana), entomopathogenic nematode (EPN), Steinernema feltiae), Neem azal 1% (10000 ppm azadirachtin) and Karanj oil 2% (20000 ppm karanjin)] on adult emergence and the parasitisation efficiency of Trichogramma spp. in basmati rice. Our results revealed that all the biopesticides/botanicals tested at varied doses against adult emergence of the Trichogramma spp were harmless to slightly harmful, though negative relationship between dose and the emergence was observed. Neem azal 1% @ 5.0 mL/L and karanj oil 2% @ 20.0 mL/L affected the adult emergence of Trichogramma chilonis and T. japonicum negatively. The parasitization efficien...
The two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) is a very serious pes... more The two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) is a very serious pest of many crops in temperate and tropical climates. Several of the attempts to control this mite by using chemical insecticides have failed mainly because of development of pesticide resistance. Though several natural enemies have been recorded as potential predators of T. urticae, the predator used most often has been the phytoseiid mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot. Earlier studies have also indicated that anthocorid predators are effective biological control agents of spider mites. An anthocorid predator Blaptostethus pallescens Poppius (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) was collected from the field and successfully multiplied on the eggs of the rice moth Corcyra cephalonica Stainton. Laboratory studies indicated that B. pallescens could feed on 190 and 116 T. urticae nymphs during its nymphal and adult stages, respectively. In the net house studies, there was a 78% reduction in th...
Studies on the comparative efficiency of Myzus persicae and Lipaphis erysimi in transmitting radi... more Studies on the comparative efficiency of Myzus persicae and Lipaphis erysimi in transmitting radish mosaic virus (RMV) on radish (Raphanus sativus L.) were carried out in screen houses at Entomological Research Farm, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Pre-acquisition fasting increased the transmission efficiency of both aphid species and maximum transmission was obtained with pre-acquisition fasting of 30 minutes. Both aphid species acquired the virus in 30 seconds. However, maximum transmission was obtained with an acquisition of 10 minutes. Both aphid species transmitted virus to the healthy test plants with minimum inoculation access of 30 seconds. Inoculation access of 20 minutes resulted in maximum transmission of the virus. Single viruliferous aphid of both vectors transmitted the virus and maximum transmission was obtained when 10 adults of M. persicae and 7 adults of L. erysimi were released per plant. The viruliferous aphids lost their infectivity rapidly when given ...
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