Uromyces umiamensi s, a new rust species on Momordica cochinchinensis in India

Uromyces umiamensis is described as a new rust fungus (Basidiomycota, Uredinales) of Momordica cochinchinensis (Cucurbitaceae) from Meghalaya, in northeastern India. The species differs from the known Uromyces species on members of Cucurbitaceae in terms of the character of the teliospores and aeciospores and its apparently demicyclic life cycle. Besides U. yakushimensis and the present species, all Uromyces species known from cucurbits occur in the New World. A key to known Uromyces species on Cucurbitaceae is provide

An integrated organic farming system: innovations for farm diversification, sustainability, and livelihood improvement of hill farmers

IntroductionOrganic farming is a promising solution for mitigating environmental burdens related to input-intensive agricultural practices. The major challenge in organic agriculture is the non-availability of large quantities of organic inputs required for crop nutrition and sustaining soil health, which can be resolved by efficient recycling of the available on- and off-farm resources and the integration of the components as per the specific locations.MethodsAn integrated organic farming system (IOFS) model comprising agricultural and horticultural crops, rainwater harvesting units, livestock components, and provisions for nutrient recycling was developed and disseminated in the adopted organic villages Mynsain, Pynthor, and Umden Umbathiang in the Ri-Bhoi District, Meghalaya, India, to improve the income and livelihood of farmers. Harvested rainwater in farm ponds and Jalkunds was used for live-saving irrigation in the winter months and diversified homestead farming activities, such as growing high-value crops and rearing cattle, pigs, and poultry.ResultsMaize, french bean, potato, ginger, tomato, carrot, and chili yields in the IOFS model increased by 20%−30%, 40%−45%, 25%−30%, 33%−40%, 45%−50%, 37%−50%, and 27%−30%, respectively, compared with traditional practices. Some farmers produced vermicompost in vermibeds (made of high-density polyethylene) and cement brick chambers, generating 0.4−1.25 tons per annum. Two individual farmers, Mr. Jrill Makroh and Mrs. Skola Kurbah obtained net returns (without premium price) of Rs. 46,695 ± 418 and Rs. 31,102 ± 501 from their respective 0.27- and 0.21-ha IOFS models, which is equivalent to Rs. 172,944 ± 1,548/ha/year and Rs. 148,105 ± 2,385/ha/year, respectively. The net returns obtained from the IOFS models were significantly higher than those obtained from the farmers' practice of maize-fallow or cultivation of maize followed by vegetable (~30% of the areas). It is expected that, with the certification of organic products, the income and livelihood of the farmers will improve further over the years. While Mr. Jrill Makroh's model supplied 95.1%, 82.0%, and 96.0% of the total N, P2O5, and K2O, respectively, needed by the system, Mrs. Skola Kurbah's model supplied 76.0%, 68.6%, and 85.5% of the total N, P2O5, and K2O, respectively.DiscussionThus, IOFS models should be promoted among hill farmers so that they can efficiently recycle farm resources and increase their productivity, net returns, and livelihood while reducing their dependence on external farm inputs

Uromyces umiamensis, a new rust species on Momordica cochinchinensis in India

ISSN:1617-416XISSN:1861-895

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Not AvailableEggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is an important solanaceous vegetable crop grown worldwide over tropics and subtropics. Bacterial wilt (caused by Ralstonia solanacearum) is one of the most serious diseases of the crop, especially in the humid tropics. The present investigation was carried out using 26 accessions of eggplant including wild relatives aiming to identify stable genotypes of eggplant with tolerant to bacterial wilt. The accessions were characterised using 40 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Thirty-four markers were found polymorphic and produced 136 alleles with an average of four alleles per marker. All the markers have shown amplification across accessions of eggplant-related species. Markers EES- 050, EES-065, and EES-066 were highly informative. Among the species, scarlet eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum var.gilo) was found to be the closest to S.melongena. Markers, EES- 031 and EES-051, were specific to the accessions with tolerance to bacterial wilt. Based on the three-year evaluations, the disease incidence (DI) ranged from 1.27% (S.torvum) to 72.85% (S. melongena var. Kasi Taru). The AMMI and GGE biplot analyses have shown the significant contribution of genotype variation over the environment and interaction. The local eggplant accessions (Bhola Nath, RCMB-10, Singh Nath and RCMBL-1) were found highly stable for yield with lowest wilt incidences when compared to other Indian accessions. The results suggested the incorporation of local accessions/landraces into the eggplant breeding programmes aiming to develop stable cultivars with improved yield and resistant to bacterial wilt.Not Availabl