Water Quality Assessment of a Tropical Wetland Ecosystem with Special Reference to Backwater Tourism, Kerala, South India

Abstract Wetland ecosystems are estimated to cover more tha

Molecular detection of Hepatozoon spp. in domestic cats of Kerala

Vector-borne diseases are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in domestic cat population and hepatozoonosis is one such infection. Incidence of hepatozoonosis has been described in a variety of animal species but information on cats is scarce. To investigate the occurrence of this pathogen in domestic cats, blood samples were collected from domestic cats from three districts of Kerala (Thrissur, Kannur and Wayanad). Field-stained blood smears were examined to detect the presence of gamonts of Hepatozoon spp. and the samples were subjected to molecular analysis by PCR amplification. Out of 122 blood samples screened, none of the sample revealed the presence of gamonts of Hepatozoon on microscopic examination. Polymerase chain reaction targeting 18S rRNA gene of Hepatozoon spp. demonstrated seven positive cases with a prevalence of 5.74 per cent. Results of this study indicate that hepatozoonosis is established within the domestic cats in Kerala and warrant the adoption of control measures

Effect of biocontrol agents on production of rooted back pepper cutting by serpentine method

Not AvailableAvailability of disease free quality planting material is a major limiting factor in black pepper cultivation. In order to meet the increasing demand and also to create awareness on good agricultural practices for healthy disease free planting material production to farmers, a nursery experiment was started with improved varieties of black pepper by adopting a non-chemical bio- intensive management strategy. Here solarization of potting mixture was the main concern followed my amending the solarized potting mixture with potential bioagents. The experiment was designed in a two factor CRD with four improved varieties and five treatments. Each treatment contains a combination of two bioagents with antifungal and nematicidal properties respectively. The common recommended fungicide Metalaxyl-Mancozeb (0.125%) and nematicide carbsosulfan (0.1%) was used as control. The treatments were incorporated individually into solarized potting mixture and planted with improved varieties used viz., IISR Girimunda, IISR Malabar Excel, IISR Shakti and IISR Thevam, The plants in each treatment were kept for multiplication by serpentine method with proper irrigation and phytosanitation. The results of plant growth and establishment in different treatments, showed that fortification of solarized potting mixture with Trichoderma harzianum + Pochonia chlamydosporia combination or combination of Streptomyces strains (Act 2+9) are significantly superior (35.46% and 21% respectively) for the production of healthy rooted planting material. IISR Malabar Excel and IISR Thevam produced the maximum number of plants from a single node cutting in treatment with T. harzianum + P. chlamydosporia (T1) (59 nos. and 51 nos. respectively) followed by IISR Malabar Excel with Act 2+9 and Act 5+9 (45 nos. each). So an average of 6-7 plants/month/cutting was produced in the potential treatment while it was only 3-4 plants in control. The advantage of the method is that, after solarization and fortification with respective bioagents, there is no need for further application of any fungicides, insecticides or any other nutrient spray as usually done. Thus the method of soil solarization followed by fortification of either with T. harzianum+ P. chlamydosporia or combination of Streptomyces strains viz., Ketasatospora setae (Act 2) and S. tauricus (Act9) is found suitable for the production of healthy quality planting material of high yielding varieties to meet the increasing demand of planting material with a C:B ratio of 1:2.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableBacterial wilt (BW) incited by Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum (Rps), is one among the most economically important and devastating disease prevalent in all the ginger growing countries. Several strategies encompassing cultural, physical and chemical means have been reported to manage bacterial wilt but with limited success. In the present study, a technology integrating physical (soil solarization), chemical (soil amelioration with calcium chloride) and biological (ginger apoplastic bacterium - Bacillus licheniformis) methods has been developed to manage BW efficiently, economically and eco-friendly. The results indicated that, CaCl2 (2 to 4%) is inhibitory to R. pseudosolanacearum under in vitro conditions. In planta evaluation under challenge inoculation showed 71%, 98% and 100% reduction in BW with B. licheniformis, 3% and 4% CaCl2, respectively. Subsequent field evaluation involving soil solarization followed by soil amelioration with CaCl2 or with B. licheniformis resulted in significant reduction in the population of R. pseudosolanacearum from 108 to 103. Further field evaluation in farmer’s plot in BW endemic regions also resulted in 100% disease suppression adopting the technology. The results emanated from the present study indicated that the technology developed which includes soil solarization along with soil amelioration with either CaCl2 3% or B. licheniformis would serve as a viable and effective integrated strategy for the management of BW in ginger.Not Availabl