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Anand Agricultural University, Anand
Anand Agricultural University (AAU) was established in 2004 at Anand with the support of the Government of Gujarat, Act No.(Guj 5 of 2004) dated April 29, 2004. Caved out of the erstwhile Gujarat Agricultural University (GAU), the dream institution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dr. K. M. Munshi, the AAU was set up to provide support to the farming community in three facets namely education, research and extension activities in Agriculture, Horticulture Engineering, product Processing and Home Science. At present there seven Colleges, seventeen Research Centers and six Extension Education Institute working in nine districts of Gujarat namely Ahmedabad, Anand, Dahod, Kheda, Panchmahal, Vadodara, Mahisagar, Botad and Chhotaudepur
AAU's activities have expanded to span newer commodity sectors such as soil health card, bio-diesel, medicinal plants apart from the mandatory ones like rice, maize, tobacco, vegetable crops, fruit crops, forage crops, animal breeding, nutrition and dairy products etc. the core of AAU's operating philosophy however, continues to create the partnership between the rural people and committed academic as the basic for sustainable rural development. In pursuing its various programmes AAU's overall mission is to promote sustainable growth and economic independence in rural society. AAU aims to do this through education, research and extension education. Thus, AAU works towards the empowerment of the farmers.
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ThesisItem Open Access SOME STUDIES ON PREDATORY SPIDERS IN HYBRID COTTON-6 AT ANAND(AAU, Anand, 1988) DHULIA, F. K.; YADAV, D. N.Studies were made on various predatory spiders associated with insect pests of hybrid cotton-6 at Anand Campus of the Gujarat Agricultural University during 1986-87. In all thirteen species of predatory spiders belonging to nine different families were recorded. These included five species of hunting spiders viz., Oxyopes ratnae, Glubiona sp., Castianeira sp., Plexippus sp. and Hippasa sp., four species of web-building spiders viz., Neoscona theisl, Neoscona sp.,. Uloborus khasiensis and Argiope pulchella, three species of ambushing spiders viz., Thomisus sp., T. cherapunjeus and T. projectus and one species of Olios sp. Hunting spiders dominated over other species and accounted for 63.15 per cent of the total population. Amongst these O. ratnae was found to be most important and predominant. Seasonal activity of O.ratnae, Glubiona sp., A. pulchella, Castianeira sp.. Olios sp., N, theisi, Thomisus sp. and U. khasiensis was also studied and were found predatory on insect pests such as Heliothis armigera Hxibner,, Spodoptera litura Fab., Anomis flava F., Earias vittella F., Dysdercus cinqulatus Fb., Aphis qos sypii Glover,, Ainrasca biguttula biguttula Ishida, and Bemisia tabaci Gennadius, Observations on biology of O. ratnae show that, the spider laid on an average 2.8 egg-raasses during her life span. The incubation period was 9-11 days (the average being 10.1 days) and numbers of spiderlings emerged per egg-mass varied from 30-42, with an average of 35.6. Male and female pass through 10 and 11 instars respectively to reach maturity. Male spiderlings took 157-215 days (the average being 187.20 days) whereas the female took 221-295 days (the average being 259.50 days) to complete the development. Total life span from the emergence of the spiderlings to the death of the adult varied from 260-349 days in case of male (The average being 305.8 days) whereas it varied from 323-418 days in case of female (The average being 358.80 days). The male and female mated readily under laboratory conditions, the mating lasted for few seconds. Mortality during different instars varied from 4,00 to 17.64 per cent, it was more in the 12 instar spiderlings (17.64%), The female spins silken cocoon before laying eggs and then covers them with silken threads. It was also found to take care of the eggs by sitting over them. Just hatched spiderlings were able to survive for 9.6 days when starved. The residual toxicity of fenvalerate (0.015%), endosulfan (0.07%), phosphamidon (0.03%) and monocrotophos (0.04%) was found to be high to the second instar spiderlings of 0. ratnae. Amongst them endosulfan was found having greater residual toxicity. Thus, fairly rich fauna of predatory spiders occurred in hybrid cotton-6. In view of their abundance, longer activity, long longevity and predation on variety of insects, it is suggested that as far as possible the spiders should be conserved by minimizing the apolication of pesticides such as fenvalerate, endosulfan, phosphamidon and monocrotophos. It would also be worthwhile attempting mass rearing of species like Oxyopec ratnae and Clubiona and utilizing them against insect pests of cotton. It would be interesting to study their occurrence on other crops, to know wheather these species show some affinity for particular habitat.ThesisItem Open Access STUDIES ON PREDATION OF HELIOTHIS ARMIGERA HUBNER AND SPODOPTERA LITURA FAB. BY INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ACRIDOTHERES TRISTIS L.(AAU, Anand, 1988) PATEL, MUKESH H.; YADAV, D. N.Studies on identification of avian predators H. armigera and S. litura, assessment of their predation and the breeding biology of chief predatory species, Acridotheres tristis L. were carried out at Anand Campus of Gujarat Agricultural University, during 1986-1987. Studies on identification of avian predators of the pests revealed that Acridotheres tristis, Acridotheres ginginianus, Passer domesticus, Dicrurus adsimilis, Bubulcusibis, Merops orientalis and Sturnus roseus were observed preying on H. armigera in different crops. Whereas, Corvus macrorhynchos and B. ibis found preying on S. litura in tobacco nursery. The studies revealed that birds are highly attracted when host density was high. Their predation resulted as much as 47.74 per cent reduction in the larval population of S.podoptera litura in tobacco nursery. The average being 40.33 per cent. As a result of effective predation, there was only 0.26 and 0.55 per cent increase in the seedling damage by the pest as compared to 13.31 and 10.57 per cent increase in control plots. The avian predation of S. litura showed their maximum activity between 0630 and 0900 hours and 1600 and 1800 hours. Their activity was not found between 1000 and 1400 hours. Jungle crow, C. macrorhynchoa and house crow, C. splendens were most voracious feeders of S. litura larvae consuming on an average 3.00and 3.01 larvae per minute respectively. The feeding rate of common myna, A. tristis; bank myna, A. ginginianus; cattle egret, B, ibis and house sparrow, P, domesticus averaged 1.94. 2.07. 0.88 and 0.83 larvae per minute respectively. Among the different bird species found preying on S. litura« jungle crow appeared in great number (27) than house crow (5), common myna (7) and bank myna (6). The avian predation of H. armigera in gram exerted very effective check on the pest. On an average large sized (1.31) larvae per m2 were recorded in experimental area as against 7.2 larvae per m2 in control area. Similarly greater number of pupae (46.78/m2) wag recorded from netted area than that in experimental area (3.0/m2). There was 38.75 per cent more pod damage in control area than that in experimental area. The experimental area recorded 939 kg/ha more yield than control. The birds J however, fed indiscriminately on healthy and parasitised larvae.ThesisItem Open Access VARIETAL SUSCEPTIBILITY AND EVALUATION OF INSECTICIDES AGAINST POD-BORER COMPLEX ON PIGEONPEA Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.(AAU, Anand, 1988) Patel, Pravin S.; Patel, J. R.The relative bio-efficacy of fenvalerate E. C. formulation at 0.005%, 0.01% and 0.02% concentrations and 0.4% dust @ 25 kg/ha along with other synthetic pyrethroids viz., cypermethrin 0. 006%, decamethrin 0.0015% and fenvalerate [Sumicidin (R)] 0.01% as well as conventional insecticides viz. , endosulfan 0.07%, monocrotophos 0.04%, quinalphos 0.05% and 1.5% dust @ 25 kg/ha was evaluated during 1986-87 and 1987-88 against the pod-borers viz., lepidopteran Heliothis armigera Hubner and dipterous podfly Melanagromyza obtusa Malloch on pigeonpea T-15-15. All the insecticides were applied twice at fortnight interval initiating at 50% pod formation stage. All the insecticides evaluated exhibited significant potentiality in protecting the pods and grains against the pod-borer complex. Fenvalerate 0.02% and 0.01% [Fenval (R) 20 E. c. ]as well as fenvalerate 0.4% dust were found most effective in checking Heliothls infestation to the pods. The dust formulations of fenvalerate (O.4%) and quinalphos (1.5%) were equally effective in checking the Heliothis infestation. Maximum protection against the podfly infestation to the pods and grains was offered by fenvalerate 0.02%, but being at par with its lower concentration 0.01% and systemic organophosphate monocrotophos 0.04%. Fenvalerate 0.02% treated plot gave maximum increase in pigeonpea grain yield over control. It was followed by monocrotophos 0.04%, fenvalerate 0.4% dust, decamethrin 0.0015%, cypermethrln 0.006%, fenvalerate 0.01%, endosulfan 0.07%, quinalphos 0.05%, quinalphos 1.5% dust, fenvalerate [Sumicidin(R)] 0.01% and fenvalerate 0.005%. The mean C.B.R. for the two experiments ranged from 1 : 5.17 (quinalphos 0.05%) to 1 : 12.16 (fenvalerate 0.02%). None of the insecticides evaluated at the given doses caused any phytotoxic effect on the pigeonpea crop during both the years of experimentation. The fenvalerate residues in pigeonpea grains from its different treatments after 40 and 60 days of their applications were below the tolerance limit. However, the residues were more than 1 ppm in the podshells without grains of all fenvalerate treatments except fenvalerate 0.005%. The highest ovicidal action on the eggs of H. armigera (Hb.) was .exhibited by fenvalerate 0.02% and quinalphos 0.05%, whereas, fenvalerate 0.01%, monocrotophos 0.04%, decamethrin 0.0015%, cypermethrin 0.006%, fenvalerate [Sumicidin (R) ] 0.01%, fenvalerate 0.005% and endosulfan 0.07% were in descending order of their toxicity. Preliminary screening of pigeonpea germplasm consisting of 26 genotypes/entries for their susceptibility to the complex of pod-borers comprising two lepidopterans H. armigera (Hb.) and plume moth ,E. atomosa W. and podfly, M. obtusa Mall. was carried out under natural incidence of these pests. Among 13 early maturing entries/genotypes GAUT 82-105 was very less susceptible to both the lepidopterans, while GAUI 82- 92 and GAUT 83-23 had minimum podfly infested pods and grains. The higher yield response together with less susceptibility to the Heliothis and podfly was expressed by GAUT 82-104. ICPL-332 one of the 13 mid-late maturing entries screened was relatively very less susceptible to the infestation of the both lepidopteran borers and podfly whereas, GAUT 82-58 was even less susceptible to both the lepidopterans but highly susceptible to podfly. Heliothis susceptible entries were BDN-2 and G-15 but at the same time they had less infestation of podfly. The yield responses of GAUT 82-90 and GAUT 83-17 were higher in spite of sustaining relatively moderate infestation of Heliothis and podfly to the pods and grains. There was significantly more incidence of H. armigera (Hb.) in early maturing entries than that in mid-late maturing entries.ThesisItem Open Access BIOECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON MALADA BONINENSIS OKAMOTO, A NEW CHRYSOPID PREDATOR OF WHITE FLIES, BEMISIA TABACI GENNADIUS(AAU, Anand, 1988) JOSHI, BAKUL C.; YADAV, D. N.The studies on bioecology of Mallada boninensis Okamoto (Neuroptera : Chrysopidae) were carried out at Anand Campus of Gujarat Agricultural University during 1987-88. The studies revealed that, the predator lays characteristically stalked eggs in groups of 11 to 20, which hatch out in 4 to 5 days. The tiny larva, after eclosion runs fast in search of food and feeds on all kinds of soft bodied insects such as white flies, mites, aphids, scales, eggs and young larvae of lepidopterans. The larva has habit of carrying on its back the remains of the dead prey after sucking the internal content. In the laboratory when fed on eggs of Corcyra cephalonica (Lepidoptera Pyrallidae) the larvae pass through three instars to complete their development. The average durations of first, second and third instar were 4.11, 4.11 and 4.63 days at constant temperature 25.26°c + 2.2°C and 59.90% relative humidity) respectively. At varying temperature during October (average maximum and minimum temperature and relative humidity was 28.89°C, 25.37°C and 56.83% respectively) the larval duration of first, second and third instar was 3.36, 3.57 and 3.0 days respectively. Similarly during February-March, (average maximum ana minimum temperature and relative humidity was 26.57 C, 23.06°C and 62.33% respectively) the average larval duration of three instars was 5,00, 4.17 and 4.25 days respectively. The total larval period averaged 10,43, 13.42 and 12.85 days during October, February-March and at controlled temperatures respectively. The full grown larvae undergo a short prepupal stage (5 to 8 hours) before undergoing pupation. The pupal stage averaged 9.71, 14.72 and 13.79 days during October, February-March and xittder constant temperature respectively. The adults are bright green with membranous transparent wings and eyes are metalic golden. In the field they can easily be identified by characteristic fluttering flight, when a plant is shaken. The sexes can easily be differentiated. The female is slightly bigger than the male.The male female ratio was 1:1.5 and the percentage emergence was 81,4U, Preoviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition periodsof the predator averaged 9.90 + 1,60, 36.90 + 4.41 and 18,00 + 12.24 days respectively. The average fecundity was 431.3 + 39.41 eggs* the maximum being 473 eggs, with an average daily rate of oviposition of 11.B6 eggs. The average longevity of female and male v/as 64.8 + 15.97 and 27,36 + 8.03 days respectively. The entire life span from egg to death of the adult averaged 76.74 and 49.99 days in females and males respectively at varying room temperatures, whereas uhder controlled conditions, it averaged 96.38 and 59,18 days in females and males respectively. The larvae are voracious feeders and consume on an average 628.75 eggs of Corcyra cephalonica Staint or 453 nymphs of white flies before reaching maturity. The newly hatched larvae can survive for aiaverage period of 2.29 + 0.49 days without food in the laboratory. Cannibalism is common among the larvae of the predator, when reared in group. The extent of wnicn was worked out to be 14.5 percent.The activity of predator was found on various crops such as oicra, Indian bean, wheat, cotton, groundnut, lucerne, mango and citrus. The activity of the predator v/as almost synchronous with that of its prey. The predator was found to have a. positive prey dependent relationship. Heavy rains appear to have deleterious effect on the natural populations of the predator. Under congenial conditions the predator was found to regulate the prey infestation in cotton. Telenomus sp., spiders and Minochilus sexmaculatus were recorded as natural enemies of the predator, though, the extent parasitism/predation was negligible. In laboratory experiment, the fungal pathogens viz Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bronqiartii were found to be non-pathogenic to the larvae of the predator. Six insecticides viz phosphamidon 0.03%, cypermethrin 0.009%, monocrotophos 0,04%, fenvalerate 0,015% decamethrin 0.0028% and endosulfan 0.07% were tested for their ovicidal action, but found to have no significant effect. It is concluded that the M. boninensis is an important predator of white flies. Considering its several attributes, its mass propagation and field testing against white flies in cotton is suggested. Its introduction in different parts of the country where it is not known to occur and white fly is a pest is also suggested.