Knowledge, attitudes and practices of farmers on rodent pests and their management in the lowlands of the Sierra Madre Biodiversity Corridor, Philippines

A survey of the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of 100 rice farmers and 50 coconut farmers was conducted in the coastal lowland agro-ecosystems of the Sierra Madre Biodiversity Corridor, Luzon, Philippines to identify current rodent management practices and to understand the extent of rat damage and the attitudes of farmers to community actions for rodent management. Pests were most commonly listed as one of the three most important rice and coconut production constraints. Other major crop production constraints were typhoons and insufficient water. Farmers consider rats to be the major pest of coconut and of rice during the wet season rice crop, with average yield losses of 3.0% and 13.2%, respectively. Rice and coconut farmers practised a wide range of rodent management techniques. These included scrub clearance, hunting and trapping. Of the 42 rice farmers and 3 coconut farmers that applied rodenticides to control rodents, all used the acute rodenticide, zinc phosphide. However, only ten rice farmers (23.8%) applied rodenticides prior to the booting stage and only seven farmers (15.6%) conducted pre-baiting before applying zinc phosphide. The majority of farmers belonged to farmer organisations and believed that rat control can only be done by farmers working together. However, during the last cropping season, less than a third of rice farmers (31.2%) applied rodent management as a group. In order to reduce the impact of rodents on the farmers of the coastal lowlands of the Sierra Madre Biodiversity Corridor, integrated management strategies need to be developed that specifically target the pest rodents in a sustainable manner, and community actions for rodent management should be promoted.     

Characterizing the Economic Value and Impacts of Wild Pig Damage on a Rural Economy

Wild pigs are a free-ranging invasive species capable of inflicting significant damage on rural property. Wildlife management personnel may benefit from understanding the negative societal impact of wild pigs. A statewide mail survey of randomly selected landowners was conducted in rural Tennessee counties known to have wild pigs. The economic value of damage caused by wild pigs in 2015 in these counties was estimated at $26.22 million, whereas the cost incurred in control and eradication was $2.09 million. Input-output modeling of damage in these counties on the state’s economy showed $32.8 million in lost industrial output, $4.6 million in lost labor income, and 332 jobs or job equivalents affected. Findings are useful in understanding the types of damage, and the extent of these impacts on the rural economy. They could also facilitate comparing the expected benefit with the cost of control programs in Tennessee and comparable areas facing similar invasions from wild pigs.     

印度加瓦尔喜马拉雅山的亚热带的宽叶榆绿木(Anogeissus latifolia)林恢复状况(英文)

研究了位于印度加瓦尔海平面(950～1100m)上的亚热带森林的再生生长状况。对生长在不同方位(东、西、北、南)研究地的植被进行了定量分析。研究结果表明:宽叶榆绿木(Anogeissus latifolia)的树木、幼树和幼苗层在研究地点的所有方位显生长优势。长叶松(Pinusroxburghii)和毛白杨(Terminalia tomentosa)的树木、小树在研究地点的北部显生长优势。树木层的最高(380株·ha-1)和最低密度(260株·ha-1)分别出现在南坡和北坡。幼树的最高(1790株·ha-1)和最低密度(970株·ha-1)分别出现在东坡和西坡。树木和灌木层的多样性分别为0.846～1.710和1.943-2.847。与其它种的相比较(4%～33%),宽叶榆绿木(Anogeissus latifolia)的相对剪枝强度较高(45%-57%),此种是在北坡中最重要的树种。目前研究表明,如果不合理开采继续进行,宽叶榆绿木(Anogeissus latifolia)就有可能被其他种代替,在树种的成分和森林重建方面会发生剧烈的变化。人类活动的压力,地理方位和土壤营养已引起了树种的成分和森林重建方面的变化。     

Comparative Assessment of Al(III) and Cd(II) Biosorption onto Turbinaria conoides in Single and Binary Systems

The present work investigated the ability of inactive brown seaweed, Turbinaria conoides, to biosorb aluminum(III) and cadmium(II) ions in both single and binary systems. Initial experiments were undertaken to determine the influence of pH and biosorption isotherms of each metallic ion. Owing to the presence of carboxylic groups, T. conoides exhibited high uptake capacity towards Al(III) and Cd(II) through ion-exchange mechanism. In the case of Al(III), T. conoides exhibited maximum biosorption at pH 4 with a capacity of 2.37?mmol/g, whereas the highest Cd(II) biosorption occurred at pH 5 with a capacity of 0.96?mmol/g. For both metal ions, T. conoides exhibited fast kinetics. Several models were used to describe isotherm (Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich-Peterson, and Toth) and kinetic (pseudo-first and pseudo-second order) data. Desorption and reuse of T. conoides biomass in three repeated cycles was successful with 0.1?M HCl as elutant. In binary systems, the presence of Cd(II) severely affected Al(III) uptake by T. conoides. Compared to single-solute systems, Al(III) uptake was reduced to 56% compared to only 27% for Cd(II). Based on the model parameters regressed from the respective monometal systems, multicomponent Langmuir and Freundlich models were used to predict binary (Al + Cd) system of which the multicomponent Freundlich model was able to describe with good accuracy.     

Traditional seed management and genetic diversity in barley varieties in high-hill agro-ecosystems of Nepal

Chawali and Lekali are two common farmer’s barley varieties or landraces in Jumla, Nepal (2,240–3,000 m) with small to bold grains and wide adaptation from irrigated low lands to high hills. This study was undertaken to test whether features of the traditional seed system can significantly influence the diversity of a crop and its conservation on-farm. In Jumla (high-hill), the barley seed system is completely informal and is mainly from farmer to farmer. In the present study, the seed flows and the pattern of genetic diversity in barley were investigated to detect differences between the two varieties and test the divergence among populations of each variety These data suggested that Chawali, the more common variety, was less subject to homogenising gene flow between farms than was Lekali. A total of 128 farming households were surveyed for seed supply information and 128 populations for each landrace from two villages: Kartikswami and Talium were collected for SSR diversity analysis. Some 92 SSRs were screened in an initial sample of 20 barley populations of both landraces and 2 improved varieties (LG-51 and Soluwa). Of the 81 SSRs that consistently amplified, only 15 SSRs (19%) were polymorphic with gene diversity values ranging from 0.09 to 0.71. A medium to low diversity was detected among the landrace populations of barley varieties. Chawali populations were less polymorphic within ecological groups, and more divergent between than were Lekail populations. This result accords with Chawali having a more conservative local seed system.     

Amino acid compositions of different protein fractions in developing grains of NP 113 barley and its high lysine Notch-2 mutant

The percent distributions of protein fractions namely albumin + globulin, prolamine and glutelin were studied in developing grains of NP 113 barley and its high lysine mutant Notch-2. During development the percentage of albumin + globulin fraction decreased in NP 113, while those of prolamine and glutelin remained unchanged. The increase in prolamine was substantial from 24 to 31DAA. In Notch-2 the trend followed by albumin + globulin and prolamine was like that in NP 113, while the glutelin fraction showed an increase as compared to 10 DAA. The percent of albumin + globulin was slightly higher in Notch-2 as compared to NP 113. The absolute amount (mg/grain) of all the protein fractions increased during development in both NP 113 and its mutant Notch-2. During the grain development the prolamine content was substantially lower in the mutant than in the parent NP 113. The albumin + globulin content per endosperm was in general also higher in NP 113 than Notch-2. Amino acid analysis of the protein fractions did not reveal significant changes in lysine between NP 113 and Notch-2. Thus, the improvement in lysine in the mutant is primarily due to reduced synthesis of the prolamine fraction and not due to an increase in lysine in the mutant hordein fraction. Part of the improvemenht in lysine may also be due to increase in the percentage of albumin + globulin fractions which is lysine rich.Part of the Ph.D thesis submitted by S. Joshi to P.G. School, IARI, New Delhi.     

Digestibility of dietary fiber components in vegetarian men

Digestibility of fiber components namely neutral detergent fiber (total content of cellwall) cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin are estimated in 14 healthy vegetarian men during adlibitum feeding and at 3 energy levels namely 2526, 2868 and 3290 kcals/day. Values of digestibility for adlibitum experiments were 34.17±2.3 for neutral detergent fiber (NDF), 30.1±3.9 for cellulose and 53.4±3.0 for hemicellulose and 8.1±2.6 for lignin. There was a considerable variability in digestibility of fiber components between individuals.     

Storage deterioration in gamma-irradiated and unirradiated Indian potato cultivars under refrigeration and tropical temperatures

Summary Experiments with ten potato varieties revealed that soft rot due toErwinia carotovora var.atroseptica is the major factor causing 30 to 70% losses during 2 to 4 months storage at tropical temperatures (27 32 C). Sodium hypochlorite wash or increased ventilation did not reduce the incidence of soft rot. Storage at 10–15 C markedly reduces soft rot but accelerates sprouting. Gamma irradiation at 10 krad completely suppresses sprouting regardless of storage temperature. Storage of irradiated potatoes under tropical temperatures is not feasible due to bacterial spoilage. However irradiated tubers can be stored with reduced losses (7 to 30%) for 5–6 months at 10–15 C. Irradiation also eliminates the egg and early larval stages of the tuber moth,Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), a serious pest of stored potatoes in tropics. Irradiation followed by storage at 10 C thus offer an alternate method for potato storage in tropics.

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Zusammenfassung Eine Reihe von Versuchen mit zehn indischen, im Handel bedeutsamen Kartoffelsorten wurde von 1971 bis 1975 durchgeführt, um die Verluste nach der Ernte zu bestimmen, die auf verschiedene Faktoren w?hrend der Lagerung von gammabestrahlten und unbestrahlten Knollen unter tropischen (28–32 C) und kühlen (4, 10 und 15 C) Bedingungen zurückzuführen sind. Einzelheiten über die Muster im Versuch 1975 sind in Tabelle 1 angegeben. Die Knollen wurden in einem⁶⁰Co-Bestrahlungsger?t bestrahlt und in weitmaschigen Jutes?cken eingelagert. Die Ergebnisse sind in den Tabellen 2 bis 9 und den Abb. 1–3 dargestellt. Bei tropischen Umgebungstemperaturen wurde die Bakterien-Nassf?ule, verursacht durchErwinia carotovora var.atroseptica, als der Hauptfaktor befunden, der bei eingelagerten Produkten im Verlauf von 3 bis 4 Monaten Verluste von 50 bis 70% brachte. Das Waschen der Knollen in Natriumhypochlorit-L?sung (200 mg verfügbares Chlor pro Liter) oder Verbesserung der Lüftung durch Lagerung in Harassen verminderte das Vorkommen von Nassf?ule unter diesen Bedingungen nicht (Tabelle 5). Die mengenm?ssigen Verluste infolge Auskeimens. Ausschwitzens und Veratmung w?hrend der viermonatigen Lagerung bei Umgebungstemperaturen schwankten von 8 bis 13%. Obwohl die Gammabestrahlung bei 10 krad das Auskeimen bei allen Sorten vollst?ndig unterdrückte, ist die Lagerung von bestrahlten Knollen bei tropischen Umgebungstem-peraturen wegen der hohen bakteriellen Verderbnis nicht m?glich. Nassf?ule kann durch Lagerung der Knollen bei 10 oder 15 C bedeutend verringert werden; bei diesen Temperaturen wird jedoch das Auskeimen beschleunigt, die Knollen werden nach 3 Monaten Lagerung schrumpfig und unbrauchbar. Allein das Gewicht der abgenommenen Keime verursacht einen Verlust von 8 bzw. 16% des Anfangsgewichts der Knollen nach 3 bzw. 6 Monaten Lagerung (Tabelle 6). Eine Kombination von Bestrahlung, gefolgt von Lagerung besonders bei 10 C, scheint eine Alternative zu bieten, und die Lagerverluste auf ein Mindestmass herabzusetzen, obwohl die Verluste im allgemeinen gr?sser als die unter der konventionellen Kühllagerung bei 2–4 C beobachteten sind. Je nach Sorte und Jahreszeit schwankten die gesamten mengenm?ssigen Verluste bei bestrahlten Knollen w?hrend sechsmonatiger Lagerung bei 10 oder 15 C zwischen 7 und 30% gegenüber 5 bis 18% bei unbestrahlten Knollen und 2–4 C Lagertemperatur. Verwendung von Sorten mit besseren Lagerungseigenschaften und Auswahl gut verkorkter und gesunder Knollen für die Bestrahlung kann die Lagerverluste bei 10 bis 15 C weiter verringern. Bestrahlung bei 10 krad eliminierte auch die Eier und frühen Larvenstadien der KartoffelmottePhthorimaea operculella Zel., die eine der zerst?rerischten Sch?dlinge bei eingelagerten Kartoffeln in den Tropen ist (Abb. 1).

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Résumé Une série d'essais portant sur dix variétés commer-cialement importantes, cultivées en Inde, a été réalisée de 1971 à 1975, pour évaluer, après la récolte, les pertes provoquées par différents facteurs pendant la conservation de tubercules irradiés et non irradiés et placés dans une ambiance tropicale (28–32 C) ou réfrigèrée (4, 10 et 15 C). Le détail des échantillons étudiés en 1975 est donné dans le tableau 1. Les tubercules ont été traités au Cobalt 60 et stockés dans des sacs de jute à grandes mailles. Les résultats sont présentés aux tableau 2 à 9 et figures 1–3. Dans une ambiance tropicale, la pourriture bacté-rienne provoquee parErwinia carotovora var.atroseptica est principalement responsable de 50 à 70% des pertes au cours de 3 à 4 moins de stockage. Le lavage des tubercules dans une solution d'hypochlorite de sodium (200 mg litre de chlore libre) ou l'amélioration de la ventilation en conservant dans des caisses de bois à claire-voie ne réduit pas l'importance de la pourriture sous ces conditions (tableau 5). Les pertes de poids provoquées par la germination, la transpiration et la respiration pendant 4 mois de conservation à température ambiante se situent entre 8 et 13%. Bien que l'irradiation gamma à 10 krad supprime totalement la germination de toutes les variétés, la conservation des tubercules irradiés dans une ambiance tropicale est irréalisable en raison des pertes élevées d'origine bactérienne. La pourriture humide peut être fortement réduite par une conservation à 10 ou 15 C. Cependant, à ces températures, la germination est accélérée, les tubercules se rident et sont inutilisables après 3 mois de stockage, les pertes de poids dues à la germination représentant 8 à 16% après respectivement 3 et 6 mois de conservation (tableau 6). La combinaison de l'irradiation et d'un stockage à 10 C permet de minimiser les pertes bien qu'en général, elles soient plus élevées que celles observées à 2–4 C. Suivant la variété, la saison, les tubercules irradiés perdent en 6 mois de conservation, à 10 ou 15 C, 7 à 30% de leur poids contre 5 à 18% pour les tubercules non irradiés stockés à 2·4 C. L'utilisation, pour l'irradiation, de variétés de bonne conservation choisies parmi celles dont les tubercules se cicatrisent bien, permet à 10 15 C, de réduire les pertes. L'irradiation à 10 krad élimine également les ocufs et les larves précoces de teignePhthorimaea operculella (Zeller) qui est un des insectes qui provoque le plus de dégats dans les stockages de pommes de terre sous les tropiques.

     

Combining superior agronomic performance and terminal heat tolerance with resistance to spot blotch (Bipolaris sorokiniana) of wheat in the warm humid Gangetic Plains of South Asia

Seven hundred twenty-nine lines of diverse wheat germplasm lines were evaluated in eight locations of three countries (India, Nepal and Bangladesh) of South Asia for 5 years (1999–2000 to 2003–2004) through Eastern Gangetic Plains Screening Nursery (EGPSN) organized by CIMMYT South Asia, Nepal, for agronomic performance and tolerance to spot blotch of wheat. Each year, the number of lines represented a new set of 150 lines that included six common checks and a different local check at each of the eight locations. One hundred and five lines, 21 in each year, advanced from EGPSN were also tested for 5 years (2000–2001 to 2004–2005) in five locations of South Asia through Eastern Gangetic Plains Yield Trials (EGPYT) to verify spot blotch tolerance and superior yield performance of the selected germplasm. Many lines yielded significantly more than the best check and possessed high levels of spot blotch resistance under warm humid environments of South Asia. The most promising 25 lines have been listed as sources of strong resistance, with 9 lines better yielding than the best resistant check PBW 343 in fewer days to maturity. Most of these superior lines represented elite CIMMYT germplasm and around half were derived from Kauz and Veery. The line EGPYT 67, Kauz//Kauz/Star/3/Prinia/4/Milan/Kauz, was the best for spot blotch resistance, yield, days to maturity, and 1000 grain weight (TKW). The next two lines in the order of merit were EGPYT 84 (Mrng/Buc//Blo/Pvn/3/Pjb 81) and EGPYT 69 (Chirya3/Pastor). The results demonstrate that additional spot blotch resistant wheat genotypes with high grain yield and TKW, and early maturity, have become available as a result of the regional and international collaboration in South Asia.     

Harnessing Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria Beyond Nature: A Review

Root-associated plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) interact with the plant roots and influence plant health and soil fertility. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria play an important role in plant growth by exerting various mechanisms such as biological nitrogen fixation, growth hormone production, phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, hydrolytic enzyme production, antagonistic activity against fungal pathogens etc. Hence, these are employed as inoculants for biofertilizer and biocontrol activities. This review summarizes various mechanisms of PGPR and their potential for use as inoculants. It shows that their use is a worthwhile approach for exploring disease management in conjunction with other strategies.