Use Of Chemical Pesticides Research Articles

Screening of the Acaricidal Activity of Essential Oils against Panonychus citri (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranychidae)

The citrus red mite, Panonychus citri (McGregor), is an important pest of citrus in China, where pesticides are commonly used in citrus orchards. In order to reduce the use of chemical pesticides against P. citri and the development of resistance, the screening of biological control agents has attracted the attention of students. In this study, seven plant essential oils with high toxicity were selected from 40 plant essential oils by the leaf-dip bioassay, including plant essential oils of lemongrass, patchouli, juniper berry, sage, clove, frankincense, and citrus. The LC50 after 72 h treatment were 3.198 μL/mL, 8.312 μL/mL, 3.244 μL/mL, 6.701 μL/mL, 8.350 μL/mL, 21.953 μL/mL, and 8.788 μL/mL, respectively. According to the LT50, the essential oils’ acute toxicity to P. citri from high to low were lemongrass, juniper berry, patchouli, citrus, sage, vetiver, and frankincense essential oils. In general, lemongrass and juniper berry essential oils have the best acaricidal effect and have high application value for the biological control of P. citri, which provides a basis for the development of botanical acaricides.

Whole-transcriptome profiling across different developmental stages of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) provides insights into chitin-related non-coding RNA and competing endogenous RNA networks

BackgroundThe Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is one of the most invasive species and a vector of numerous arboviruses. The deleterious effects of long-term and inappropriate use of chemical pesticides have stimulated the exploration of new, environmentally friendly control strategies. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been proven to participate in almost all biological processes of insects. MethodsIn this study, circular RNAs (circRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) covering five developmental stages [egg, early larvae, late larvae, pupae, adult (female and male)] of A. albopictus were obtained using whole-transcriptome sequencing technology. Combined with long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) from previous research, circRNA/lncRNA‒miRNA‒mitochondrial RNA (mRNA) networks were constructed.ResultsA total of 1434 circRNAs and 208 miRNAs were identified. More differentially expressed circRNAs (DE circRNAs) and miRNAs (DE miRNAs) were found in the egg versus early larvae comparison group. Functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that most of the circRNA/lncRNA‒miRNA‒mRNA networks were involved in chitin metabolism. Hub genes of each circRNA/lncRNA‒miRNA‒mRNA network were screened out, which can be used as novel targets to disturb the molting process of A. albopictus.ConclusionsRegulatory relationships obtained from competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks provide more information to manipulate the metamorphosis process and are helpful for developing effective and sustainable methods to control mosquitoes.Graphical

Initial Studies on the Effect of the Rice-Duck-Crayfish Ecological Co-Culture System on Physical, Chemical, and Microbiological Properties of Soils: A Field Case Study in Chaohu Lake Basin, Southeast China.

Rice-duck and rice-crayfish co-culture patterns can increase soil productivity and sustainability and reduce the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, thereby reducing the resulting negative environmental impacts. However, most studies have focused on the rice-duck and rice-crayfish binary patterns and have ignored integrated systems (three or more), which may have unexpected synergistic effects. To test these effects, a paddy field experiment was carried out in the Chaohu Lake Basin, Hefei city, Southeast China. Four groups, including a rice-duck-crayfish ecological co-culture system (RDC), idle field (CK), single-season rice planting system (SSR), and double-season rice planting system (DSR), were established in this study. The results showed that the RDC improved the soil physical properties, fertility, humus content, and enzyme activity. In the RDC system, the soil total nitrogen content ranged from 8.54% to 28.37% higher than other systems in the 0-10 cm soil layer. Similar increases were found for soil total phosphorus (8.22-30.53%), available nitrogen (6.93-22.72%), organic matter (18.24-41.54%), urease activity (16.67-71.51%), and acid phosphatase activity (23.41-66.20%). Relative to the SSR treatment, the RDC treatment reduced the total losses of nitrogen and phosphorus runoff by 24.30% and 10.29%, respectively. The RDC also did not cause any harm to the soil in terms of heavy metal pollution. Furthermore, the RDC improved the yield and quality of rice, farmer incomes, and eco-environmental profits. In general, the RDC can serve as a valuable method for the management of agricultural nonpoint-source pollution in the Chaohu Lake area and the revitalization of the countryside.

Performance of Wild Tomato Accessions and Elucidation of Resistance against Invasive Pest Phthorimaea absoluta Damage under Tropical Conditions

Invasive tomato leaf miner, Phthorimaea absoluta causes serious damage and yield loss in tomato production in open-field and protected cultivation. Use of chemical pesticides is uneconomical and adversely affects humans and the environment. Host-plant resistance is an effective, economical and eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides. In this study, four wild tomato accessions from the World Vegetable Center along with one susceptible check were evaluated for their antixenosis and antibiosis effects on P. absoluta. The accessions VI037241 (Solanum galapagense) and VI037240 (S. cheesmaniae) were highly resistant, leading to 85% larval mortality under no-choice conditions. Choice assay also showed less oviposition preference and reduced pupal weight. Both VI037241 and VI037240 showed the highest resistance under field conditions. The accessions of S. habrochaites (LA1777) and S. habrochaites var. glabratum (VI030462) demonstrated moderate resistance against P. absoluta. Wild accessions recorded significantly less eggs and leaf damage in field trials compared to the susceptible genotype, S. lycopersicum (CL5915). Trichome density, type and higher production of acylsugar contributed to the insect resistance. Acylsugar production in wild accessions was less during the rainy season but significantly higher than in susceptible genotype. These findings can be useful to develop P. absoluta-resistant tomato varieties in tropics.

The phototactic rhythm of pests for the Solar Insecticidal Lamp: A review.

Pest management has been a great challenge since the beginning of human agricultural activities. Since the 1930s, chemical pesticide control has been a major control technology that can solve some of the pest problems in agricultural production. Still, it is harmful to food safety and the ecological environment. Meanwhile, the extensive use of chemical pesticides may lead to the rapid development of pest resistance. Because of the advantages of low cost, eco-friendly advantage, and low side effects, Solar Insecticidal Lamp (SIL) as the main physical control technology has been widely used for pest management in agricultural production in China. Owing to the phototaxis of pests, they have a phototropic rhythm during the nighttime. We can adjust the SIL insecticidal time according to the phototropic rhythm of pests. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the pest phototactic rhythm in a selection of 24 pest species. It is the first comprehensive survey on the phototactic rhythm of pests and the time segments of this survey are accurate to the hour. The phototactic rhythm of pests are investigated in two different varieties of crops: 1) food crops and 2) economic crops. We also discuss and analyze the various factors (e.g., meteorological conditions, insecticidal devices, physiological states and others) that affect the changing phototactic rhythm of pests. Finally, we highlight some open research challenge issues and future directions.

UDP-Galactopyranose Mutase Mediates Cell Wall Integrity, Polarity Growth, and Virulence in Fusarium graminearum.

CHY1 is a zinc finger protein unique to microorganisms that was found to regulate polarized tip growth in Fusarium graminearum, an important pathogen of wheat and barley. To further characterize its functions, in this study we identified CHY1-interacting proteins by affinity purification and selected UDP-galactofuranose (Galf) mutase (UGMA) for detailed characterization, because UGMA and UDP-Galf are unique to fungi and bacteria and absent in plants and animals. The interaction between CHY1 and UGMA was confirmed by yeast two-hybrid assays. Deletion of UGMA in F. graminearum resulted in significant defects in vegetative growth, reproduction, cell wall integrity, and pathogenicity. Infection with the ΔugmA mutant was restricted to the inoculated floret, and no vomitoxin was detected in kernels inoculated with the ΔugmA strain. Compared to the wild type, the ΔugmA mutant produced wide, highly branched hyphae with thick walls, as visualized by transmission electron microscopy. UGMA tagged with green fluorescent protein (GFP) mainly localized to the cytoplasm, consistent with the synthesis of Galf in the cytoplasm. The Δchy1 mutant was more sensitive, while the ΔugmA mutant was more tolerant, to cell wall-degrading enzymes. The growth of the ΔugmA mutant nearly ceased upon caspofungin treatment. More interestingly, nocodazole treatment of the ΔugmA strain attenuated its highly branched morphology, while caspofungin inhibited the degree of the twisted Δchy1 mycelia, indicating that CHY1 and UGMA probably have opposite effects on cell wall architecture. In conclusion, UGMA is an important pathogenic factor that is specific to fungi and bacteria and required for cell wall architecture, radial growth, and caspofungin tolerance, and it appears to be a promising target for antifungal agent development. IMPORTANCE The long-term use of chemical pesticides has had increasingly negative impacts on the ecological environment and human health. Low-toxicity, high-efficiency and environmentally friendly alternative pesticides are of great significance for maintaining the sustainable development of agriculture and human and environmental health. Using fungus- or microbe-specific genes as candidate targets provides a good foundation for the development of low-toxicity, environmentally friendly pesticides. In this study, we characterized a fungus- and bacterium-specific UDP-galactopyranose mutase gene, ugmA, that contributes to the synthesis of the cell wall component Galf and is required for vegetative growth, cell wall integrity, deoxynivalenol (DON) production, and pathogenicity in F. graminearum. The ugmA deletion mutant exhibited increased sensitivity to caspofungin. These results demonstrate the functional importance of UGMA in F. graminearum, and its absence from mammals and higher plants constitutes a considerable advantage as a low-toxicity target for the development of new anti-Fusarium agents.

Screening of Rice Genotypes for Resistance to Leaf Folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Guenee

In recent years, leaf folder incidence has been increasing in all rice ecosystems and is abundant during the wet season. Presently farmers are dependent on the use of toxic chemical pesticides alone for their management. Hence, an attempt was made to nominate genotypes developed at Agriculture Research Station, Bapatla for screening against leaf folder under the AICRIP entomology program. Of the 16 genotypes evaluated at multi- locations during the Kharif season for two years, 2020 and 2021, BPT 2699 was found promising in 2-8 locations. BPT 3034 and BPT 3059 were promising in 2-6 locations, four entries BPT 2677, BPT 2954, BPT 3049 and BPT 2932 were promising in 3- 5 locations. The majority of these entries consistently outperformed the check variety (TN1) for leaf folder resistance and can be used as donors in future breeding programmes.

Distribution Characteristics and Pollution Risk of Heavy Metals in River Sediment of Suzhou Water Network Area, China

The average contents of the heavy metals Cd, Cu, Cr, As, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the sediment of sampling points in the Suzhou water network area were 1.4, 127.4, 83.2, 18.2, 51.7, 145.1, and 350.7 mg·kg-1, respectively, which were 13.7, 5.7, 1.1, 1.7, 1.9, 5.5, and 5.6 times the background values, respectively. The proportions of points exceeding the risk screening values of the GB 15618-2018 standard were 100.0%, 97.3%, 38.4%, 83.6%, 97.3%, 90.4%, and 100.0%, respectively. The pollution degree of single heavy metal elements was evaluated using the improved ground accumulation index method. The pollution degree of the seven heavy metal elements in the sediment of the Suzhou water network area was in the order of Cd>Cu>Pb>Zn>As>Cr>Ni. Among them, Cd showed extremely strong pollution, Cu and Pb showed intense to extremely strong pollution, Zn showed strong pollution, As showed moderate to intense pollution, and Cr and Ni showed moderate pollution. Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn in the sediment samples of the ancient city area, northwest area, southwest area, and east area were the heavy metal elements with high pollution contributions. The potential ecological risk degree of heavy metals was ranked as northwest>southwest>ancient city area>east. Correlation analysis and principal component analysis showed that Cd, Cu, Cr, As, Ni, Pb, and Zn may have come from anthropogenic factors such as tail gas emissions, the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and the pollutant emissions of the electronic manufacturing industry.

A Review Simplicillium Lanosoniveum, Prospects as Biological Control Agents in Indonesia

Simplicillium lanosoniveum is a species of Simplicillium, included in the Cordycipitaceae. This fungus is known to have a dual role as an entomopathogen against insect pests and antagonist against disease pathogens in plants. There are no reports on the negative impact of S. lanosoniveum as biological control. In Indonesia, the research on the two roles of S. lanosoniveum is still limited. Therefore, it is necessary to study the potential of these fungi to be worthy of analysis, based on the results of previous research. The purpose of this study is to provide information about the potential of Simplicillium lanosoniveum as an entomopathogenic fungus and antagonist against plant fungal pathogens, which has various characteristics of pests and diseases in tropical regions.It is hoped that it can increase the diversity of fungi that act as biological agents in Indonesia, in an effort to suppress the use of chemical pesticides.

GLOBAL PESTICIDE MARKET: SIZE, TRENDS, FORECASTS

Worldwide pesticides are used by farmers for growing more food on less land by protecting crops from pests, diseases and weeds as well as raising productivity per hectare. Also, pesticides enable farmers to produce safe, quality foods at affordable prices. Therefore, the market for agricultural pesticides is anticipated to rise by $ 26.23 billion between 2021 and 2025. Pesticide residues can be discovered in a wide range of common foods and drinks, such as prepared meals, water, wine, fruit juices, snacks, and animal feeds. Furthermore, it should be noticed that chemical pesticides have been linked to a variety of detrimental health consequences, including impacts on the skin, gastrointestinal system, nervous system, respiratory system, reproductive system, and endocrine system. The current review was carried out using an objective mixture of primary and secondary information, including inputs from key participants in pesticides industry. Also, it aims at highlighting the urgent need for a new concept in agriculture involving a drastic reduction in the use of chemical pesticides, driving the market to bio-based pesticides.

Effective Microorganisms and Olive Mill Wastewater Used as Biostimulants to Improve the Performance of Tanacetum balsamita L., a Medicinal Plant

The use of biostimulants and/or biofertilizers has acquired considerable importance and can contribute to the sustainable management agriculture, reducing the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and water. This study aims to assess the effects of Effective Microorganisms (EM) and Olive Mill Wastewater (OMW) on the growth, photosynthetic performance and polyphenols content of the medicinal plant Tanacetum balsamita. The EM and OMW were used at two dilution rates. The EM was added to 5% v/v and 10% v/v, while OMW was added to 2.5% v/v and 5% v/v in plants at the early growth stage. After 75 days of treatment, all the treated plants had a leaf number and leaf area almost 2-fold higher than in the Control plants. Moreover, the treatments, at all the concentrations applied had a positive effect on the photosynthetic activity, with an improvement both in terms of the quantum yield of photosynthesis and electrons transport efficiency. The best photosynthetic and growth performances in the treated plants coincided with the higher production of phenolic compounds; indeed, after 75 days, the content of chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and isochlorogenic acid was even 2-fold of the Control plants. Also, rutin content was 1.28–1.50-fold respect to the Control extracts. The highest phenolic compound content was reflected by the highest antiradical activity, found in the extracts of the treated plants. The effectiveness of EM to increase the growth and quality of plants and in particular, the potential use of OMW on the cultivated crop was confirmed to this study.

Występowanie pozostałości środków ochrony roślin w owocach – wyniki badań kontroli urzędowej (2021)

The aim of the study was a multidimensional analysis of the occurrence of pesticide residues in fruit samples (87) within the framework of official control (68, WIORiN) and cross-compliance control (19, ARiMR). There was an assessment of the frequency of detection of chemical groups and individual active substances (a.s.), the level of concentrations and estimation of the magnitude of exceedances of permissible standards (MRLs), as well as diagnosis of multi-residue samples. The practical purpose of the studies conducted was to assess compliance by producers with the regulations for the application of the pesticide residues. In 45% (WIORiN) and 9% (ARiMR) of the samples, residues of pesticides were found. MRL exceedances were recorded in 1% of the samples tested. Samples with a non-recommended a.s. accounted for 5% of samples. Of the 516 labeled pesticides, 26 a.s. were detected, mainly fungicides. The highest level was recorded for boscalid (1.6 mg/kg) in the blueberry sample. Residues of pesticides were most often detected in strawberries (18%). The highest number of compounds was detected in cherries, where nine a.s. were determined. The presence of multi-residue samples was noted (44%), of which samples with two residues were the most numerous (11%). The results obtained from the study show the importance of controlling residues of pesticides in fruits, which require frequent use of chemical pesticides due to attack from agrophages, in order to guarantee food quality and safety.

A critical study on field efficacy of insecticides and biopesticides against major insect pests in Okra

Monitoring insect activity through routine surveys is one of the pathologist's key goals. Since the pest management system cannot function without precise estimates of pests and natural enemies or without accurate assessments of plant damage and its impact on yield, the knowledge about insect activity acquired through these surveys is essential. Insect resistance, insect resurgence, toxicity, and environmental pollution are only a few of the issues that have been brought on by the indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides without consideration for the financial harm to the crops. In order to determine whether to implement control measures, it is important to regularly check on the number of pests and their state in the crop. Laboratory tests were performed to assess the effectiveness of various botanicals and to determine the development threshold and duration against okra pest insects. Field studies were conducted to examine the succession of pests, seasonal incidence of various insect pests in relation to weather variables, spatial distribution, sequential sampling, and the effectiveness of various insecticides and biopesticides against the most significant insect pests of okra.

Preserving Celery Quality: Organic Cultivation and Room Temperature Storage with LDPE Wrapping Yields Optimal Results

Periodic use of chemical pesticides in conventional farming systems can lead to environmental degradation. Organic product are believed to be potential for human health. This research was conducted for 144 hours to determine the effect of cultivation and storage methods on the chemical-physical, and organoleptic characteristics of celery during the post-harvest period. This study used a Factorial Randomized Block Design which was repeated three times with the first factor is the cultivation method which consisted of two levels, namely, organic and conventional. The second factor was the storage method which consisted of four levels, namely, stored in the refrigerator with wrapped in LDPE Bag, stored in the refrigerator without wrapping in LDPE Bag, stored in a room temperature wrapping in LDPE bag, and stored in a room temperature without wrapping in LDPE bag. Data obtained were analysed by analysis of variance and then continued with the 5% HSD Test. The results of weight loss showed that the best treatment was obtained in organic cultivation with the scores 48.03% and stored in the room temperature with LDPE bags with the scores 18,31%, and the organoleptic scores were colour 4.13, and freshness value 4.17.

Odorant-binding Protein 10 From Bradysia odoriphaga (Diptera: Sciaridae) Binds Volatile Host Plant Compounds

Bradysia odoriphaga (Diptera: Sciaridae) is a major insect pest of seven plant families including 30 commercial crops in Asia. The long-term use of chemical pesticides leads to problems such as insect resistance, environmental issues, and food contamination. Against this background, a novel pest control method should be developed. In insects, odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) transport odor molecules, including pheromones and plant volatiles, to olfactory receptors. Here, we expressed and characterized the recombinant B. odoriphaga OBP BodoOBP10, observing that it could bind the sulfur-containing compounds diallyl disulfide and methyl allyl disulfide with Ki values of 8.01 μM and 7.00 μM, respectively. Homology modeling showed that the BodoOBP10 3D structure was similar to that of a typical OBP. Both diallyl disulfide and methyl allyl disulfide bound to the same site on BodoOBP10, mediated by interactions with six hydrophobic residues Met70, Ile75, Thr89, Met90, Leu93, and Leu94, and one aromatic residue, Phe143. Furthermore, silencing BodoOBP10 expression via RNAi significantly reduced the electroantennogram (EAG) response to diallyl disulfide and methyl allyl disulfide. These findings suggest that BodoOBP10 should be involved in the recognition and localization of host plants.

Growth, late blight and yield response of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation in West region of Cameroon

Abstract The crop protection system in Cameroon is mainly based on the use of chemical pesticides which can lead to human and environmental health problems. Biological control is a low-cost and eco-friendly alternative control method that could be used to boost the production of quality potatoes. This study aims to test a biological control approach for potato growth, late blight, and yield using arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) inoculants. To achieve this, a split-plot experimental design consisting of two factors: potato varieties (Pamela and Cipira) and AMF dose (0 g, 20 g, and 40 g per plant) was used. Results showed that the interaction between variety and AMF doses was significant for growth variables for the treatment Cipira × 20 g AMF/plant showing the highest plant height (48.0 cm) at the 4th week after sowing (WAS). In addition, the combination of variety and AMF doses significantly reduced late blight incidence and severity, with the best result exhibited by Pamela variety × 40 g AMF/plant (53% and 10%, respectively). The treatments also showed a significant effect on root colonization, with Pamela × 40 g AMF/plant exhibiting the highest arbuscular content in the root system (93%). In terms of yield, the interaction between variety and AMF doses had a significant effect on tuber yields, with a yield of 50 and 55 t/ha recorded for Pamela at 20 g of AMF/plant and 40 g of AMF/plant, respectively. These results show that farm management practices based on AMF inoculations could efficiently increase potato productivity in the Western Highlands of Cameroon.

Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM) Module for Major Insect Pest Thrips and Diseases of Onion (Allium cepa var. aggregatum)

In the validation of IPDM module (Seed treatment with thiophanate methyl) @ 2.5 g kg-1 seed, soil application of Bacillus subtilis @ 1.25 kg ha-1 + Trichoderma asperellum @ 1.25 kg ha-1 + VAM fungi @ 12.5kg ha-1 + Azophos @ 4kg ha-1 + neem cake @ 250 kg ha-1 + blue sticky traps (20 traps per 0.4 ha at 30 cm height above the onion plant) + need based application of tebuconazole @ 1.5 mL l-1 for purple blotch disease management + need based application of (3.3% mefenoxam + 33.1% chlorothalonil SC 0.1 %) followed by 23.4% mandipropamid SC 0.1% for downy mildew management + fipronil 5% SC @ 1.0 mL l-1 for thrips) against thrips and major diseases of onion revealed significant reduction of purple blotch (10.7 PDI) downy mildew (6.1 PDI), twister blight (11.1 PDI) and thrips population (1.76 nos leaf -1) as against 25.0, 24.2,11.3 and 4.6 respectively in control. In the farmer's practice, the disease, severity, and thrips population recorded were 16.9 PDI, 8.7 PDI, 16.6 PDI, and 3.28 nos leaf -1, which emphasizes the effectiveness of the IPDM module. The reduction of the disease severity and thrips population over control in the IPDM module was 57.20%, 46.01%, 54.13 %, and 61.73 %, recording an economic return of 1:3.12. Hence, the validated IPDM module may be recommended to manage thrips, purple blotch, downy mildew and twister blight in onion to reduce the use of chemical pesticides

Optimization of N-hexane and Methanol Solvents on Total Phenol Levels of Gnetum gnemon Peel Extract in the Production of Biopesticide

The excessive use of chemical pesticides has led to pest resistance and the accumulation of residues. Pest resistance occurs when pests become immune to pesticides and require higher doses or stronger pesticides for control. This study aims to identify the optimal solvent for dissolving secondary metabolite compounds that selectively and safely kill or inhibit the growth of plant pests. The biopesticide used is derived from melinjo bark extract through the process of soxhlet extraction using methanol and N-hexane solvents. The study employed a two-factor factorial design with three variables. The findings revealed that methanol solvent was more effective in dissolving phenolic compounds, resulting in a phenol content of 34.23 mg/equivalent Gallic Acid. The optimal solvent ratio was achieved at a ratio of 600 ml. The highest yield, reaching 56.27%, was obtained when using methanol as the solvent. Moreover, the pest mortality rate was found to be 100% at the specified concentration.

Biosurfactants produced by the novel strain Bacillus subtilis H1 as an efficient tool to biocontrol fungal diseases of tomato and wheat

Plant fungal diseases cause up to 15-20% and, in extreme cases, up to 60% yield loss globally. The use of chemical pesticides for the suppression of fungal plant diseases has many negative consequences for the environment. Therefore, new alternatives to suppress fungal pathogens are actively sought. In this present study, biosurfactants produced by the novel strain of Bacillus subtilis H1 were monitored for their ability to inhibit the growth of phytopathogens Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici and Alternaria spp in in vitro and in vivo experiments. In the in vitro experiment, the treatment of tomato leaves with a biosurfactant fully inhibited the growth of F. oxysporum, and reduced the growth of Alternaria spp mycelium by 11.5 times at a concentration of 1000 mg/l. In the in vivo experiment, the use of a biosurfactant reduced the degree of damage to tomato and wheat plants, but less than in the in vitro experiment. In the case of tomato leaves infected with F. oxysporum and Alternaria spp and treated with 1000 mg/l biosurfactants, a decrease of 2.6 and 2.1 times was determined relative to infected but intreated leaves. For wheat leaves, the decrease was by 1.6 and 2.0 times, respectively. It can be concluded that biosurfactants produced by B. subtilis H1 are promising to be used for fungal pathogens biocontrol.

Economic Cooperation And Integration Among BIMSTEC: A Study On Organic Agricultural Products

The study on the economic benefits of India BIMSTEC sub-regional trade alignments for Indian organic products focuses on regional alliances among south and southeast Asia. This sub-regional trading bloc is most important for Indian policymakers to enhance economic cooperation through trade on organic Agri products among these regions. This research wants to highlight major tradeable organic Agri Products and identify potentiality in trade among these regions. Study also identifies the possible scope of trade and future welfare creation among BIMSTEC members through the formation of regional trade agreement (RTA) particularly, based on the organic Agri products basket. In this research, researcher restricts the scope of organic Agri products, grown under system of agriculture without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Researchers identify a list of 23 major organic Agri products under Harmonized System (HS) of classification under 4-digit codes for preliminary analysis of trade potentiality among these regions. This research has been established based on different econometric parameters commonly used for analyzing trade-related data. Basically, WITS (World Bank) data has been used for our analysis purposes. For identifying of intra-industry trade (IIT) researchers use the GrubelLloyd index and, for comparative evaluation of import effects in various forms of trade alignment namely, bi-lateral and sub-regional alignment, particularly in BIMSTEC countries researcher uses AI based Gravity model on trade