Studies on different formulations of the bioagent Trichoderma in the management of stem bleeding disease in coconut

Stem bleeding disease is the most common and well-known disease of coconut and is prevalent in almost all coconut growing countries. Thielaviopsis paradoxa is the pathogen causing stem bleeding disease. The symptoms of the affected trunk areas exhibit dark discolouration and a reddish-brown or rust-coloured liquid bleeding from different points. Affected plants die within 3 to 4 months after stem symptoms first appeared, if corrective measures are not taken properly. Keeping in view the severity of disease and the need for managing the disease with effective biocontrol formulation, the current experiment was initiated during 2014 at Mukkamala village of East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh State, India. The treatments like Trichoderma harzianum cake formulation, Trichoderma reesei paste formulation along with paste application of copper oxychloride were tested in the field conditions. Among the treatments tested, application of T. harzianum cake formulation completely brought down the disease index from 12.91 to 0 per cent within 50 days of cake application. Disease index of 17.70 was reduced to 2.05 in case of paste application of copper oxychloride, and disease index of 14.02 was reduced to 3.69 in case of paste application of T. reesei against stem bleeding disease of coconut over three years from 2015-2018. Thus, the cake formulation of Trichoderma was found very effective in managing the disease at the field level, which is a bioagent and safer for environment protection

Management of rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros L.) by biological suppression with Oryctes baculovirus in Andhra Pradesh

The large scale demonstrations on efficacy of Oryctes baculovirus in managing coconut rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes rhinoceros was carried out in 50 acres each at Borivanka, Kuttuma and Bhiripuram, villages in Srikakulam district and Nagullanka and Atreyapuram villages in East Godavari district of coastal Andhra Pradesh. The release of the virus infected beetles was initiated in April 2012 and continued up to June 2013 and the leaf and spindle damage were recorded at three months interval up to twelve months. Before the release of baculovirus infected beetles, per cent of leaf damage due to beetles ranged from 12.5 to 35.5 and spindle damage ranged from 33.3 per cent to 45 per cent. After one year of release of baculovirus infected beetles, leaf damage decreased and ranged from 6.8 to 18.5 per cent and the spindle damage also reduced and ranged from 7.5 to 13 per cent in the mass demonstration villages. In plantations of coconut where application of insecticides is hazardous, biological control with baculovirus infected beetles holds importance

Performance of coconut hybrids and varieties in the East coast of Andhra Pradesh

Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is one of the plantation crops with more life span, so suitability of a variety or hybrid for particular region may improve the productivity of the coconut. An experiment was carried out with seven hybrids and two varieties viz. Chandra Sankara (COD × WCT), Chandra Laksha (LCT x COD), VHC1 (ECT × MGD), VHC-2 (ECT × MYD), Kera Ganga (WCT × GBGD), Laksha Ganga (LCT × GBGD), Godavari Ganga (ECT x GBGD), Kera Chandra (Double Century) and Chandra Kalpa at Dr.YSRHUHorticultural Research Station, Ambajipeta, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema Dist., Andhra Pradesh. The experiment was initiated in 2002, in Randomized Block Design in three replicated blocks. The compiled data for six years (2015- 2021) revealed that, Godavari Ganga recorded significantly highest nut yield /palm/year (144.40 nuts) followed by VHC-2 (134.93 nuts) and Kera Ganga (133.33 nuts). Godavari Ganga recorded maximum copra yield of 3.20 t/ha and oil yield of 2.20 t/ha. Tender nut water quantity was recorded more (322.5 mL) in VHC-2 and Godavari Ganga. Due to its superior nut, copra and oil yield, Godavari Ganga and VHC-2 can be recommended for cultivation Andhra Pradesh

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Not AvailableOpisina arenosella Walker or leaf eating caterpillar or the black headed caterpillar, a serious defoliator of coconut palm, is an outbreak pest in Andhra Pradesh. In order to characterize the genetic relationship among the O. arenosella collected from various districts of Andhra Pradesh, 625 bp of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COXI) gene was sequenced for 18 larval samples collected from five districts of Andhra Pradesh. The sequence analysis data revealed that out of 625 sites, 14 sites (2.24 %) were variable (polymorphic) without any insertion or deletion and remaining 611 sites were invariable (monomorphic). Phylogenetic analysis revealed the existence of high genetic diversity among all samples collected from different districts. Eleven haplotypes could be observed among the 18 individuals. The high haplotype diversity and low nucleotide diversity support the high level of genetic diversity among the O. arenosella populations.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe coconut black headed caterpillar Opisina arenosella Walker is a major pest of the coconut and its regular incidence without break under favourable conditions was recorded in coastal Andhra Pradesh from decades and one of the earliest organized attempts for biological control was against this pest in India. Among the important bio agents the most promising bio agents against O. arenosella are larval parasitoids Bracon hebetor, Goniozus nephantidis, pupal parasitoid Brachymeria nosatoi and anthocorid predator Cardiastethus exiguus. Large scale field demonstration of biological control of coconut black headed caterpillar O. arenosella was taken up in the black headed caterpillar affected gardens in eight villages in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh during the severe incidence of this pest from October 2011 – June 2013. A total of 22.60 lakh bio agents were mass multiplied in laboratory and systematically supplied to farmers for stage specific release in the infested gardens. The pre release larval population ranging from 71.9 to 168.9 per 10 leaflets in the affected villages completely decreased after innundative bio agents release in three to six months after release .Not Availabl