Innovative Methods of Mosquito Management

As the global human and animal population increases, deadly pathogens and parasites may be transmitted by arthropods. There are a number of vectors that pose a threat to human health due to their role in transmitting dangerous pathogens, including mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae). The most important drawback of these products is the incidence of insecticide resistance, which has increased rapidly in recent years. New approaches and vector-control tools targeting aquatic stages and adults are urgently needed. The three main mosquito genera, Anopheles, Aedes, and Culex, transmit the causative agents of numerous important diseases to humans as well as animals. A technique that involves the use of genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes for the purpose of vector control is another potential option. Other best ways to control the mosquito are by chemical, biological and genetic means

Entomopathogenic nematodes for the control of oriental fruit fly Bacterocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Background: Fruit fly species are most damaging pests around the globe which reduced the commercial value of fruits at maturity. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) from genera Heterorhabditis and Steinernema cause death by inducing septicimia in insect pests in the soil, moreover, endemic nearly all soils. Current study was planned to manage the oriental fruit fly, Bacterocera dorsalis (Hendel.) (Diptera: Tephritidae) hazards by using indigenous EPNs (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, H. indica, Steinernema asiticum, S. corpocapsae and S. glasseri) as they have host finding ability and recognise as potential eco-friendly biocontrol agent over synthetic chemicals. Methods: Study for the assessment of EPNs concentrations, various temperatures, soil type and soil moisture levels against mortality (%) of fruit fly (B. dorsalis) larvae was conducted in completely randomized design (CRD) under factorial arrangements. Results: EPNs concentrations (70 IJs/ml, 110 IJs/ml, 150 IJs/ml) showed that S. asiaticum (150 IJs/ml) showed maximum mortality (94.97 %) of B. dorsalis as compared to other used EPNs along with their respective concentrations. Impact of various temperatures (20 °C, 24 °C, 28 °C, 32 °C, 36 °C) with respect to used EPNs exhibited that H. indica (36 °C) showed maximum mortality (94.33 %) of B. dorsalis as compared to all other treatment. Various soil types (Sandy, Sandy loam, Loam, Clay) impacted the infectivity of EPNs against fruit fly, In case of sandy loam soil, S. asiaticum showed maximum mortality (98.05 %) of B. dorsalis followed by all used treatments. Soil moisture level (12 %, 18 %, 24 %, 30 %) also significantly influenced the infectivity of EPNs against mortality of fruit fly. In case of 12% moisture level, S. asiaticum showed maximum mortality (99.06 %) of B. dorsalis over all the applied treatments along with respective moisture levels. Conclusion: In crux, Steinernema asiaticum higher concentration exhibited efficient control of fruit fly larvae in sandy loam soil with 12 % moisture level at 36 °C over the used EPN species. While application of EPNs against fruit fly is most suitable strategy to manage the fruit fly hazards and it should be included as a part of integrated pest management control programme

Sorghum Allelopathy: Alternative Weed Management Strategy and Its Impact on Mung Bean Productivity and Soil Rhizosphere Properties

The reduction of herbicide use and herbicide-resistant weeds through allelopathy can be a sustainable strategy to combat the concerns of environmental degradation. Allelopathic crop residues carry great potential both as weed suppressers and soil quality enhancers. The influence of sorghum crop residues and water extracts on the weed population, soil enzyme activities, the microbial community, and mung bean crop productivity was investigated in a two-year experiment at the Student Research Farm, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. The experimental treatments comprised two levels of sorghum water extract (10 and 20 L ha−1) and two residue application rates (4 and 6 t ha−1), and no sorghum water extract and residues were used as the control. The results indicated that the incorporation of sorghum water extract and residue resulted in significant changes in weed dynamics and the soil quality indices. Significant reduction in weed density (62%) and in the dry weight of weeds (65%) was observed in T5. After the harvest, better soil quality indices in terms of the microbial population (72–90%) and microbial activity (32–50%) were observed in the rhizosphere (0–15 cm) by the same treatment. After cropping, improved soil properties in terms of available potassium, available phosphorus soil organic matter, and total nitrogen were higher after the treatment of residue was incorporated, i.e., 52–65%, 29–45%, 62–84%, and 59–91%, respectively. In the case of soil enzymes, alkaline phosphatase and dehydrogenase levels in the soil were 35–41% and 52–77% higher, respectively. However, residue incorporation at 6 t ha−1 had the greatest effect in improving the soil quality indices, mung bean productivity, and reduction of weed density. In conclusion, the incorporation of 6 t ha−1 sorghum residues may be opted to improve soil quality indices, suppress weeds, harvest a better seed yield (37%), and achieve higher profitability (306 $ ha−1) by weed suppression, yield, and rhizospheric properties of spring-planted mung beans. This strategy can provide a probable substitute for instigating sustainable weed control and significant improvement of soil properties in the mung bean crop, which can be a part of eco-friendly and sustainable agriculture