Insect Diseases Research Articles

African Horned Melon (Cucumis metuliferus): Climate‐Resilient Crop and Gene Donor in the Breeding of Major Cucurbits

ABSTRACTAfrican horned melon (Cucumis metuliferus E. Meyer ex Naudin, 2n = 2x = 24) is an under‐researched and under‐utilised cucurbit crop primarily grown for its nutritious fruit. In its centre of diversity, the crop is valued for its relatively high tolerance to insect pests, diseases, drought and heat stress. It is a potential opportunity crop and a valuable source of genes to major Cucumis species, including cucumber (Cucumis sativas L.) and melon (C. melo L.). Its climate resilience and nutrient‐rich fruit provide niche market opportunities. Hence, production and value‐adding will make African horned melon a crop of choice globally. There is a need for an in‐depth investigation into the genetic diversity, breeding and food composition of the crop. Therefore, the objective of this review was to provide perspectives on the production and breeding status of African horned melon to appraise its genetic value for human welfare, strategic production, genetic conservation and breeding of market‐preferred varieties, including closely related Cucumis species. The first section described the botany, production status, germplasm resources and characterisation based on phenotypic and genetic markers. This is followed by breeding progress for biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, utilities and challenges of gene transfer and potential rootstock to Cucumis species, especially cucumber and melon. The review summarised the main breeding goals and approaches, including mutation breeding to fast‐track the development of new varieties. Information presented in the review will guide cultivar design in African horned melon or related cucurbits, aiming for superior agronomic and nutritional quality traits and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses.

Bioaccumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and microbiota dynamics across developmental stages of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus exposed to urban pollutants

Aedes albopictus mosquitoes face numerous anthropic stressors in urban areas. These xenobiotics not only impact mosquito physiology but also shape the composition of their microbiota, which play important roles in host physiological traits. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants known to alter mosquito metabolism, but no studies have yet investigated their impact on microbiota. Using a bespoke indoor mesocosm tailored for Ae. albopictus mosquitoes, we investigated the dynamics of bacterial communities in both mosquitoes and their larval breeding sites following chronic exposure to a cocktail of PAHs consisting of benzo[a]pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, chrysene and benzo[b]fluoranthene. Our findings showed that PAHs have a stage-specific effect on mosquito microbiota, with a higher impact in larvae than in adults, contributing to 12.5 % and 4.5 % of the PAHs-induced variations, respectively. The presence of PAHs in the treated mesocosm led to the enrichment of bacterial families and genera known for their ability to catabolize PAHs, such as Comamonadaceae and Raoultella (increasing from 19 % to 30 % and from 1.2 % to 5.6 %, respectively). Conversely, prevalent taxa found in mosquito microbiota like Wolbachia and Cedecea exhibited a reduction (decreasing from 4 % to 0.8 % and from 12.8 % to 6.4 %, respectively). This reduction could be attributed to the competitive advantage gained by PAH-degrading taxa, or it could reflect a direct sensitivity to PAH exposure. Overall, this indicates a shift in microbiota composition favoring bacteria that can thrive in a PAH-contaminated environment. PAHs persisted in the water of breeding sites only the first 45 days of the experiment. Benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[b]fluoranthene were more susceptible to bioaccumulation in larval tissues over time. Overall, this study enhances our understanding of the impact of pollution on mosquitoes and could facilitate future research on the importance of symbiosis in urban-dwelling insect disease vectors. Given the recent advancements in the generation of axenic (microbe-free) and gnotobiotic (mosquitoes with a defined or specific microbiota) mosquitoes, further studies are needed to explore how changes in microbiota composition could influence mosquito responses to pollution, particularly in relation to host fitness, immunity, and vector competence.

Improved Agronomic Practices on Enhancement of Quality Forage Production for Livestock Farming

The lack of nutrient-rich fodder and forage is one of the problems of livestock farming. Adequate tillage operations, timely and suitable water management, weed management, insect pests and disease management, fertilizer management, seeding at the proper time and seed rate, timely harvesting, and other agronomic techniques can all help to increase the nutritional content and yield of fodder and forage crops. A number of research and review papers have been systematically reviewed in this study. The use of tillage practices such as primary, secondary, conventional, and deep tillage enhances dry matter and yield of green fodder as compared to zero tillage. The organic matter (OM) content and dry matter (DM) of fodder crops are increased by regular and appropriate irrigation. The DMD (dry matter digestibility) and CP (crude protein) contents of early harvested forages are higher than those of late harvested forages. The application of nitrogen promotes crop development and growth, increasing the production of green fodder and improving its quality. Intercropping is essential for increasing the yield of fodder crops. Compared to sole cropping of maize and cowpea, the yield is found higher in intercropping of maize + cowpea. The production and quality of fodder are decreased by late seeding. The management of insect pests and diseases enhances the production and quality of fodder and forage. Thus, we draw the conclusion that fodder and forage crops production and their quality parameters are greatly influenced by agronomic practices.

Weather Based Forewarning Systems for Important Pests and Diseases in Major Crops

In present - day agriculture, weather based forewarning systems have become a vital tool in combating pests and diseases. These systems forecast the occurrence and severity of important insect pests and diseases using the meteorological data provided. The data regarding important meteorological variables like temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind speed, and wind patterns are integrated in these systems. As forewarning systems use highly developed artificial intelligence technology, historical data analysis and pest-weather correlations to provide precise and timely insights to the farmer community, which enable them to take appropriate control measures when required and help in reducing crop losses and optimising the pesticide usage. These will help to schedule pesticide applications as needed, ultimately reducing the quantity of pesticides sprayed and their detrimental impact on the environment and other beneficial organisms and increasing the overall agricultural output, which is very important in sustainable agriculture. To unlock the full potential of these systems, issues regarding data availability, localizing the systems to particular regions, and the effects of climate change should be addressed.

Understanding Farmers Problem and Training Needs on Apricot Production in Trans Himalayan Ladakh, India

A survey was conducted among 500 apricot growers in Ladakh to identify constraints faced in their production system and their grassroots training needs.Of the growers surveyed, 47.8 % of respondents were having less than 20 apricot trees. Most (53.8 %) grew apricots for drying, 31.2 % for fresh consumption, and 15 % for kernel oil. A significantly high number of respondents(44.8 %) reported 11-30 % fruit wastage, while 31.4 % reported 31-50 % fruit wastage. Lack of marketing opportunities and harvesting tools were cited as the main reasons for fruit wastage. The growers do not follow the standard growing practices, and the knowledge about insect pests and diseases is poor in the region. The most significant constraints in apricot production were lack of appropriate fruit drying technology, followed by high insect pest infestation, lack of marketing opportunities, lack of fencing around the field, insufficient water for irrigation purposes, and non-availability of nursery plants. Growers were open to a wide variety of sources of information on apricot production, with the most commonly selected response being friends/ relatives (53.2 %), followed by television (22.4 %), training and awareness camps (15.8 %), and radio (3.6%). The findings will help researchers, extension personnel, administrators, and policymakers to bring reforms to the apricot industry.

An Improved Sampling and Baiting Method for Phytophthora tropicalis and P. heveae Detection in Macadamia integrifolia.

Macadamia nuts are, economically, the second most important crop in the state of Hawai'i. A recent decline in yield and acreage has been attributed to insect damage and diseases such as Macadamia Quick Decline (MQD) caused by Phytophthora tropicalis and P. heveae. To develop an improved methodology for the diagnosis and treatment of MQD, investigations were undertaken to better understand the pathosystem of the disease. These investigations included sampling from multiple locations from sectioned trees utilizing two methods of tissue collection and isolations using two baiting techniques. The collection of tissue from the cambium and phloem of trees after scraping away the bark and in locations of recent or current sap exudation using a narrow diameter steel awl proved to be an efficient means for the molecular detection of the MQD pathogens from infected trees exhibiting MQD symptoms. In addition, a more efficient and cost-effective baiting method using apple puree was developed.

Recent Development Trends in Plant Protection UAVs: A Journey from Conventional Practices to Cutting-Edge Technologies—A Comprehensive Review

Uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) for plant protection play a vital role in modern agricultural operations. In recent years, advancements in UAVs and pest control technologies have significantly enhanced operational efficiency. These innovations have addressed historical challenges in agricultural practices by improving automation and precision in managing insect pests, diseases, and weeds. UAVs offer high operational efficiency, wide adaptability to different terrain, and safe applications. The development and demand for these technologies have increased to boost agricultural production. In agricultural settings where conventional machinery struggles to carry out farming operations, UAVs have transformed farming practices by providing high operational efficiency and significant profitability. The integration of UAVs and other smart technologies has driven advancements. The UAV sector has received substantial attention as a convergence of production, service, and delivery, introducing synergy through the presence of several developing areas. The market for this technology is expected to grow in the future. In this comprehensive review, we analyzed an overview of historical research, diverse techniques, the transition from conventional to advanced application, development trends, and operational milestones across diverse cropping systems. We also discussed adoption and subsidy policies. In order to properly understand UAV operational efficiency, we also analyzed and discussed smart atomization systems, spray drift, droplet deposition detection technologies, and the capabilities of related technologies. Additionally, we reviewed the role of software programs, data-driven tools, biodegradable materials, payloads, batteries, sensing technologies, weather, and operational and spraying factors. Regulatory limitations, operating and farmer’s training, economic effects, and guidelines were also acknowledged in this review. This review highlights deficiencies and provides essential knowledge of the use of UAVs for agriculture tasks in different regions. Finally, we examine the urgency of UAV technology implementations in the agricultural sector. In conclusion, we summarize the integration of UAVs and their related technologies with applications and future research prospects, offering directions for follow-up research on the key technologies of UAVs and encouraging the enhancement of agricultural production management in terms of efficiency, accuracy, and sustainability.

The smell of infection: Disease surveillance in insects using volatile organic compounds

Abstract Insects play crucial roles in nearly every ecosystem and provide a wide array of ecosystem services. However, both managed and wild insect populations face threats from parasites and pathogens, which require surveillance to mitigate. Current infectious disease surveillance methods for insects often involve invasive, time‐consuming and occasionally destructive techniques, such as manual inspections and molecular detection. Volatile organic compound (VOC) surveillance provides a real‐time, accurate and non‐invasive alternative for disease detection and has been well‐established in humans and livestock. Recent advances in sensor technology now allow for the development of in‐field VOC surveillance devices. This review explores the need for disease surveillance in insects and highlights recent advances of using VOCs for this purpose, focusing on honey bees as an example. We outline potential applications, challenges and future prospects of using VOCs for insect disease surveillance, providing examples of how this technology could be globally applied to mitigate the impacts of disease in a range of insect systems.

What happens when the insecticide does not kill? A review of sublethal toxicology and insecticide resistance in triatomines.

Chagas disease is considered one of the most important human parasitosis in the United States. This disease is mainly transmitted by insects of the subfamily Triatominae. The chemical vector control is the main tool for reducing the incidence of the disease. However, the presence of triatomines after pyrethroids spraying has been reported in some regions, as in the case of Triatoma infestans in Argentina and Bolivia. The presence of insects can be explained by the colonization from neighbouring areas, the reduction of insecticide dose to sublethal levels due to environmental factors, and/or by the evolution of insecticide resistance. In the last two scenarios, a proportion of the insects is not killed by insecticide and gives rise to residual populations. This article focuses on the toxicological processes associated with these scenarios in triatomines. Sublethal doses may have different effects on insect biology, that is, sublethal effects, which may contribute to the control. In addition, for insect disease vectors, sublethal doses could have negative effects on disease transmission. The study of sublethal effects in triatomines has focused primarily on the sequence of symptoms associated with nervous intoxication. However, the effects of sublethal doses on excretion, reproduction and morphology have also been studied. Rhodnius prolixus and T. infestans and pyrethroids insecticides were the triatomine species and insecticides, respectively, mainly studied. Insecticide resistance is an evolutionary phenomenon in which the insecticide acts as a selective force, concentrating on the insect population's pre-existing traits that confer resistance. This leads to a reduction in the susceptibility to the insecticide, which was previously effective in controlling this species. The evolution of resistance in triatomines received little attention before the 2000s, but after the detection of the first focus of resistance associated with chemical control failures in T. infestans from Argentina in 2002, the study of resistance increased remarkably. A significant number of works have studied the geographical distribution, the resistance mechanisms, the biological modifications associated with resistance, the environmental influences and the genetic of T. infestans resistant to pyrethroid insecticides. Currently, studies of insecticide resistance are gradually being extended to other areas and other species. The aim of this article was to review the knowledge on both phenomena (sublethal effects and insecticide resistance) in triatomines. For a better understanding of this article, some concepts and processes related to insect-insecticide interactions, individual and population toxicology and evolutionary biology are briefly reviewed. Finally, possible future lines of research in triatomine toxicology are discussed.

The Human Monkeypox Virus and Host Immunity: Emerging Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges.

This article explores the Human Monkeypox Virus (MPV), a contagious virus that causes disease in both vertebrates and insects. It originated in Denmark in 1958 and expanded beyond Africa during the 1970s. The virus was initially detected in the United States in 2003 following the hospitalisation of a toddler who had been bitten by a prairie dog. The article examines the identification of the virus, its categorization into two genetic groups with dif-ferent levels of harmfulness, and its genetic changes over time due to specific influences. Additionally, it investigates the immunological reaction to MPXV, encompassing both the innate and adaptive systems. The essay also addresses the diagnostic difficulties presented by MPXV's resemblance to other orthopoxviruses and the progress made in molecular diagnos-tics. The paper analyses different therapeutic interventions, such as tecovirimat, an antiviral medication, and JYNNEOS, a vaccine, in terms of their efficacy, potential drawbacks, and the difficulties encountered in managing outbreaks. The future outlook emphasises the ne-cessity of inventive research methodologies, worldwide monitoring, and individualised med-ical treatments to counteract the dissemination of MPXV and alleviate its consequences on public health.

Impact Assessment of Integrated Pest Management Technology on Kharif Paddy Cultivation in Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra, India

The Eastern Vidarbha region consist of Bhandara, Gondia, Gadchiroli and Chandrapur and some part of the Nagpur district is famous for specialized farming and paddy as major crop. The total area in Maharashtra state was 15.53 lakh hectares with annual production 34.81 lakh tons of rice (Anonymous 2023-24). About 80.00 per cent gross cropped area in this region is under paddy. IPM has been proved to be a cost minimization technique. Losses in Paddy yield the tune 10 to 25 per cent occurs due to attack of insect pest and disease. Being the topic of such high importance from cultivators point of view, the research topic has been selected i.e. Impact Assessment of Integrated Pest Management technology on Kharif Paddy cultivation in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra State its economic investigation in different level of adoption of IPM technologies. The study was carried out with the main goals of determining the extent to which recommended technology has been adopted in Kharif paddy production by using principle component analysis approach and for develop the composite index, examining the input utilization of Kharif paddy at varying levels of IPM adoption, and workout cost effectiveness and profitability of kharif paddy at different level of adoption of IPM technology. The study was conducted in the districts of Gadchiroli in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra State, India. Three tahasil, Gadchiroli, Chamorshi and Dhanora were chosen from these districts, and a total of 120 farmers were selected from seven villages, namely Gadchiroli, Indala, Hirapur, Chamorshi, Krishna Nagar, Heti, Kanartola. The primary data, which cover the years 2023–2024. Total 120 farmers, 25 farmers were classified as high adopters, 76 farmers were classified as medium adopters, and 19 farmers were classified as low adopters. As a result of input usage, the group with a high adoption level utilized the most human labour. Farmyard manure is used most in the high adopter group (49.87 quintal per hectare), followed by low adopters (31.73 qtl/ha) and medium adopters (34.45 qtl/ha) because the farmers can apply only owned farm FYM. The reasons of lower used of FYM, due to shortage of cattle’s population. The reasons of low adopter, high expenditure of Integrated pest management components was the 89.00 per cent farmers can use chemically control that means 2 to 3 spraying was use in kharif paddy in low adopter group. The B:C ratio at Cost ‘A1’ was 1.79, 1.85 and 1.92 in low, medium and high adopters, respectively, while B:C ration at Cost ‘C2’ for low, medium, high adopter were 1.12,1.19,1.25 respectively. The results concluded that the low adopters group are not making more profit. It indicates that, as adoption of technology increases the yield level of crop and so that the net returns also increases. The reduction in per quintal production cost at Cost ‘C2’ over low adopter group were Rs. 188.06/-. Paddy productivity has been reported increased by 19.84 per cent with the reduction in the cost of Rs. 7375.89 in high level of adoption of Integrated Pest Management Technology. The findings of the present study with regards to overall adoption of integrated pest management practices of paddy by paddy growers were observe for wide adoption of IPM technology in Kharif Paddy, Government should take initiative for production of bio-agents and available the pheromane trap and yellow sticky trap through establishing unit in Government Agricultural Offices and Krishi Vigyan Kendra and encourage the rural youth for establishing Units at taluka level.

Pesticide Exposure in the Cultivation of Carica papaya L. and Capsicum annuum L. in Rural Areas of Oaxaca, Mexico.

This study focuses on describing the diversity of pesticides, the knowledge and behaviors of their use, and the acute poisoning symptoms (APS) derived from their exposure from two agricultural production systems (papaya-Carica papaya L.- and chili-Capsicum annuum L.-) in Oaxaca, Mexico. Through surveys, sociodemographic information, characteristics of the production system, knowledge and behaviors in the handling of pesticides, and APS perceived by users were captured. Papaya producers are younger, have fewer years of activity, and have larger agricultural areas than chili producers. Insect attacks and diseases are an essential factor for the application of pesticides. Thirty-one active ingredients (Ais) were identified in papaya and thirty-seven in chili, predominantly insecticides and fungicides of toxicological category IV. Approximately 50% of users apply mixtures of different Ais, have little knowledge and inappropriate behavior in their handling, and report up to five acute pesticide poisoning symptoms, mainly burning and irritation of the skin, burning eyes, itchy skin, runny nose, headache, and watery eyes. The production of papaya and chili are relevant activities for generating economic income, but they risk the producer's and their family's health. Both systems are a potential scenario for the manifestation of diseases due to exposure to pesticides in the medium and long term.

Adaptability and Yield Performance of Introduced Tomato Lines under Greenhouse and Open Field Conditions in Honduras

In Honduras, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an economically important crop for farmers because of its high domestic consumption, year-round production, and high export potential. However, tomato production faces challenges such as diseases and pests and is confounded by climate change, all of which reduce productivity and quality. Evaluating the adaptation of tomato cultivars is critical to ensuring the long-term sustainability and resilience of the horticulture sector in the region. The objective of this study was to identify tomato lines with adaptability, high yield, pest, and disease resistance under greenhouse and open field production conditions for the Honduran market. Ten tomato lines and two commercial hybrids were evaluated between Feb and Jul 2022 in San Antonio de Oriente, Francisco Morazán, Honduras. Desirable traits related to vegetative growth, productivity, fruit quality, and resistance to insect pests and diseases were measured. Seven lines were highly adapted and had high vegetative growth. The tomato lines were not significantly different in terms of tomato yellow leaf curl disease and late blight disease index; however, the fruit borer susceptibility varied, with AVTO1908 being the most susceptible. The highest performing line was AVTO1903, which had the greatest total marketable yield in both the open field (101.3 t⋅ha−1) and greenhouse (62.1 t⋅ha−1). Additionally, AVTO1903 and AVTO1915 had good quality traits (roundness index, total soluble solids, and dry matter), thus demonstrating their potential for sustainable and high-yielding cultivation in Honduras. The growth and productivity of the tomato lines were highly influenced by the environment. This work highlights the advantages of introducing exotic cultivars to combat the effects of climate change and ensure sustained production; however, further research is needed to ensure that local farmer and consumer demands are met.

Potential of entomopathogenic fungi to control insect pests and disease at lettuce and arugula crops

The lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) (Asteraceae) and arugula (Eruca sativa Miller) (Brassicaceae) crops are attacked by various pests and diseases, but the control is usually done with agrochemicals. We evaluate the control of pests and diseases by systematic applications of the entomopathogenic fungi strains Metarhizium anisopliae IBCB425 and Beauveria bassiana IBCB66 both 300g c.p. in the planting groove and 200 g c.p. ha-1 on the foliage, in weekly applications at lettuce and arugula crops planted in association. For the evaluation of pests and diseases, 15 plants were evaluated at random in three beds per treatment. In the lettuce crop occurred the presence of aphids (Myzus persicae Hemiptera:Aphididae), whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), thrips (Frankliniella schultzei Thysanoptera:Thripidae), leafhoppers Agallia albidula (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) and septoria disease (Septoria lactucae). In the arugula crop the same pests occurred, but with any disease. The fungi B. bassiana and M. anisopliae controlled F. schultzei and S. lactucae at lettuce crop, B. tabaci in both crops, but did not control M. persicae and A. albidula in both crops. The fungus B. bassiana decreased the mean number of leaves per plant and the mean of dry mass weight of arugula plants in relation to the control treatment, but the sample size may have interfered with these results. The two fungi could be used as biological control agents of pests and diseases at lettuce and arugula crops, especially in organic farming.

Stakeholder exposure to and knowledge of tree pests and diseases and their management in urban areas

Urban trees and forests provide many benefits to the urban environment and are important for climate change adaptation. Yet, they are increasingly threatened by insect pests and diseases, hereafter tree pests/diseases. There is little evidence of the risk awareness and knowledge of different urban stakeholders of this growing threat, how they are affected by tree pests/diseases, and how they might respond to it. To fill this gap, we undertook an online survey of different key stakeholder groups associated with urban trees and forests in Germany. A majority of 75.8 % of the 186 respondents consider urban tree pests/diseases a severe problem and 51.1 % reported high knowledge of tree pests/diseases. There was a lack of knowledge of certain reportable quarantine pests/diseases (e.g., canker stain of plane, emerald ash borer, Xylella) and pest/disease management options (e.g., manual treatment methods and tree diversification). Respondents were most affected by the horse chestnut leafminer (61.3 %), ash dieback (58.1 %) and oak processionary moth (50.0 %). The most widely used pest remedial measures were improvements of tree living conditions (60.8 %) and purchases of plants from certified or trusted local sources (59.7 %). Multiple correspondence analysis showed a significant association between levels of knowledge of tree pests/diseases and pest management responses (11.7 %). Our results suggest that future efforts to improve urban tree health should be enhanced and tailored to the different requirements of various stakeholder groups. The findings of this first comprehensive study with a purely urban focus will inform the development of future activities that prevent or reduce the spread of tree pests/diseases in urban areas. Data AvailabilityThe survey respondents did not give permission for the full data to be accessed or used by third parties.

Evaluation of Integrated Pest and Disease Management Combinations against Major Insect Pests and Diseases of Tomato in Tamil Nadu, India

Tomatoes are one of the predominant vegetable crops grown throughout the year in Tamil Nadu, India. Their perishable nature and resource-intensive cultivation make them susceptible to biotic stress. The damage caused by invasive insect pests, bacterial wilt during the rainy season, and viral diseases are major yield-limiting factors, and the farmers mostly depend on calendar-based insecticide applications for insect pest and disease management in tomatoes. The desired tomato hybrids grafted onto bacterial wilt-resistant eggplant rootstocks offer protection against bacterial wilt during the rainy season. The integrated pest and disease management (IPDM) practices consist of resistant grafted tomato seedlings (wild eggplant rootstocks EG 203 and TS 03), bioinoculants (Bacillus subtilis + Trichoderma asperellum + Purpureocillium lilacinum), pheromone traps (Phthorimaea absoluta and Helicoverpa armigera), botanicals (azadirachtin), microbial pesticides (Bacillus thuringiensis, Metarhizium anisopliae, and Beauveria bassiana), and bio-rationals, which were evaluated in four locations in two major tomato-growing tracts of Tamil Nadu. The results revealed that the treatment EG 203 eggplant rootstock-grafted tomato along with IPDM practices performed better across all experimental locations than the other treatment combinations viz., TS 03 eggplant rootstock-grafted tomato + IPDM, tomato + IPDM, grafted tomato + farmers’ practice and tomato + farmers’ practice. The EG 203-grafted tomato recorded a higher yield than the farmers’ practice with significantly superior biometric parameters. The treatment of EG 203-grafted tomato and IPDM practices can be adopted for safer tomato production by enabling a reduction in pesticide applications while enhancing productivity.

Smartphone-Based Citizen Science Tool for Plant Disease and Insect Pest Detection Using Artificial Intelligence

In recent years, the integration of smartphone technology with novel sensing technologies, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Deep Learning (DL) algorithms has revolutionized crop pest and disease surveillance. Efficient and accurate diagnosis is crucial to mitigate substantial economic losses in agriculture caused by diseases and pests. An innovative Apple® and Android™ mobile application for citizen science has been developed, to enable real-time detection and identification of plant leaf diseases and pests, minimizing their impact on horticulture, viticulture, and olive cultivation. Leveraging DL algorithms, this application facilitates efficient data collection on crop pests and diseases, supporting crop yield protection and cost reduction in alignment with the Green Deal goal for 2030 by reducing pesticide use. The proposed citizen science tool involves all Farm to Fork stakeholders and farm citizens in minimizing damage to plant health by insect and fungal diseases. It utilizes comprehensive datasets, including images of various diseases and insects, within a robust Decision Support System (DSS) where DL models operate. The DSS connects directly with users, allowing them to upload crop pest data via the mobile application, providing data-driven support and information. The application stands out for its scalability and interoperability, enabling the continuous integration of new data to enhance its capabilities. It supports AI-based imaging analysis of quarantine pests, invasive alien species, and emerging and native pests, thereby aiding post-border surveillance programs. The mobile application, developed using a Python-based REST API, PostgreSQL, and Keycloak, has been field-tested, demonstrating its effectiveness in real-world agriculture scenarios, such as detecting Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) infestation in tomato cultivations. The outcomes of this study in T. absoluta detection serve as a showcase scenario for the proposed citizen science tool’s applicability and usability, demonstrating a 70.2% accuracy (mAP50) utilizing advanced DL models. Notably, during field testing, the model achieved detection confidence levels of up to 87%, enhancing pest management practices.

Morphological traits of fruits and seeds of Ziziphus tree species growing in different land uses in Ethiopia

The practice of gathering and utilizing Ziziphus tree fruits serves as a key strategy to enhance nutrition and livelihoods employed by rural communities across various regions worldwide. Despite a burgeoning interest in and comprehension of their significance, there remains a dearth of information concerning the morphological attributes of both fruits and seeds essential for bolstering resistance against pests and diseases through breeding efforts. In this regard, comprehensive data pertaining to fruit dimensions (length, width, weight, and maturity level) and seed characteristics (length, width, and 100-seed weight) across three distinct land use types (LUT)—farmland (FL), home garden (HG), and roadside (RS)—were systematically gathered to ascertain the variability in traits among Ziziphus tree species in the Bosset and Bati districts of Ethiopia. Significant disparities in fruit and seed morphological traits were evident among different populations inhabiting the aforementioned LUTs. Notably, the most substantial mean measurements for fruit length (16 mm), width (18 mm), and weight (28 g), as well as seed width (6 mm), were documented within the farmland setting of Bosset. The highest mean seed length (7 mm) and 100-seed weight (5 g) were observed within farmland and home garden environments in Bati. Furthermore, a significant and positive correlation was determined between fruit length and width (r = 0.78), alongside the weight of ten fruits and width (r = 0.65). Ffruit maturity levels exhibited a negative correlation with weight but not with length and width dimensions. Similarly, seed length and width demonstrated a significant correlation (r = 0.88), while 100-seed weight exhibited a modest correlation with seed dimensions. Overall, findings suggest that the Bosset district boasts superior morphological traits, thereby indicating its potential for harboring robust stands and candidate trees conducive to selection for breeding programs aimed at enhancing resistance against insect pests and diseases.

THE FACTORS IMPACTING OVER ORGANIC PRODUCT’S MARKET: A STUDY OF KUMAUN REGION OF UTTARAKHAND

Since ancient times, India has employed the organic farming technique, which is primarily concerned with producing agricultural products that are sustainable in a clean, unpolluted environment. In order to achieve the necessary agricultural production for human consumption, organic production methods make use of natural resources, maintaining the ecosystem and ecology alive and well. Using naturally occurring resources as inputs, such as organic wastes, farm, animal, and crop wastes, aquatic wastes, other biological materials, and beneficial microbes, is the environmental focus of organic production. Biofertilizers and biocontrol agents are used to release nutrients into crops and shield them from insect pests and diseases in order to increase agricultural productivity. It is imperative that farms move to organic practices. India, a nation that depends heavily on agriculture, must take measures to address the issue of its rapidly expanding population.Although there has been a noticeable movement in people's knowledge of organic food, it appears to be quite gradual. The cultivation of organic crops using the organic farming technique is gaining steam on a global scale. To achieve sustained food, livelihood, and environmental security, a range of alternatives to chemical intensive agriculture must be developed. The present study is an Exploratory cum Descriptive Research in nature with a sample size of 200 customers and various statistical tools such as frequency distribution, percentage, arithmetic mean and general linear Univariate model used. The respondents from different age group, different qualifications and others agreed that there should be an immediate improvement in the product accessibility in the market and the government as well as the producers, should play a key role in it. The study concludes that Organic product’s Market availability needs to improve from Govt. as well as producers both.

Research on Intelligent Recognition for Plant Pests and Diseases Based on Improved YOLOv8 Model

Plant pests and diseases are important parts of insect disease control and the high-quality development of agriculture. Traditional methods for identifying plant diseases and pests suffer from low accuracy and slow speed, while the existing machine learning methods are constrained by environmental and technological factors, leading to low recognition efficiency. To address the issue of the above problems, this paper has proposed an intelligent recognition algorithm based on the improved YOLOv8 model, which has high recognition accuracy and speed. Firstly, in the Backbone network, the Global Attention Mechanism (GAM) is adopted to weigh the important feature information, thereby improving the accuracy of the model. Secondly, in the mixed feature part of the Neck network, the Receptive-Field Attention Convolutional (RFA Conv) operation is used instead of standard convolution operations to enhance the processing ability for feature information and to reduce computational complexity and costs, thus improving the network performance. After verifying the rice and cotton datasets, the accuracy indicator mean average precision (mAP) reaches 71.27% and 82.91%, respectively, in the two different datasets. Comparing these indices with those of the Faster R-CNN, YOLOv7, and the original YOLOv8 model, the results fully demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the improved model in terms of detection accuracy.