Direct and indirect influences of intercrops on the coconut defoliator Opisina arenosella

Coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) infestation by Opisina arenosella (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) in the Indian sub-continent may occur in November to May each year in the same or adjoining areas of plantations. Parasitoids of O. arenosella may also be consistently present at these times. During other periods, pests and/or parasitoids could be maintained on intercrops that are commonly grown throughout the year. Field surveys of 54 intercrop species in Kerala, India, found that O. arenosella attacks banana, but not others, while laboratory screening showed that O. arenosella can mature on jack fruit, cashew and oil palm. Larvae of 20 lepidopteran species found on intercrops were screened for use by Goniozus nephantidis (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), a larval parasitoid of O. arenosella, which oviposited on two species but its offspring failed to mature. Thirteen intercrop herbivore species were screened for use by Brachymeria nosatoi (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae), a pupal parasitoid of O. arenosella, which completed development on the pyralids Herculia nigrivita, Syllepte derogata and Psara basalis. Further, connectance trophic webs were compiled using prior field records of coconut, 33 species of intercrops, 58 species of lepidopteran herbivores and 29 species of primary parasitoids. Both laboratory and literature evidence suggests that populations of O. arenosella are unlikely to be maintained by feeding on intercrops or strongly influenced by direct competition with other lepidopterans but are likely to be affected by sharing parasitoids. Intercrop herbivores have clear potential for maintaining parasitoids of O. arenosella and we recommend thirteen plant species as intercrops that should aid in conservation biocontrol

First report of two chalcidoids parasitizing arecanut inflorescence caterpillar, Tirathaba mundella Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) from Karnataka, India

First report of two chalcidoids parasitizing arecanut inflorescence caterpillar, Tirathaba mundella Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) from Karnataka, Indi

Conservation of biological control and bioscavenging: in Rugose Spiralling Whitefly management in coconut

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Human protein reference database—2006 update

Human Protein Reference Database (HPRD) () was developed to serve as a comprehensive collection of protein features, post-translational modifications (PTMs) and protein–protein interactions. Since the original report, this database has increased to >20 000 proteins entries and has become the largest database for literature-derived protein–protein interactions (>30 000) and PTMs (>8000) for human proteins. We have also introduced several new features in HPRD including: (i) protein isoforms, (ii) enhanced search options, (iii) linking of pathway annotations and (iv) integration of a novel browser, GenProt Viewer (), developed by us that allows integration of genomic and proteomic information. With the continued support and active participation by the biomedical community, we expect HPRD to become a unique source of curated information for the human proteome and spur biomedical discoveries based on integration of genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic data

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Sita and Surpanakha : blurring the distinction between good and evil women in Valmiki’s Ramayana

While a superficial understanding of the female characters in the Ramayana enables us to classify them neatly into good or evil categories, a deeper study of them show that many similarities exist between the good and evil characters, and especially so in the comparison of Sita and Surpanakha. As Paula Richman keenly observed, “both women loved Rama but were rejected and mistreated by him; he ordered Surpanakha mutilated and Sita banished”. The inherent similarities that exist between Sita and Surpanakha, and even amongst other female characters prove that the Ramayana presents itself as a pre-modern gynophobic text, and whether the women are archetypally good or evil, a sense of fear and distrust towards them exists nevertheless. In this paper, I argue that Sita and Surpanakha, characters who despite being portrayed as foils, turn out to mirror more so than oppose each other, and through them, the text holds a certain anxiety about women and what they represent. This is largely signified through Rama’s treatment of women throughout the epic and Sita’s similarities with the other archetypally evil women in the text, suggesting perhaps the text’s pre-modern gynophobia of all women, whether categorised as evil or good.Bachelor of Art

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Not AvailableFarmer field schools is one the extension methods, which is field based group method, where learning attains prime importance. Many of the coconut technologies, especially plant protection aspects are knowledge intensive and experiential learning opportunities could provide sustainable skills to the FFS participants. The study was conducted on the FFS programme organized during the period 2013 to 2015 in Kerala state. It was found that the mean average knowledge index of the FFS farmers (51.31) was 65 per cent more than the non-FFS farmers (31.10). The difference in knowledge level of farmers of both gender was non significant indicating effectiveness of FFS methodology in improving knowledge regardless of the gender. The study also indicated non significant difference among FFS and Non FFS men and women farmers on all the knowledge items and a significant difference between FFS and Non FFS farmers of both the gender. Hence the gender aggregated knowledge index before and after the FFS indicated that FFS methodology is effective as an extension methodology for improvement of knowledge among both gender.Not Availabl

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