Ricinus Research Articles

Intercropping Okra and Castor Bean Reduces Recruitment of Oriental Fruit Moth, Grapholita molesta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in a Pear Orchard.

Intercrops can lower pest densities by increasing plant diversity, altering chemical communication in the arthropod community, and integrating well with other IPM tactics. We used two years of field observations and Y-tube olfactometer assays to explore the effects of intercropping a pear orchard with okra and castor bean on the cosmopolitan fruit-boring pest Grapholita molesta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Intercropping okra reduced G. molesta trap catches in the pear orchard in both years, and intercropping with castor bean reduced them in the second year. Hydrocarbons, phenols, and ketones predominated in the GC-MS assay of okra volatiles, whereas castor bean volatiles were rich in aldehydes, ketones, and esters. Five of the commercially available volatiles released by these plants exhibited repellency to G. molesta in olfactometer trials, especially cinnamaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, and thymol; the former compound also exhibited attraction to the egg parasitoid Trichogamma dendrolimi (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). In addition to their repellent properties, okra and castor bean may enhance integrated control of G. molesta in orchards by hosting prey that support populations of generalist predators that either provide biological pest control services within the orchard ecosystem or generate non-consumptive effects that contribute to pest deterence. Among the plant volatiles evaluated, cinnamaldehyde has the best potential for deployment in orchards to repel G. molesta without disrupting augmentative releases of T. dendrolimi.

Variety ofPlant Oils: Species-Specific Lipid Biosynthesis.

Plant oils represent a large group of neutral lipids with important applications in food, feed and oleochemical industries. Most plants accumulate oils in the form of triacylglycerol within seeds and their surrounding tissues, which comprises three fatty acids attached to a glycerol backbone. Different plant species accumulate unique fatty acids in their oils, serving a range of applications in pharmaceuticals and oleochemicals. To enable the production of these distinctive oils, select plant species have adapted specialized oil metabolism pathways, involving differential gene co-expression networks and structurally divergent enzymes/proteins. Here, we summarize some of the recent advances in our understanding of oil biosynthesis in plants. We compare expression patterns of oil metabolism genes from representative species, including Arabidopsis thaliana, Ricinus communis (castor bean), Linum usitatissimum L. (flax) and Elaeis guineensis (oil palm) to showcase the co-expression networks of relevant genes for acyl metabolism. We also review several divergent enzymes/proteins associated with key catalytic steps of unique oil accumulation, including fatty acid desaturases, diacylglycerol acyltransferases and oleosins, highlighting their structural features and preference toward unique lipid substrates. Lastly, we briefly discuss protein interactomes and substrate channeling for oil biosynthesis and the complex regulation of these processes.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF RICINUS COMMUNIS AND THE NEED FOR NOVEL FORMULATION OF THE EXTRACTS: A REVIEW

Some drugs from plant and animal sources have proven to be efficacious, safe, and effective therapeutically. They are potential alternatives to synthetic and semi-synthetic drugs in treating diseases, especially the chronic types. Ricinus communis is one such plant that has been used traditionally for centuries as a medicinal plant in the treatment of a wide range of ailments and disorders like stomach aches, flatulence, constipation, and gallbladder pain. Others include dysmenorrhea, rheumatism, arthritis, backache, muscle aches, and toothache. In addition, other uses include chronic headaches, insomnia, placenta expulsion, and anti-fertility. However, there is a deficiency of novel formulations of the extracts to maximize their therapeutic benefits. The phytochemicals in Ricinus communis are extracted via direct expression of the seed and solvent of both the seed and the different plant parts. Some solvents used for extraction include ethanol, petroleum ether, methanol, ethyl acetate, toluene, benzene, hexane, and chloroform. The constituents of the extracts depend on the plant part used, the solvent employed, and contact time. The phytochemicals found in the various extracts include tannins, saponins, phenols, alkaloids, glycosides, phytate, fatty acids, steroids, oxalate, and volatile constituents. These extracts are found to elicit a wide range of pharmacological activities against bacteria, fungi, cancer cells, worms, conception, constipation, pain, and malaria. In addition, some of the pharmacodynamic activities are laxative, uterine contraction, antiasthmatic, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and anticonvulsant. The extracts are also useful in bone regeneration, wound healing, liver protection, and a host of other pharmacological actions. Novel products of Ricinus communis are not available. Subjecting the extracts to advanced drug delivery formulations such as lipid-based drug delivery technologies would accentuate the dissolution, absorption, and bioavailability of the extracts of Ricinus communis just like other herbal formulations currently in the market. Therefore, there is a crucial need for formulation scientists to explore novel nano-drug delivery technology to formulate extracts into medicines for the improvement of public healthcare. Peer Review History: Received: 19 August 2023; Revised: 21 September; Accepted: 24 October, Available online: 15 November 2023 Academic Editor: Dr. Tamer Elhabibi, Suez Canal University, Egypt, tamer_hassan@pharm.suez.edu.eg Received file: Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewers: Ali Jaber, Laboratory for Research and Development of Medicines and Natural Products, RDMPN, Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon, ali.jaber.2@ul.edu.lb Prof. Ali Gamal Ahmed Al-kaf, Sana'a university, Yemen, alialkaf21@gmail.com

Determination of markers of lifetime use of substances containing ricin

BACKGROUND: The problem of establishing the fact of acute and lethal poisoning with cytotoxic substances currently remains an urgent task for forensic medical examination. Ricin belongs to this group of substances and is the most toxic representative, which can have irreversible health consequences if ingested into the human body.
 AIM: development of a rapid analysis technique for detecting marker substances when establishing the fact of ricin poisoning in biological objects for the purposes and tasks of forensic medical examination.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have described optimal conditions for isolating ricinin and ricinolic acid, as markers of the presence of ricin, from blood and urine for further investigation by modern chromatographic methods (HPLC/MS/MS and GC/MS/MS).
 RESULTS: According to the results of the study, an express method for the detection of ricinin and ricinoleic acid in biological fluids, castor oil and castor seeds has been developed, which requires only 200 l of biological fluid. Chromatographic and mass spectrometric characteristics were determined for the subsequent identification of ricinin and ricinolic acid. The authors have established the presence of toxic ricinin in the products of processing of castor seeds, which can be a causal cause of poisoning of people.
 CONCLUSION: For the first time, an express technique of forensic chemical and chemical-toxicological examination of ricin poisoning by chromatographic methods - HPLC/MS/MS and GC/MS/MS, based on the determination of marker substances in biological objects ― ricinin and ricinolic acid, is presented.

Development of an impedance-based biosensor for determination of IgG galactosylation levels

The glycan profile of immunoglobulin G (IgG) molecule and its changes are associated with a number of different diseases. Galactosylation of IgG was recently suggested as a potential biomarker for rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and many cancers. In this paper, we propose a portable impedance-based biosensor that utilizes lectin array technology to detect glycans in IgG. Biotinylated Griffonia simplicifolia (GSL II) and Ricinus communis agglutinin I (RCA I) lectins were used in our biosensor design for determination of the ratio of N-acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc) to galactose (Gal) respectively, which is termed agalactosylation factor (AF). Streptavidin gold nanoparticles (GNP) were conjugated to biotinylated lectin bonded to the carbohydrate in the glycoprotein to magnify the change in impedance signal and enhance detection sensitivity. The method was successfully applied to differentiation of the galactosylation levels in human and rat IgG. In addition, we present proof of concept use of our biosensor for differentiation of COVID-19 positive patient samples from negative patients. Consequently, the sensor can be useful in future applications to distinguish between glycan profiles of IgG from healthy and patient samples in disease studies. Our biosensor permits analysis of human serum without conventional time-consuming IgG purification steps or pretreatment using enzyme digestion to cut the sugars from the glycoprotein molecule. The results suggest that the proposed point of care (POC) biosensor can be used for evaluating disease progression and treatment efficacy via monitoring changes in the galactosylation profiles of IgG in patients.

To Evaluate the Absorption, Elimination Pattern of Ricinus Communis, using Rabbit as a Tool

Pharmacokinetics is a study of movement of a drug in our body. Usually a modern drug will consists of the ingredient and excipients. It is relatively easy to trace the pharmacokinetics of the modern drug. In case of herbal medicines, usually most of the over the counter products are polyherbal. There is no component clearly said to be the active principle responsible for the dedicated medicinal effect. Hence one needs to establish some phytochemical markers for the identification of the herb(s) in the blood, which can be used to trace the fate of the drug in the living system. This will help us to establish the absorption elimination process of the herb. The markers thus obtained need not be the active principle or constituent of the drug. This will help to decide the dosage regime and the therapeutic window of the drug. The present work was undertaken with an objective to establish a phytochemical marker for the detection of Ricinus communis in the blood of rabbits and to establish the pharmacokinetics of the herb. One component was identified from Ricinus communis in the plasma of the rabbits fed with the leaf powder of Ricinus comunis as a dose. The phytochemical could be detected using HPLC at Rt 5.707 minutes for Ricinus communis. This phytochemical was used to establish the pharmacokinetics of leaf powder of Ricinus communis.

Automatic Diseases Classification and Detection in Castor Oil Plant Leaves Using Convolutional Neural Network

Automatic Diseases Classification and Detection in Castor Oil Plant Leaves Using Convolutional Neural Network

Metabolomics analysis reveals the effect of removing cotyledons on salt tolerance in castor plant roots during early seedling establishment

Castor is an important oil crop with moderate salt tolerance that is grown worldwide. The early seedling stage is the most vulnerable phase during a plant’s lifecycle in a saline environment. Cotyledons play an important role in seedling establishment as the storage and first photosynthetic organ, and in the resistance of the seedling to salt stress. However, how cotyledons affect the metabolic response of castor roots in saline environments is unclear. Here, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analytical methods were used to examine the effects of removing cotyledons (no cotyledons removed, NR; one cotyledon removed, OR; both cotyledons removed, TR) on the metabolite changes in the roots under salt stress. The results showed that removing cotyledons inhibited the growth of TR roots much greater than NR or OR roots. Metabolomics analysis showed that the roots of TR seedlings had fewer metabolites involved in the salt stress response than NR seedlings. Moreover, the KEGG pathway enrichment analysis demonstrated that salt-induced metabolites were associated with major biological pathways related to tropane, piperidine, and pyridine alkaloid biosynthesis; amino acid biosynthesis; phenylpropanoid biosynthesis; amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, as well as arginine and proline metabolism. However, the contents of these metabolites decreased or did not change significantly in the TR roots compared to the NR roots under salt stress. Additionally, the contents of caffeyl alcohol, scopoletin, and syringin in the phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway increased significantly in the roots of TR seedlings under salt stress compared to the control treatment. Therefore, we concluded that castor plants with cotyledons enhanced particular metabolic pathways in the roots that protected cell membrane structure, maintained cell osmotic potential, resisted reactive oxygen species and provided energy under salt stress. In addition, the roots of castor plants without cotyledons may be resistant to salt stress by enhancing phenylpropanoid biosynthesis to maintain cell differentiation and enhance root lignification. Taken together, these findings provide new insight into the physiological functions of cotyledons in the aboveground-belowground interactions of castor plants under salt stress.

Artificial diet for Samia ricini: key considerations and formulation strategies – a review

Abstract This review paper critically examines the components, limitations, and future prospects of artificial diets, and their impact on the rearing performance of Eri silkworm Samia ricini. In conventional rearing practices, the demand for a consistent supply of fresh leaves, particularly from the primary food plant, Ricinus communis (castor), poses significant challenges due to leaf quality variations and scarcity. This predicament sometimes renders the rearing process uncertain and time-consuming. The review emphasizes the pivotal role of artificial diets, particularly those comprising Ricinus communis (castor), soybean, agar agar, preservatives, gelling agents, carbohydrates, sterols, inositol, salt mixtures, citric acid, ascorbic acid, and water, in addressing these challenges. These carefully formulated diets have demonstrated their ability to provide a stable and uniform source of nutrition, significantly impacting key parameters such as hatchability, larval and pupal durations, and shell ratio in comparison to traditional leaf-based diets. Furthermore, the study highlights the potentiality of various artificial diet compositions that can serve as viable alternatives for Samia ricini rearers. By embracing these innovative nutritional approaches, rearers can not only enhance their livelihoods but also contribute to increased silk production. Through an extensive analysis of experiments and studies, this review underscores the importance of thoughtful diet selection in achieving successful rearing of Samia ricini, paving the way for sustainable and efficient sericulture practices.

Doses de glifosato na supressão de Megathyrsus maximus cv. BRS Quênia consorciado com milho transgênico

ABSTRACT In the intercropping of maize with Megathyrsus maximus, the application of herbicides is a technique that can be used to reduce competition between intercrops. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different glyphosate doses on suppressing the growth of Megathyrsus maximus cv. BRS Quênia intercropped with maize, as well as in weed control. The randomized block experimental design was used and conducted in the field. The treatments consisted of the application of six glyphosate doses, 0; 48; 96; 240; 480; 960 g acid equivalent [a.e.] ha-1, and a maize treatment without the forage with 960 g acid equivalent [a.e.] ha-1. The dose of 260.87 g a.e. ha-1 provides a 50% response to the forage production variable; therefore, it has the potential to suppress M. maximus cv. BRS Quênia. The presence of forage reduces the density and dry mass of weeds, with the species in the weed community: Ricinus communis, Eleusine indica, Alternanthera tenella, Commelina benghalensis, Conyza sp., and Digitaria horizontalis.

Revolutionizing Bone Regeneration: A Comprehensive Review On Bone Grafts

Herbal medicines are plant-based medicines and have been documented 4000 years back. Great results have beenextracted from several studies with a minimum amount of side effects. These medicines help osteogenesis as the bone graftsobtained from such are utilized as a filler and scaffold. Such grafts are bioresorbable and do not possess any reaction like antigenantibodies. The aim is to have a comprehensive review study on bone grafts. This review article covers a combination of allaspects regarding bone grafts and their different forms of availability. The Objectives of this review are to explore various bonegrafts and to summarize them so that the reader can have enough information just by reading this article. The article givesthorough information about bone grafts and mainly focuses on several ethnopharmacological studies collected using databasessuch as Pubmed, Medline, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Regarding their osteogenic, angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and remodelingeffects, acting on bone receptors, promoting bone metabolism, increasing mineral uptake, and supporting free radical oxidation,Chenopodium ambrosioides, Piper sarmentosum, Quadrangularis Cissus, Ricinus communis, and Radix salviae miltiorrhizaeplants were the most extensively studied in several works of literature. This article concludes that using herbal bone grafts onthe site of a defect holds promise for bone regeneration and offers an alternative to conventional therapies when they areimpractical. Very few studies have been conducted to date and this has raised interest in using herbal bone grafts.

Characterization of Trichoderma strains for novel species-specific markers by multiplex PCR and antagonistic property against Alternaria ricini in castor (Ricinus communis L.)

The study aimed at characterizing six Trichoderma strains isolated from the rhizospheric soil of castor growing region of Telangana, India. Microscopic examination and sequencing of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and D1-D2 region-specific primers revealed them as members of Trichoderma sp. Whereas the phylogenetic analysis revealed four of those strains as Trichoderma asperellum, two strains were confirmed as Trichoderma harzianum with a high sequence similarity of >99%. Further, multiplex PCR results with Trichoderma-specific primers; TEF1 (translation elongation factor 1) and rpb2 (the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II) gene-specific primers confirmed the findings resulting from the phylogenetic analysis. To develop a set of sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers, these strains were screened with 185 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers. A pairwise comparison of correlation of coefficient values determined from the RAPD-based genetic similarity analysis revealed that TV3 and TS4 strains were closely related to each other (0.98) confirming them as T. harzianum while N13, 7316, TV5, and TV2B16 strains formed a different cluster with T. asperellum strains. A set of novel SCAR markers were developed to distinguish these two species, T. asperellum and T. harzianum including the reported Trichoderma strains as Ex-type strains. T. harzianum strains had extremely low sporulation ability to be tested for biocontrol properties. Of the four T. asperellum strains, 7316 followed by N13 demonstrated high antagonistic ability against the fungal pathogen, Alternaria ricini indicating these strains as potential biocontrol agents to limit Alternaria infection in castor.

Population Dynamics of Leafhopper (Empoasca flavescens) and Thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis) of Castor (Ricinus communis L.)

The experiment on population dynamics against leafhopper and thrips of castor,a field experiment was conducted during 2021 & 2022 on castor (Ricinus communis) at Regional Agricultural Research Station Palem, PJTSAU. The studies on population dynamics of leafhopper (Empoasca flavescens) revealed thatthe activity of leafhoppers was moderate to heavy with maximum of 120.8 leafhoppers/3 leaves/plant was recorded during the second fortnight of December (52 SMW, 24th-31st Dec). Leafhopper population had non-significant and negative correlation with maximum temperature (r = -0.24 and r = -0.29, respectively), whereas it had significant assocation and negative correlation with minimum temperature, morning relative humidity, evening relative humidity as well as rainfall (r = - 0.64 - 0.50, r=-0.61 and - 0.52, respectively). Thrips infestationwas observed from October first fortnight (40 SMW 1st Oct -7th Oct) to December second fortnight (52 SMW, 24th-31st Dec) with peak infestation 31.1 thrips/spike.Thrips population had non-significant and negative correlation with maximum temperature ( r = -0.29), whereas it had significant assocation and negative correlation with minimum temperature, morning relative humidity, evening relative humidity as well as rainfall (r = - 0.68, r= -0.55, r=-0.63 and, r=- 0.49 respectively). Leafhopper and thrips has significant association and positive correlation with sunshine hours (r=0.55 & r=0.51).

Formulation and Assessment of a Ricinus communis Leaf Extract-Based Shampoo for the Treatment of Tinea capitis

Tinea capitis, a dermatophytic fungal infection affecting the scalp, represents a significant global public health concern, with particular prominence in regions characterized by limited economic resources. Unlike antibacterial medications, the options for antimicrobial treatments targeting fungal infections are relatively scarce. Furthermore, several of the existing antifungal compounds are hazardous, chemically unstable, and have poor pharmacologic properties. Therefore, it is imperative to explore alternative therapeutic avenues, particularly those derived from traditional medicinal practices and herbal compounds that have demonstrated antifungal efficacy in laboratory settings. This study aimed to formulate and evaluate a shampoo containing Ricinus communis leaf extract as an adjunctive therapy for Tinea capitis using a laboratory-based experimental design. Ricinus communis leaves were harvested from Kabarak University botanical gardens, dried, and ground into a coarse powder, followed by Soxhlet extraction with methanol. The extract was concentrated to dryness and used in the formulation of a shampoo. The shampoo was evaluated for color intensity, clarity, fluidity, ability to produce foam, homogeneity, and odor. The in vitro antifungal activity on a fungal isolate of Microsporum canis species that causes Tinea capitis was performed to demonstrate the inhibitory effects of the prepared shampoo and the methanolic extract at 100%, 50%, and 25% concentrations. Ketoconazole 2% shampoo was used as a positive control. The quantitative bioassay was performed using the disk diffusion method. The results showed that the methanol extract and the formulated shampoo have an inhibitory effect against Microsporum canis. There was no statistical difference in the zone of inhibition caused by the formulated shampoo with that caused by 2% ketoconazole shampoo (P-value = 0.59957; P-value > 0.05). Therefore, the prepared shampoo demonstrated remarkable antifungal activity against the Microsporum canis sample that is comparable to 2% ketoconazole shampoo highlighting its significance as an adjuvant therapeutic alternative for the treatment of Tinea capitis.

Proses Produksi Gula Aren Cetak (Arenga pinnata, Merr) Di Indonesia

Palm sap (Arenga pinnata, Merr) is one of the palm plants in Indonesia. Palm sap is the basic ingredient for making palm sugar. Palm sugar processing in Indonesia currently still uses traditional methods so the results and quality are inconsistent, to deal with this, further research is needed on the good tapping process, critical parameters of sap and preservatives used, the process of making palm sugar that is good and correct, and the physicochemical content of sap and palm sugar. The research method used is looking at and returning from several reference journals. The process carried out before wiretapping is pre-tapping or tapping after that the sap-tapping process. Fresh sap has a sweet taste, distinctive aroma of sap, and acidity of pH around 6-7, with sucrose content >12%, and alcohol content < 5%. Sucrose, glucose, fructose and other carbohydrates cause sweetness in sap; generally, palm sap consists of water, protein, fat, and carbohydrates. The critical parameter of palm sap is pH, palm sap that can be processed into palm sugar has a pH of 6 – 7, and palm sap is very critical because of the activity of microbes such as yeast and bacteria so preservatives are needed to maintain its quality, which is often used are natural preservatives such as safat, castor beans, hazelnut seeds, coconut oil, jackfruit stems, guava leaves, and mangosteen peel. The process of making palm sugar is simple: heating sap for 3-5 hours until it thickens and then molded into molds to become palm sugar. The chemical characteristics of palm sugar consist of water content, ash content, reducing sugar content, and sucrose content.

Molecular genetics, seed morphology and fatty acids diversity in castor (Ricinus communis L., Euphorbiaceae) Iranian populations.

Castor (Ricinus communis L.) seeds contain a large amount of oil that has several biological activities. In the current research, phytogeographic distribution, seed morphological characteristics, molecular genetic diversity and structure, and fatty acid composition were investigated in nine Iranian castor populations. The cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) protocol was used to extract the nuclear genomes. These were later amplified using 13 SCoT molecular primers. The phytogeographic distribution was determined based on the Zohary mapping, GC apparatus determined the fatty acid composition of the seeds. GenAlex, STRUCTURE, GenoDive, PopGene, and PopART software were used for the statistical analyzes. On phytogeographic mapping, the harvested populations belonged to different districts of the Euro-Siberian and Irano-Turanian regions (Holarctic kingdom). Most of the quantitative morphological traits of the seeds differed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) between the populations. The AMOVA test demonstrated a large proportion of significant genetic diversity assigned among populations, which were approved by some estimated parameters of genetic diversity such as Nm, Ht, Hs, and Gst. Nei's genetic distance and structure analysis confirmed the existence of two main genotype groups and some intermediates. However, there was no isolation by distance between the genotypes. Unsaturated fatty acids were detected as the main component of seed oil with linoleic and ricinoleic acids. Significant correlations were detected between the main fatty acids of seed oil with seed morphological traits, geographic distance and the geographic parameters of habitats. According to the composition of the seed fatty acids, four chemotypes groups were detected. The classification patterns of the populations based on molecular genetic data, fatty acid composition, and phytogeographic mapping were not identical. These findings indicated that Iranian castor populations had unusual seed fatty acid composition which strongly depended on habitat geographic factors and seed morphological traits. However, the identified chemotypes and genotypes can be used in future breeding programs.

Balanced crop nutrition with mid-season foliar fertilization enhances productivity, profitability and partial factor productivity in rainfed castor (Ricinus communis)

A field experiment was conducted at University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka to study the effect of balanced crop nutrition with mid-season foliar fertilization on productivity, profitability, and partial factor productivity of rainfed castor (Ricinus communis L.) during the rainy (kharif) seasons of 2019–20. Significantly higher seed yield (1,604 kg/ha) was observed with 30, 30, 15 and 20 kg N, P2 O5 , K2 O and ZnSO4 through soil followed by foliar application of 2% water-soluble 19 : 19 : 19 at 40 days after sowing which gave 11.38 and 54.37% higher yield over 50, 50 and 25, i.e. 125% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) and 40, 40 and 20 (100% RDF) kg N, P2 O5 , K2 O/ha respectively. Foliar application of 2% 19 : 19 : 19 enhanced partial factor productivity (PFP). Higher gross returns (`75,425/ha), net returns (`46,042/ha) and benefit : cost ratio (2.57) were also higher with 30, 30, 15 and 20 kg N, P2 O5 , K2 O, ZnSO4 /ha through soil, followed by foliar application of 2% water-soluble 19 : 19 : 19 at 40 DAS. Therefore, integration of soil and foliar application of plant nutrient looks to be feasible nutrient-management modules of castor in boosting the crop productivity. Further, this nutrient-management module was validated in 50 farmers’ fields with large plot study (0.4 ha) showed 92.26% hike in yield (746 kg/ha) over farmers’ practice (388 kg/ha).

Stability studies for yield and related component traits in castor (Ricinus communis L.)

Castor (Ricinus communis L.) is a non-edible oilseed crop used in the manufacturing of soaps, cosmetics and also possessing significant medicinal properties. The experiment was conducted to study G x E interactions and stability parameters in castor using three lines and ten testers, their resultant 30 hybrids and one check (GCH-8) for seed yield and related component traits under three different environments viz., kharif, 2020 at Agricultural Research Station (ARS), Mandor and kharif, 2021 at ARS, Mandor and Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Jodhpur. Analysis of variance showed significant difference for all the characters studied. Genotype and environment interaction was significant only for number of capsules per primary raceme, seed yield at 120 days after sowing and ricinoleic acid content. The average stability was possessed by hybrid MCP-1-1 x MP-36-17 for number of effective raceme per plant, MCP-1-1 x MP-42-17 for effective primary raceme length and 100-seed weight, and SKP-84 x MP-12-17 for number of capsules per primary raceme and 100-seed weight over all the three environments. Similarly, the hybrid MCP-1-1 x MP-35-17 showed average stability for seed yield at 120, 150, 180 and 210 days after sowing, whereas MCP-1-1 x MP-27-17 exhibited average stability for oil content, ricinoleic acid content, seed yield at 180 and 210 days after sowing. Based on overall analysis, MCP-1-1 x MP-35-17 and MCP-1-1 x MP-27-17 was found promising in arid regions of Rajasthan.

Heterosis for yield and related component traits in castor (Ricinus communis L.)

Investigating the potential of castor as a leading non-edible oil crop, this study focused on evaluating the heterosis of eight true inbred lines via a diallel crossing approach, resulting in the development of 28 hybrids. Through a randomized block design with three replications at Agricultural Research Station (ARS), Mandor, Agriculture University, Jodhpur, during the kharif season of 2022, these hybrids and their parental lines, alongside the standard check GCH-8, were rigorously assessed. Notably, two hybrids viz., PVT-4 × MCI-8 and MP-11-17× PVT-7 demonstrated significant heterosis, showcasing 30.44% and 21.78% increased seed yield per plant, respectively, in comparison to the standard check GCH-8. This highlights the promising prospects of castor as an economically viable annual crop with high seed yield potential.

Pollen as sole food source for two generalist predatory mite species (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Amblyseius largoensis and Typhlodromus ornatus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) are generalist predatory mites that naturally inhabit coconut plantations and other tropical crops. We assessed the suitability of two coconut pest mites, Raoiella indica (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) and Aceria guerreronis (Acari: Eriophyidae); the storage mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Acari: Acaridae); honey; and the pollens of castor bean, Ricinus communis, and cattail, Typha domingensis, and their mixture, as food sources for the mass rearing of A. largoensis and T. ornatus. Both pollens, supplied singly or mixed, generated the highest progeny production by both A. largoensis and T. ornatus, and were therefore selected for further life table studies. The pollen diets did not influence the survival of A. largoensis whereas there was higher survivorship of T. ornatus fed on the mixed pollen diet than on R. communis pollen alone. The maximum oviposition rate of both A. largoensis and T. ornatus occurred at the beginning of adulthood, irrespective of the pollen diet. Overall, the life table parameters indicated that the pollen of R. communis for A. largoensis, and R. communis with the mixed pollen diet for T. ornatus, were the best regarding population growth and reproduction. Collectively, our results indicate that A. largoensis and T. ornatus can survive and reproduce excellently when fed solely on R. communis or on the mixed pollen diet. In addition, these results point to the potential of pollen supplementation for the enhancement of the efficiency of these predators in conservation biological control.