Biopesticide treated double layered bags: novel method of application of botanicals for Sitophilus oryzae L. management in stored maize

This study was conducted in order to evaluate the efficacy of the novel method of application of leaf powder of Tinospora cordifolia as water-based paste between the layers of double layered storage bags and acetonic leaf extracts on single layered bags against Sitophilus oryzae to protect stored maize for a period of five months. Untre-ated double and single layered bags were set as controls. After 5 months of storage, the weevil population builds up, percent grain damage, and percent weight loss was significanly lower in T. cordifolia treated double layered bags @ 2.0% w/w. However, untreated single layered bags recorded high population build up and maximum percent grain weight loss. The present work suggests that T. cordifolia treated double bags provide better protection to maize from S. oryzae infestation up to five months and can be readily used as an alternative to synthetic pestici-des at the farm level

Role of soluble, cell wall bound phenolics, tannin and flavonoid contents in maize resistance to pink stem borer Sesamia inferens Walker

The pink stem borer Sesamia inferens Walker is an important pest of winter maize which causes significant yieldlosses. In an attempt to identify the biochemical basis of resistance against S. inferens, total soluble phenolics, boundphenolics, cell wall-bound hydroxycinnamic acids-p-coumaric acid (p-CA), ferulic acid (FA), total tannin contentand total flavonoid contents, were measured in leaf at 10, 20 days after germination (DAG); stem at 20, 40 DAG;pith and rind tissues at 60 DAG (stem differentiated). From the present study, it was found that bound phenolics,p-CA, ferulic acid and total tannin contents contribute to the maize defense mechanism against S. inferens. Totalbound phenolic content showed negative correlation with Leaf Injury Rating (LIR). Highly significant strong positivecorrelation (+0.9750) was observed between LIR and total soluble phenolics in leaf tissue at 20 DAG. Similarlyhighly significant strong positive correlation between LIR and total tannins (+0.9354**) and flavonoids (+0.9582**)in pith at 60 DAG was observed. Further, a strong significant positive correlation was also observed between LIRand p-CA (+0.9199*) in pith at 60 DAG and total ferulic acid (+0.9051*) in rind at 60 DAG. The significant strong negativecorrelation between LIR and p-CA (-0.8441*) in stem at 40 DAG was observed. The total bound phenolicsin rind at 60 DAG (0.756), in leaf at 20 DAG (0.681), and total soluble phenolics in the stem at 20 DAG (0.685) showedhigher loadings with PC1, PC2, and PC3, respectively. Genotype-by-biochemical factor biplot showed that thedata of biochemical parameters measured in different tissues and stages could be able to group the genotypesaccording to their reaction to S. inferens

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Not AvailableGlobally, maize is an important cereal food crop with the highest production and productivity. Among the biotic constraints that limit the productivity of maize, the recent invasion of fall armyworm (FAW) in India is a concern. The first line of strategy available for FAW management is to evaluate and exploit resistant genotypes for inclusion in an IPM schedule. Screening for resistant maize genotypes against FAW is in its infancy in India, considering its recent occurrence in the country. The present work attempts to optimize screening techniques suited to Indian conditions, which involve the description of leaf damage rating (LDR) by comparing injury levels among maize genotypes and to validate the result obtained from the optimized screening technique by identification of lines potentially resistant to FAW under artificial infestation. Exposure to 20 neonate FAW larvae at the V 5 phenological stage coupled with the adoption of LDR on a 1–9 scale aided in preliminary characterize maize rize maize genotypes as potentially resistant, moderately resistant, and susceptible. The LDR varies with genotype, neonate counts, and days after infestation. The genotypes, viz., DMRE 63, DML-163-1, CML 71, CML 141, CML 337, CML 346, and wild ancestor Zea mays ssp. parviglumis recorded lower LDR ratings against FAW and can be exploited for resistance breeding in maize.ICAR-NAS

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Not AvailableGrains of eleven maize genotypes were evaluated for their comparative resistance to rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella (Oliv.) by ‘No choice’ method under laboratory conditions (28±2°C and 60±5% RH). Progeny of emerging adults, seed damage, weight loss of grain and susceptibility index were taken as parameters for this study. The results indicated that adult progeny of S. oryzae, seed damage and weight loss of grain were low in Shaktiman1 (41, 12% and 0.29%) and RHM 2 (40, 17.00% and 0.73%), respectively. High number of S. oryzae adults were developed in PEEHM 5 (228.00) followed by Shaktiman 2 (85.00) and incurred highest weight loss of grains. The same genotypes were screened against S.cerealella resulting highest moth emergence in VH 9 (63.00) followed by PEEHM 5 (58.50). Consequently the per cent seed damage and weight loss was high in PEEHM 5 (63.15, 14.27) and VH 9 (48.27, 10.13) while it was low in VH 4 (4.28, 2.74) followed by VH 5 (6.70, 2.86), respectively. The moderately susceptible genotypes were found to be Shaktiman 1 to S. oryzae while VH 4 and VH 5 to S. cerealella. However, none of the genotypes were found to be least susceptible to S. oryzae and S. cerealella. The correlation between adult progeny, seed damage, grain weight loss and susceptibility index with both species was significant and positive.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableA study was conducted with the objective of assessing the comparative grain damage and weight loss in maize due to infestation by varying population densities of Sitophilus oryzae (5, 10, 50 and 100 adults/ 500 g maize grain) and Sitotroga cerealella (50, 100, 150, 200 eggs/ 200 g maize grain) over a four month storage period. Significant differences were observed between initial and final insect densities of S. oryzae and S. cerealella. The maximum per cent grain damage (53.30, 59.78) and weight loss (14.0, 4.9) was recorded at an initial population density of 100 adults and 200 eggs of S. oryzae and S. cerealella, respectively. The final insect population and weight loss due to S. oryzae exceeded that of S. cerealella whereas grain damage was high in S. cerealella infested maize at 120 days after storage. The Pearson correlation coefficient was positive and highly significant between infestation levels and progeny emerged (r = 0.82, r = 0.99), infestation levels and grain damage (r = 0.89 r = 0.95), infestation levels and grain weight loss (r = 0.93, r = 0.94) for S. oryzae and S. cerealella, respectively.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe present study was carried out to examine physical and bio chemical changes in the maize hybrids infested by rice weevil population after three months storage period. VH5 was most susceptible incurring 25.10 % weight loss while Shaktiman1 and RHM2 were moderately susceptible with minimum weight losses of 8.45%, 10.26 %, respectively. Carbohydrate and oil contents decreased after the infestation of Sitophilus oryzae while protein content increased irrespective of maize hybrids. Maximum depletion and changes in nutritional composition was observed in case of VH5. Correlation analysis between the progeny emerged and the starch content of the maize kernels showed positive association (0.5993) while it was negative with protein ( -0.4615) and oil content (-0.8789).Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe insecticidal property of acetonic extracts of Vitex negundo (Five leaved chaste tree:Verbenaceae), Adathoda vasica (Malabarnut tree: Acanthaceae), Catharanthus roseus (Periwinkle:Apocynaceae) and Lantana camera (Wild sage:Verbenaceae) @ 1% and 2% w/w was evaluated against Sitotroga cerealella (Oliv.) in stored maize grain. Among them A.vasica, C.roseus and V. negundo has proved to have high efficacy for reducing the adult emergence, grain damage and grain weight loss while the acetonic extracts of L.camera showed moderate effect compared to control. The per cent grain damage and weight loss showed positive correlation with number of moths emerged.Not Availabl

Coccygidium transcaspicum (Kokujev) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitizing larvae of invasive pest Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in India

Gupta, Ankita, Soujanya, P. Lakshmi, Achterberg, Cornelis Van, Sekhar, J.C. (2020): Coccygidium transcaspicum (Kokujev) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitizing larvae of invasive pest Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in India. Zootaxa 4750 (2): 293-297, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4750.2.1

Coccygidium transcaspicum

<i>Coccygidium transcaspicum</i> (Kokujev, 1902) (Figs 1 & 2) <p> <i>Phanerotoma transcaspica</i> Kokujev, 1902</p> <p> <i>Zelemorpha transcaspica</i> (Kokujev, 1902); = <i>Z. opaca</i> (Shestakov, 1928): van Achterberg & Maetô 1990.</p> <p> <b>Material examined:</b> 3 ♀, 3 ♂, INDIA: Telangana: Hyderabad, 18.ix.2019, 17.325429”N 78.397010”E, ex larva of <i>Spodop-</i> <i>tera</i> <i>frugiperda</i> (J. E. Smith), coll. P. Lakshmi Soujanya, specimen code: ICAR / NBAIR /Brac/Microg/Coccy/18919.</p> <p>Female. Body length 8.6 mm, fore wing length 7.3 mm.</p> <p>Colour. Body yellowish brown; antenna dark brown, scape yellowish brown, darker on the margins and dorsally; hind leg largely brown, darker than fore and mid leg; hind femur entirely yellowish brown; apex of hind tibia rather brown but not well differentiated from remainder of tibia.</p> <p>Head. Frons punctate, smooth medially. Vertex smooth and shiny with very shallow punctations, stemmaticum me- dially brownish. Mandible with inner tooth minute, much shorter that outer tooth. OOL 0.8–0.9 × diameter of posterior ocellus and POL 1.0–1.3 × diameter of posterior ocellus; vein 1-M of fore wing gradually bent; height of eye 3.9–6.7 × as long as malar space in lateral view; malar space 0.9–1.1 × basal width of the mandible; basal cell near vein 1-M of fore wing sparsely setose; widened submedially and ca. 4.0 × as long as maximum width.</p> <p>Mesosoma. mesoscutum punctate and shiny, notauli coarsely crenulate. Hind femur ca. 3.4 × longer than its maxi- mum width; hind tibia comparatively robust and distinctly widened apically, l.1 × longer than hind femur. Fore and mid tibial spur 1.1 × longer than respective basitarsus. Hind basitarsus 1.4 × longer than inner tibial spur. Propodeum with median areola divided into three parts by two transverse tergites.</p> <p>Metasoma. Oval, tergites smooth and shiny. First tergite widening apically. Second tergite as long as wide or slightly longer. Ovipositor protruding, exerted part 1.4 mm.</p> <p>Male. Similar to female except for few variations. Body length 7.3 mm in habitus (lateral view), length of fore wing 5.9 mm. OOL 1.2 × diameter of posterior ocellus and POL 1.4 × diameter of posterior ocellus. Hind femur 3.5 × longer than its maximum width, hind tibia l.2 × longer than hind femur. Hind basitarsus 1.4 × longer than inner tibial spur.</p> <p> <b>Comments:</b> <i>Coccygidium transcaspicum</i> can be easily confused with <i>C. melleum</i> (Roman, 1910); the latter is known from the Afrotropical region (incl. Yemen), UAE, and possibly Israel. <i>Coccygidium melleum</i> differs in the following char- acters of <i>C. transcaspicum</i>: malar space ca. 0.8 × basal width of mandible; POL of ♀ 0.4–0.8 × (OOL of ♀ 0.4–0.7 times) diameter of posterior ocellus (of ♂ about 0.9 ×); hind femur parallel-sided and ca. 4.6× as long as maximum width.</p>Published as part of <i>Gupta, Ankita, Soujanya, P. Lakshmi, Achterberg, Cornelis Van & Sekhar, J. C., 2020, Coccygidium transcaspicum (Kokujev) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitizing larvae of invasive pest Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in India, pp. 293-297 in Zootaxa 4750 (2)</i> on page 296, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4750.2.13, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/3707321">http://zenodo.org/record/3707321</a&gt

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Not AvailableThe parasitoid Coccygidium transcaspicum (Kokujev) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Agathidinae) was reared from fall armyworm or Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in maize fields in South India (Telangana) during 2019. It is the first report of a host for C. transcaspicum and the first report of C. transcaspicum as a parasitoid of S. frugiperda across the globe. The present study contains the first report from India and the Oriental region, provides morphological identification details of C. transcaspicum and comparison notes from its closely allied species C. melleum (Roman) which is basically an Afrotropical species.Not Availabl