One of the major issues facing humankind is global food security. A changing climate, coupled with a heightened consumer awareness of how food is produced and legislative changes governing the usage of agrichemicals for improving plant... more
One of the major issues facing humankind is global food security. A changing climate, coupled with a heightened consumer awareness of how food is produced and legislative changes governing the usage of agrichemicals for improving plant health and yield, means that alternative, more integrated and sustainable approaches are needed for crop management practices. To this end, there is increasing recognition of the value of the role of microbial inoculants in agriculture. The focus of this review is to understand how plant-growth-promoting bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can play a part in improving crop yield by promoting the health status of the plant through the sequestration of various nutrients and in the control of plant diseases.
Mealy bugs infests anumber of crop plants and results a serious economic loss. Although, there are a number of insecticides to overcome the yeild losses in crop plants. But, the presence of waxy layer around its body that make them so... more
Mealy bugs infests anumber of crop plants and results a serious economic loss. Although, there are a number of insecticides to overcome the yeild losses in crop plants. But, the presence of waxy layer around its body that make them so difficult to control by means of insecticides. The waxy coating, high reproduction rate, protection by ants and variety of hosts are some of the factors which contribute to the pest status of this pest insect. Most of farmers mainly rely on synthetic chemicals for the management of cotton mealy bug but due to rising environmental and economic concerns there is a dire need to develop eco and environmental friendly measures to combat this menace. The use of synthetic insecticides is extremely toxic to natural enemies of mealy bugs. Plant derivatives can be used as an alternative approach to synthetic chemicals which are cost effective, easily available and safe to environment and biocontrol agents. Similarly, olfactory studies show that odors emitted from plant and mealy bug itself can also be used in pest management strategies.
Trinacrium anchorum sp. nov. is recorded from the branches of Vitis trifolia L., a member of the family Vitaceae. This plant was climbing over the building of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan. This fungus... more
Trinacrium anchorum sp. nov. is recorded from the branches of Vitis trifolia L., a member of the family Vitaceae. This plant was climbing over the building of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan. This fungus is different from all the previously described species, having bigger and definitely T-shaped conidia with gradually narrowing arms, bending down towards the main axis. The conidia of this species of Trinacrium are similar to an anchor; hence it is named ‘anchorum’.
