Loading...
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.
Browse
8 results
Search Results
ThesisItem Open Access INCIDENCE AND BIO-CONTROL OF ROOT KNOT NEMATODE, Meloidogyne incognita INFESTING FIELD PEA(Dr.RPCAU, Pusa, 2021) SHRAVANI, VYAMASANI; Singh, Uma ShankarField pea, Pisum sativum var. arvense belongs to family Leguminosae is an annual cool season grain legume and one of the most versatile crop for being extensively used as human consumption, livestock feed, fresh or canned vegetable. Meloidogyne incognita has been identified as a major impediment in effective field pea production. It is the most damaging, accounting for 40-45 percent of pea losses. According to a survey done in several districts of Bihar, M. incognita has been found to infect field pea crops in all of the locations. The greatest prevalence of M. incognita was found in the Birauli Khurd (974) locale, while the lowest was found in the Pusa Mahamadpur Deopar (442). Other plant parasitic genera found in the rhizosphere of field pea crops were M. javanica, Rotylenchulus spp., Haplolaimus spp., and Helicotylenchus spp. The mean root knot index (RKI) was 4 on a scale of 1 to 5, suggesting that field pea plants planted in all areas were susceptible to the root knot nematode M. incognita, according to Hartman and Sasser (1985). According to life cycle studies, J2 of M. incognita was infective juvenile stage (IJ) and penetration begins at the zone of elongation of root tips within 72 hours of inoculation. At an average day temperature range of 9.3 to 21.1°C and RH of 94 percent, the life cycle of the southern root knot nematode in field pea was completed in 33-35 days. The bio-control agents viz. Glomus fasciculatum (85-90 spores/g), Trichoderma harzianum 1.0% WP (2×106 cfu/g), Pseudomonas fluorescens 1.0% WP (1×108 cfu/g), Paecilomyces lilacinus (Purpureocillium lilacinum) 1.0% WP (2×106 cfu/g) either singly or in combined application shown significant improvement in plant growth and development and in declining nematode population. The combined application of P. fluorescens 1.0% WP (1×108 cfu/g) and Purpureocillium lilacinum 1.0% WP (2×106 cfu/g) @ 10g/pot each was determined to be the most efficacious. However, chemically treated plants with Cartap hydrochloride 4G @ 5g/pot had the lowest nematode population, number of galls/plant and Reproduction factor (Rf). Paecilomyces lilacnius (Purpureocillium lilacinum) 1.0% WP (2×106 cfu/g) @ 10g/pot demonstrated promising effects in plants when just single bio-control agent was used. This study discovered that utilizing a mixture of bio-control agents was more effective than using biocontrol agents alone in reducing the population of M. incognita. According to the study, biocontrol agents had the same effects as Cartap hydrochloride 4G. As a result, bio-control agents can be used instead of nematicides.ThesisItem Open Access BIODIVERSITY AND BIOEFFICACY OF INDIGENOUS ENTOMOPATHOGENIC NEMATODES IN BIHAR(DRPCAU, PUSA, 2021) MALLIKARJUN, GURRAM; Keshari, NishiTwo isolates of entomopathogenic nematodes, labelled DA-1 and OC-1, were isolated during survey conducted in Pusa Farm, RPCAU, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar using insect baiting technique. Morphological studies and molecular data confirmed these isolates as Steinernema abbasi and Oscheius sp., making this the first report of EPNs from Bihar. Bioefficacy experiments were conducted in laboratory to test the pathogenicity of the native EPN isolate, Steinernema abbasi at concentrations, 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 IJs against five different instars of two lepidopterous pests viz., Tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura and Oriental armyworm, Mythimna seperata. The test inoculum of 1000 infective juveniles (IJs) / larva was most effective causing mortality of all instar larvae at 24 h. Nematode multiplication rate in insect cadaver was directly proportional to the size/ instar of larva. The 5th instar larva resulted in highest yield of IJs, followed by 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st instars larvae of both pests at all the inoculum levels used in the study. As these two isolates of EPNs are native to Pusa farm and have shown satisfactory bioefficacy potential, these can be exploited for the management of target crop insect pests of the region. However, further studies are required regarding their life cycle, host range, virulence potential and survival capacity under extreme environmental conditions.ThesisItem Open Access Incidence and Eco-friendly management of root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita infesting carrot(DRPCAU, PUSA, 2021) BARMAN, DEBANJAN; Singh, Uma ShankarThe carrot (Daucus carota sub sp. sativus) is a root vegetable that can be purple, orange, red, white or yellowish. The tap root is the most widely consumed component of the plant, although the stems and leaves are also consumed. Vit-K and Vit-B6 are abundant in roots of carrot and it also contain a lot of beta carotene. Meloidogyne incognita, has been identified as a major impediment in effective carrot production. Annually, 20-25% loss is incurred due to Meloidogyne sp. infestation in carrot. According to a survey done in several areas of Samastipur district of Bihar, Meloidogyne sp. has been found to infect carrot crops in all of the locations. The greatest prevalence of was found in the Hi-tech horticulture, Pusa (1220), while the lowest was found in the Sugarcane Research Institute (SRI), Pusa (640). Other plant parasite genera found in the rhizosphere of carrot crops were Hoplolaimus sp., Helicotylenchus sp., Pratylenchus sp., Tylenchorhynchus sp., and Xiphinema sp. The mean root knot index (RKI) was 2.17 on a scale of 1 to 5, suggesting that carrot plants planted in all areas were moderately resistant to the root knot nematode (Meloidogyne sp.), according to Hartman and Sasser (1985). According to life cycle research, J2 of Meloidogyne incognita was infective juvenile stage and penetration begins in the zone of elongation of root tips within 24 hours of inoculation. At an average temperature range of 17°C to 20°C and a Relative Humidity of 94 percent, the life cycle of the southern root knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) in carrot was completed in 30 days. From the Meloidogyne incognita management study, suggesting that management with Neem leaves + Phyllanthus amarus leaves @ 100 +100 g / pot followed by Phyllanthus amarus leaves @ 100 g / pot enhanced characteristics of growth viz. Shoot length or plant height, root length, shoot weight (fresh and dry), root weight (fresh and dry), yield and effectively reduced the numbers of galls, juvenile population in soil. So, the management by using plant parts and extracts can be used by farmers for root knot nematode control, as it is an environmentally friendly, economically feasible method and had the same effects as Cartap hydrochloride 4G used.ThesisItem Open Access Biology of Meloidogyne graminicola on rice (Oryza sativa L.) Under Bihar condition and its integrated management(DRPCAU, Pusa, 2020) Goud, Gajja Bharath; Keshari, NishiPaddy is the main crop in Bihar during kharif season. Farmers in Bihar are growing different varieties under rainfed condition. The crop is infested by many pests, diseases and nematodes. Amongst the plant parasitic nematodes, the root knot nematode, Meloidogyne graminicola was found one of the main limiting factor of its production. In the areas where the rice is growing as a monoculture during kharif season, the infestation percentage is very high. The present investigation is carried out during Kharif 2019 to survey the rice root knot nematode infestation in different districts of Bihar in rice nurseries. The root and soil samples of the crops were brought from the rice field from the different villages of Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga and Vaishali districts. It was found that the frequency of occurrence of M. graminicola ranged between 80-90 % in these three districts. Maximum nematode population, number of females, eggs and juveniles was in Samastipur district and minimum infestation is in Darbhanga district. vii With the increase in inoculum density level level from 10J2/pot to 10000J2/pot, plant growth parameters decreased significantly and nematode multiplication parameters increased significantly. The maximum galls per roots system, eggs and juveniles per eggs mass, nematode population/200cc soil, root knot index and number of females per gall were increased significantly with increase in inoculum level and maximum was at 10000 J2 /pot. Among rice varieties screened against M. graminicola significantly highest root knots per plant, number of females per root knot, eggs and juvenile per egg mass and root knot index were recorded highest on PB1121 (check) and lowest root knot index was observed on Rajendra saraswati. Among millets, finger millet (RAU-1), Barnyrard millet (Dholi-1) and finger millet (RAU-3), (RAU-8) and foxtail millet (RAU-8) did not reveal any gall on there roots. Except onion no other vegetable revealed any sign of host parasite interaction on the host neither root knots nor females inside the root. Meloidogyne graminicola completed its life cycle from J2 to J2 is 33 days, during the study temperature was recorded at 8° C to 22°C. The fungal biocontrol agent, Trichoderma viride @ 5g, 6g, 7g, 8g, 9g and 10g/pot with carbofuran @ 2kg a.i./ha as treated check and another untreated check in 1 kg soil were taken and the effect was reported on the plant growth parameters and nematode multiplication parameters, keeping two sets as pre and post application of T. viride, one week before and after germination respectively. Although carbofuran treated plants have shown significantly highly effective treatment but among the different doses of T. viride in both pre and post treatment, the highest dose i.e, 10g/pot has given the maximum growth parameters and minimum nematode multiplication parameters in both pre and post treatments. When we compared the results in both pre and post treatments, it was found that in all the characters, the increase was more in pre treatment than post treatments.ThesisItem Open Access Survey of root-knot nematodes and its integrated nematode management in tomato under polyhouse conditions(DRPCAU, Pusa, 2020) M, Monica Preeth; Singh, Uma ShankarDetailed investigations were carried out to study the plant parasitic nematodes associated with tomato grown in polyhouses located in and around Pusa, Dholi and Birauli regions of Bihar. The studies were conducted with the main objective to survey to know the incidence of different plant parasitic nematodes by collection of soil and root samples from tomato crop rhizospheres grown in polyhouses; to screen the available tomato genotypes against root knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp. and to study the integrated management of Meloidogyne spp. infecting tomato cv. Heemsohna by soil application of bio control agents (Pseudomonas fluorescens and Trichoderma viride), organic amendment (neem cake) and chemical nematicide (carbofuran 3G). All the experiments were conducted under protected environment (polyhouse). Survey and collection of soil and root samples revealed the presence of Meloidogyne spp., Rotylenchulus reniformis, Helicotylenchus spp., Pratylenchus spp., dorylaimids (Xiphinema spp.) and other saprophytic nematodes in tomato rhizospheres. Of these, Meloidogyne spp., was found to be the most predominant. An initial inoculum level of 1000 J2 root knot nematodes per plant caused yield reduction in tomato plants of all eight genotypes including MS – 2, Heemsohna, TO – 3150, Shivam, Prabhav 1322, Annapurna, PKM – 1 and Somnath. Pot culture studies conducted using bio control agents (Trichoderma viride and Pseudomonas fluorescens), organic amendment (neem cake) and chemical nematicide (carbofuran 3G) as integrated management of Meloidogyne spp on tomato cv. Heemsohna revealed that two treatments, Trichoderma viride+ Neem cake and Trichoderma viride + carbofuran 3G (at 5 + 25 g/pot and 5 + 10 g/pot respectively) effectively reduced the numbers of Meloidogyne spp. besides increasing the plant growth parameters. This was also the best combination among all the treatments where the root-knot index was found to be 1 (least).ThesisItem Open Access Biology and management of Meloidogyne incognita on gladiolus under protected cultivation(DRPCAU, Pusa, 2020) S.V., Narendra; Keshari, NishiGladiolus is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant that is cultivated commercially in India as cut flowers. Meloidogyne incognita is one of the limiting factors that are causing serious concern to the commercial gladiolus production. A survey was conducted in various districts of Bihar showed M. incognita in all the places. Highest incidence of root-knot nematode was noticed in Vaishali district of Bihar. The life cycle of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita revealed that, second stage juveniles penetrate the roots on 1st day of inoculation through root tip. In total, root knot nematode, M. incognita took 25-27 days to complete its life cycle. The pathogenicity of the root knot nematode showed that with the increase in inoculum levels from 10 to 10,000J2 /pot, the population of nematodes increased and the growth of plant was decreased significantly. However, highest significant reduction in plant growth parameters and highest significant increase in nematode population were observed at 10,000 inoculum level. The threshold level for causing significant loss in gladiolus, was found at 100J2 /pot. Highest reproduction factor value was recorded at 10 J2 /pot inoculum level and lowest reproduction factor value was recorded at 10,000 J2 /pot inoculum level. In root knot nematode management, application of oil cakes such as Neem cake @ 100 g/pot and organic amendments such as farm yard manure @ 100 g/pot have been shown to be the best treatment compared to other treatments to improve gladiolus growth parameters and minimize Meloidogyne incognita infection significantly. However, Carbofuran @ 5 g/pot (treated check) was found superior to all other treatments in improving plant growth characteristics and reducing nematode reproduction on gladiolus.ThesisItem Open Access Pathogenicity and life cycle studies of Meloidogyne incognita in capsicum including its integrated management under protected cultivation(DRPCAU, Pusa, 2020) Kshitiz; Keshari, NishiThe present study entitled “Pathogenicity and life cycle studies of Meloidogyne incognita in capsicum including its integrated management under protected cultivation” was carried out in the Department of Nematology, RPCAU, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar to study the incidence and frequency of distribution of root- knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita in Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga and Vaishali districts of Bihar in capsicum grown under polyhouses, pathogenicity and life cycle of M. incognita under polyhouse and management using different organic amendments. During survey, mean population density of M. incognita ranged between 1035 – 3205 nematodes per 200 cc of soil, was recorded. Maximum nematode infestation was observed in Muzaffarpur district. Pathogenicity level to cause significant loss in plant growth was recorded at initial inoculum density of 1,000 J2/plant, inverse relationship between plant growth parameter and inoculum density and direct relationship between nematode multiplication parameters and initial inoculum density was observed, maximum damage to crop was observed at highest inoculum density of 10,000 J2/plant. Meloidogyne incognita completed its life cycle from J2 to adult in 33 days, during the study temperature inside polyhouse was recorded at 10o C to 36o C. All the organic amendments when combined with Trichoderma viride @10 g/pot, have improved plant growth and yield while decreased nematode multiplication parameters. Highly significant treatment was Trichoderma viride @10 g/pot + neem cake @ 100 g/pot, which increased crop yield by 77 % compared to untreated check.ThesisItem Open Access Status of mushroom nematodes in different districts of Bihar and efficacy of nematophagous fungi against these nematodes(Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur (Bihar), 2019) Kumar, Raman; Keshari, NishiThe present investigation entitled “Status of mushroom nematodes in different districts of Bihar and efficacy of nematophagous fungi against these nematodes” was carried out in the Department of Nematology, RPCAU, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar regarding population estimation of mycophagous nematodes of button mushroom compost of Samastipur, Muzaffarpur and Dharbhanga districts of Bihar, isolation and identification of fungi from fresh button mushroom compost, spent button mushroom compost and casing soil. Also these isolated and identified fungi were screened against mycophagous nematodes and identified nematophagous fungi were screened at different population levels of myceliophagous nematodes like Aphelenchus spp., Aphelenchoides spp. and Ditylenchus myceliophagus. It was found that the population of Aphelenchus spp. Aphelenchoides spp. and Ditylenchus myceliophagus were found in the compost from all three districts. The compost samples from Pusa and Khanpur blocks of Samastipur district and Hayaghat and Baheri blocks of Darbhanga district did not yield the nematode, Ditylenchus myceliophagus. The population of Aphelenchus spp. ranged from 157.0-323.6, 273.0-571.2 and 74.6-155.4 in Samastipur district, 187.4-385.6, 415-635.6 and 53.8-102.6 in Muzaffarpur district and 215.0-378.4, 377.2-538.0 and 47.6-128.8 in Darbhanga district. From the compost sample of Samastipur district, five fungi viz. Trichothecium roseum, Rhizopus stolonifer, Geotrichum spp., Fusarium spp. and Aspergillus niger were isolated, from Muzaffarpur, only two fungi, Trichothecium roseum and Aspergillus niger were identified and from Darbhanga samples, two fungi, Helminthosporium spp. and Fusarium spp. were identified. The fungi identified from spent mushroom compost, were Trichothecium roseum and Geotrichum spp. from Samastipur district, Trichothecium spp. and Aspergillus niger, from Muzaffarpur district and only Helminthosporium spp. was identified from Darbhanga district. Amongst all the fungi isolated and identified, only three of them were found nematophagous. These were Helminthosporium spp., Trichothecium spp. and Geotrichum spp. Geotrichum spp. trapped the nematodes through sticky knobs whereas the other two have constricting rings trapping devices through which the nematodes were trapped. At different inoculum levels of myceliophagous nematodes, fungus, Helminthosporium spp. was found to be more efficient to kill the nematodes when compared to Trichothecium spp. and Geotrichum spp. The number of trapped nematodes increased with increasing inoculum of mycophagous nematodes in all the three nematophagous fungi. But, the maximum percentage of feeding was at 300 and 400 inoculum levels.
