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Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa

In the imperial Gazetteer of India 1878, Pusa was recorded as a government estate of about 1350 acres in Darbhanba. It was acquired by East India Company for running a stud farm to supply better breed of horses mainly for the army. Frequent incidence of glanders disease (swelling of glands), mostly affecting the valuable imported bloodstock made the civil veterinary department to shift the entire stock out of Pusa. A British tobacco concern Beg Sutherland & co. got the estate on lease but it also left in 1897 abandoning the government estate of Pusa. Lord Mayo, The Viceroy and Governor General, had been repeatedly trying to get through his proposal for setting up a directorate general of Agriculture that would take care of the soil and its productivity, formulate newer techniques of cultivation, improve the quality of seeds and livestock and also arrange for imparting agricultural education. The government of India had invited a British expert. Dr. J. A. Voelcker who had submitted as report on the development of Indian agriculture. As a follow-up action, three experts in different fields were appointed for the first time during 1885 to 1895 namely, agricultural chemist (Dr. J. W. Leafer), cryptogamic botanist (Dr. R. A. Butler) and entomologist (Dr. H. Maxwell Lefroy) with headquarters at Dehradun (U.P.) in the forest Research Institute complex. Surprisingly, until now Pusa, which was destined to become the centre of agricultural revolution in the country, was lying as before an abandoned government estate. In 1898. Lord Curzon took over as the viceroy. A widely traveled person and an administrator, he salvaged out the earlier proposal and got London’s approval for the appointment of the inspector General of Agriculture to which the first incumbent Mr. J. Mollison (Dy. Director of Agriculture, Bombay) joined in 1901 with headquarters at Nagpur The then government of Bengal had mooted in 1902 a proposal to the centre for setting up a model cattle farm for improving the dilapidated condition of the livestock at Pusa estate where plenty of land, water and feed would be available, and with Mr. Mollison’s support this was accepted in principle. Around Pusa, there were many British planters and also an indigo research centre Dalsing Sarai (near Pusa). Mr. Mollison’s visits to this mini British kingdom and his strong recommendations. In favour of Pusa as the most ideal place for the Bengal government project obviously caught the attention for the viceroy.

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Subject: Entomology × Start date: 2023 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Population dynamics and management of major sucking insect pests of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Linn.)
    (RPCAU, Pusa, 2023) DEVI, DHARANIKOTA LALITHAMBICA; Sunil Kumar Mandal
    The present investigation entitled “Population dynamics and management of major sucking insect pests of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Linn.)” was conducted during 2023 cropping season at Vegetable Research Farm, RPCAU, Pusa, Bihar. The study focused on survey of major insect pests of cowpea in Samastipur, Bihar to investigate the incidence of insect pests affecting cowpea. Field observations were carried out at three blocks in Samastipur district during the entire growth period of crop. The major findings acknowledged were sucking pests like aphids (19.89/10 cm twig) observed maximum in Kalyanpur block whereas whiteflies (4.83/ 3 leaves/ plant) and leafhoppers (2.82/3 leaves/plant) in Samastipur block and thrips (8.44/ 5flower buds/plant) in Pusa block. The population of pod sucking bug (5.58/plant) was highest in Samastipur block and maximum pod damage (21.26 damaged pods/100 pods) was recorded in Pusa block. The findings on population dynamics of major sucking insect pests of cowpea revealed that aphid, leafhopper and whitefly population were commenced first on 4th week of March (12th SMW) and reached its peak of 22.80 aphids/ 10 cm twig, 8.17 leafhoppers/3 leaves /plant and 11.20 whiteflies/ three leaves/plant on 3rd week of April (16th SMW). Population of thrips was commenced on 5th week of March (14th SMW) and maximum population was noted during 3rd week of April (16th SMW). The population of aphid, leafhopper, whitefly and thrips showed positive and significant correlation with maximum temperature and negative significance with relative humidity. The bioefficacy of various newer insecticides were also evaluated against sucking insect pests of cowpea. Among them, Thiamethoxam 25% WDG proved most effective causing maximum population reduction of major sucking insect pests viz., aphids, leafhopper, whitefly, and thrips followed by Imidacloprid 17.8% SL. Diafenthiuron 50% EC, Acetamiprid 20% SP, Buprofezin 25% SC, Fipronil 5% SC stood in middle order of efficacy and Dimethoate 30% EC (Standard check) had least efficacy. The maximum yield 97.26 q/ha was obtained in the plots treated with Thiamathoxam 25% WDG followed by Imidacloprid 17.8% SL (92.13 q/ha). The minimum yield of 81.10 q/ha was obtained in the plots treated with Dimethoate 30% EC (standard check).
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Bio-ecology and Management of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda S. on Kharif Maize
    (RPCAU, Pusa, 2023) DEY, AMIT; GIRI, GOURI SHANKAR
    The present study entitled “Bio-ecology and Management of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda S. on Kharif Maize” was conducted at the Research Farm of Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dholi, Muzaffarpur, Bihar. The research study focused on the population fluctuation of fall armyworm in relation to biotic and abiotic factors of the environment, biology, biophysical and biochemical bases resistance among genotypes against fall armyworm and management of its thorough some insecticides as seed treatment and foliar spraying. It was observed that the larva was first noticed during 30th SMW (0.20 larvae per plant) followed by adult moth during 31st SMW (2.00 moths per trap). The larval population as well as moth catches per trap reached its first peak during 37th SMW (1.45 larvae per plant and 4.50 moths per trap, respectively) during the vegetative stage and a second peak was observed during 40th SMW (1.35 larvae per plant and 4.50 moths per trap, respectively) during the reproductive stage of crop. Both larvae per plant and moth catches per trap had a positive and significant relationship with morning (r = 0.566* and 0.497*, respectively) and evening (r = 0.570* and 0.529*, respectively) relative humidity and a negative and significant relation with bright sunshine hour (r = -0.509* and -0.564*, respectively). Number of moths per trap had a positive and significant correlation with evaporation (r = 0.574*) while the larvae per plant had a negative correlation with evaporation (r = -0.748**). The predator population in maize ecosystem showed a positive and significant correlation with both trapped moths and larval population. Under laboratory conditions, the total lifecycle was completed within 32.02 and 34.47 days for male and female moth respectivelyu. The incubation period lasts for 2.60 days, larval period for 14.77 days, pupal period for 10.46 days. The lifespan of adult male was 4.18 days whereas for female adult moth it was 6.63 days. Out of 36 genotypes screened, 4 were found resistant, 22 were moderately resistant and 10 were found susceptible. Cob width had a positive and significant correlation (r = 0.335*) whereas number of husk layers had a negative and significant correlation (r = -0.820**) with per cent cob infestation. Trichome density had a negative and significant correlation (r = -0.861**) with per cent plant infestation. Biochemical parameters like total protein (r = 0.852**) and P/C ratio (r = 0.868**) had a positive and significant relation with per cent plant infestation whereas total carbohydrate (r = -0.875**), total phenols (r = -0.868**) and total chlorophyll (r = -0.836**) had a negative and significant relationship with per cent plant infestation. Plots where seeds were treated with Cyantraniliprole 19.8 % + Thiamethoxam 19.8 % @ 6 ml/kg of seed followed by application of Chlorantraniliprole 18. 5 % SC as spray @ 0.4 ml/litre at 4 weeks after germination was found most effective against fall armyworm as the per cent plant infestation (9.21 and 11.54 per cent, respectively), larval population (4.75 and 5.50 larvae per 10 plants, respectively) and mean Davis score (Davis score of 1.70 and 1.83, respectively) was found lowest in both vegetative and reproductive stage in those plots.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    VARIETAL PREFERENCE AND MANAGEMENT OF SWEET POTATO WEEVIL (Cylas formicarius) THROUGH BIOPESTICIDES UNDER CHANGING CLIMATE
    (RPCAU, Pusa, 2023) KUMAR, MAHENDER; Alam, Tanweer
    The present investigation "Varietal Preference and management of sweet potato weevil (Cylas formicarius) through biopesticides under changing climate" was conducted during the Kharif season 2022 at the Research farm of Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dholi, Muzaffarpur, Bihar. The study focused on the evaluation of different varieties of sweet potatoes upon the attack of the sweet potato weevil, Cylas formicarius, the effect of meteorological parameters as well as bio-physical characteristics of different varieties. Also, the effect of different bio-pesticide on sweet potato weevil had been studied. Among different varieties evaluated during this trial, Rajendra Shakarkand-07 (29.70 %) and Rajendra Shakarkand-47 (29.24 %) have performed well with lesser vine infestation as well as tuber infestation of weevil. In the first case, the Rajendra Shakarkand-5 (19.90 %) showed the least mean per cent vine infestation as well as tuber infestation whereas, the Cross-4 (46.13 %) variety showed maximum damage regarding mean per cent vine and tuber infestation. In the second case, the biophysical basis evaluation had been conducted. There no significant relationship between different plant and tuber characteristics had been established except tuber infestation with the depth of the tuber (-0.126*) and their neck length (-0.072NS). The shape of the tubers also affected the infestation of weevil in the tubers. Also, the girth of the vine or vine thickness is affected by the weevil damage or mean percent vine infestation. In the third case, the efficacy of various bio-pesticide along with conventional usage of chemical pesticides have been evaluated. Among the bio-pesticides, Beuvaria bassiana (61.42 %) gives the best output along with Heterorhabitdis bacteriophora (53.16 %). They also give the second and third highest benefit-cost ratio among all treatments. The conventional usage of chlorpyriphos 20 % EC (2.8:1) gives the best output, but in this case, the output of Beuvaria bassiana (2.4:1) and Heterorhabitdis bacteriophora (2.1:1) are comparable with the conventional usage. So, it may be used as an alternative to the conventional (2.8:1) or regular pesticides.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    BIO-INTENSIVE MANAGEMENT OF MUSTARD APHID Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.)
    (RPCAU, Pusa, 2023) SINGH, HAMENDRA; Mukherjee, U.
    The present investigation entitled “Bio-intensive Management of Mustard aphid Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.)” was conducted during 2022-23 cropping season at Research Farm of Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dholi, Muzaffarpur, Bihar. The study focused on evaluation of 42 Brassica genotypes for their Resistance or susceptibility against mustard aphid (Lipaphis erysimi) and to check the efficacy of some botanicals and entomopathogens against mustard aphid population in field conditions. During the screening of 42 Brassica genotypes, overall mean population of aphids per top 10 cm of inflorescence ranged from 41.82 to 137.79. The genotypes KMR(E) 21-1 and KGMH 9198 were infested with minimum and maximum numbers of aphid population, respectively. whereas, susceptible and resistant check varieties Yellow sarson (66-197-3) and Kranti had aphid population of 137.48 and 43.48 aphids/top 10 cm of inflorescence, respectively. Based on aphid infestation index (AII), 42 genotypes were categorized into five groups viz. highly resistant, resistant, moderately resistant, susceptible and highly susceptible. Two genotypes were grouped as resistant. 11 genotypes as moderately resistant, 25 genotypes as susceptible and 4 genotypes were grouped as highly susceptible. The lowest and highest AII was recorded in KMR(E) 21-1 (1.43) and KGMH 9198 (4.03), respectively. Check varieties Yellow sarson (66-197-3) and Kranti had aphid infestation index of 3.54 and 1.96, respectively. Further phenol and total sugar contents of top six promising genotypes also shown the negative and positive correlation of the aphid infestation. Molecular identification proved the east Asian strain of mustard aphid i.e., Lipaphis erysimi pseudobrassicae. The efficacy of various entomopathogens and botanicals was also evaluated against mustard aphid and its natural enemies. Among the entomopathogens and botanicals tested on mustard aphid, the per cent reduction of mustard aphid population over untreated control following the first and the second spray was the highest in Verticillium lecanii @ 5g/liter of water that is (85.33) followed by Beauveria bassiana @ 5g/liter of water (84.5%) and Metarhizium anisopliae @ 5g/liter of water (84.06%), Onion bulb extract @5% (77.24), Garlic bulb extract @5% (75.54) and Ginger rhizome extract @5% (74.11) respectively besides with higher population of natural enemies. However, chemical check Dimethoate 30EC @ 1ml/liter of water showed 93.8% reduction over control. Additionally based on B: C ratio Verticillium lecanii @ 5g/liter of water 2.24:1 was found to be better followed by Beauveria bassiana @ 5g/liter of water (2.20:1) and Metarhizium anisopliae @ 5g/liter of water (2.18:1).