Soybean
Two coordinated trial (IVT and AVT- I) and one station trial were conducted. Code 02, Code 09 and Code 31 were found superior in IVT trial whereas, entry RKS 54 was found promising from AVT- I - 2010 trial. ANOVA for the station trial of nine genotypes revealed that overall model was significant for all traits except yield and number of branches. Cross 2-1 (3.21 t/ha), RCS 1-9 (3.16 t /ha) and RCS 1-10 (2.91 t/ha) performed better than checks viz.,, Bragg (2.38 t/ha) and JS335 (1.88 t/ha) (Table 1).
Fig 6 Leaf spot of Urdbean caused by Sclerotium rolfsii
Fig 7 Ascochyta leaf blight of Urdbean
Toria
Four composites created from M-27, RCT- 1, RCT- 2 and SCRT 1-2 (one composite each) were evaluated under upland conditions to complete the first cycle of composite formation. Superior plants from the first cycle composites were selected for increasing the genetic advance. Five advanced composites were grown with genotypes M-27 and Local white and the performance of superior genotypes for various agronomic traits are presented in table 2.
INSECT PESTS
Diversity of natural enemies in mustard ecosystem Coccinellid beetles, syrphids fly (Fig 1) and spiders were recorded as major predators of aphids, Dietiriella repae, a major nymphal parasitoid of aphids (Fig 2).
Hyposoter ebeninus, Cotesia glomerata, larval parasitoids of cabbage butterfly and numerous ichneumonid wasps were also found during flowering stage in mustard ecosystem.
Commonly found coccinellid beetles observed in mustard ecosystem were Coccinella septumpuncata L.
(Fig 3), Coccinella transvarsalis F. (Fig 4), Micraspis discolor (F.) complex, Oenopia kirbyi M. (Fig 5) and Table 1 Comparison of different soybean genotypes developed at ICAR RC NEH Umiam
Characters Cross- Cross- Cross - Cross- RCS RCS RCS Bragg JS-335 Mean CV (%) Pr > F
1-1 1-2 2-1 2-2 1-1 1-10 1-9 (check) (check)
DDF 79.67 77.00 79.33 77.67 84.00 78.67 84.33 82.00 75.33 79.64 4.38 <.0001 PLH 46.80 50.47 65.33 47.73 53.33 76.13 58.73 65.67 42.33 55.33 17.21 <.0001
NOB 5.47 5.73 5.93 6.27 6.93 5.93 6.80 5.53 5.73 6.07 13.26 0.4152
NOP 63.07 63.47 92.40 73.6 86.93 82.47 80.40 74.00 61.60 75.87 16.59 <.0001 NOC 17.00 16.47 22.98 18.87 24.80 24.33 25.93 19.80 15.87 20.66 17.32 0.0035
YLD 2.10 2.57 3.21 2.41 2.59 2.91 3.16 2.38 1.88 2.57 19.68 0.1084
Where DDF = days to 50 % flowering, PLH = plant height (cm), NOB= number of branches, NOP= number of panicles, NOC = number of clusters, YLD = yield (t/ha)
Table 2 Evaluation of different toria composites grown at Umiam
Genotype PH NPP NOB RL PL NSPP YLD
M-27 63.50 82.20 4.80 10.00 5.02 17.20 0.73
SCRT-1-2 59.60 76.45 4.00 9.32 5.16 14.78 0.69
RCT-2 62.88 63.58 4.24 8.81 5.10 15.81 0.66
RCT-1 62.20 68.20 4.60 10.44 4.69 15.52 0.61
LOCAL WHITE 62.20 85.30 4.30 10.61 5.11 15.83 0.53
SCRT -1-1 62.90 111.90 4.80 9.89 5.01 16.26 0.51
SCRT-1-3 68.20 108.45 5.80 11.54 5.08 14.14 0.47
Mean 63.07 85.15 4.65 10.09 5.02 15.65 0.60
CD (P= 0.05) 8.01 27.81 0.94 1.02 0.42 2.43 0.105
CV (%) 11.13 19.00 17.95 9.00 7.68 13.86 19.55
PH= Plant height (cm), NPP= No of pods per plant, NOB= No of branches, RL= Root length (cm), PL= Pod length (cm), NSPP= No of seeds per pods, YLD= Yield (t/ha)
Fig 1 Syrphid fly larvae feeding on aphids
Fig 2 Parasitized aphids by D. repae
Fig 3 Coccinella septempuncata L.
Oenopia sexareata M.
(Fig 6). Among all, C o c c i n e l l a septempuncata L. and Coccinella transvarsalis F. complex were recorded as most dominant predators.
Biology of Coccinella septempunctata
Biology of Coccinella
septempunctata, a potential predator on mustard aphid was studied and observed that eggs were laid in a batches consisting of 13 to 47 eggs in 3 to 5 rows and hatched in 4.4 ± 0.82 days. The period of first, second, third and fourth instar grubs were 3.25 ± 0.63, 2.95 ± 0.68, 5.7 ± 0.86 and 11.35 ± 1.42 days, respectively.
The adult longevity of C. septempunctata (Fig 3) was 57.65 ± 8.62 days.
Feeding potential of Coccinella septempunctata First, second, third and fourth instars grubs of C.
septempunctata were found to consume an average number of 3.84 ± 0.9, 10.53 ± 1.53, 27.34 ± 2.18 and 34.05 ± 2.64 of aphids/ 24 hours, when provided with 10, 20, 40 and 60 numbers of aphid, respectively. It was observed that an adult C. septempunctata consumed 44.9 ± 4.8 of aphids/ 24 hours when provided with 100 mustard aphids. The feeding potential in adult male was 41.66 ± 3 aphids/ 24 hours, which was lower than the female beetle (48.6 ± 3.12 aphids/ 24 hour). However, total number of aphids consumed by different individual instars viz., first, second, third and fourth instars grubs was 15.05 ± 3.73, 32.7 ± 3.6, 152.15 ± 26.2 and 366.75 ± 33.28 aphids, respectively. The female and male were found to consume 1459.4 ± 93.7 and 1269.6 ± 163.88 numbers of aphids, respectively in adult stage. The total number of aphids consumed during the entire development
period of larvae (first to fourth instar) was 566.65 aphids and in individual adult it was 1347 ± 146.87 aphids in 30 days.
Eco-friendly management of major insect pest of soybean
Leaf folder (Nacoleia vulgalis) was recorded as a major pest of soybean, whereas, incidence of stem fly (Omphiomyia phaseoli), white spotted flee beetle (Monolepta signata), jassids (Empoasca parathea) and tobacco caterpillar (Spodoptera litura) was low.
Different biopesticides were applied against leaf folder, B.t var. kurstaki (2 g/L)) was found to be superior over all the treatments followed by N.S.K.E. 5% + cow urine (1:1 mixture) and both the pesticides reduced 42.85 and 35.71% damage, respectively as compared to control.
Eco-friendly management of major insect pest of groundnut
Blister beetle (Mylabris pustulata), leaf folder (Nacoleia spp), flea beetle (Monolepta signata), jassids (Empoasca parathea) and aphids (Aphis craccivora) were observed in groundnut ecosystem. Population of blister beetle was observed to be higher during early September. Among various biopesticides applied, NSKE 5% extract was found to be most effective against both blister beetles and leaf folders. It reduced 52.94% and 39.55% damage of blister beetles and leaf folder, respectively compared to control.
DISEASES
Screening for rust resistance
Under AICRP on soybean, 42 genotypes including check (var. JS 335) were screened under field conditions at Umiam against rust disease caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi. Only two entries viz., KS 103 and EC241778 were found highly resistant. Seven genotypes viz., PS 1476, KDS 344, PS 1477, NRC 88, MACS 1336, PS 1477 and EC241780 were rated as moderately resistant. Ten genotypes were moderately susceptible.
Evaluation of soybean genotypes for tolerance against rust
Ten genotypes were grown under fungicide protected and unprotected conditions and yield losses were estimated. Yield losses ranged from 9% to 47%.
Based on yield potential and loss, genotypes MACS1140 (2124 kg/ha) and NRC80 (1721 kg/ha) were identified as high yielding resistant genotypes.
Fig 4 Coccinella transvarsalis F.
Fig 5 Oenopia kirbyi Fig 6 Oenopia sexareata M.
Genotypes MACS1188 (1953 kg/ha) and MACS1184 (1853 kg/ha) were identified as tolerant genotypes.
RODENT CONTROL
Bamboo flowering in Meghalaya
Quarterly survey conducted in all the districts of Meghalaya showed sporadic to mass bamboo flowering in Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills. Some isolated instances of a slight upsurge in rodent population and a slight increase in damage to rice crops was observed only in East Garo Hills.
A total of seven rodent species viz., Bandicota bengalensis, Niviventtor niviventor, Rattus rattus, Rattus nitidus, Mus musculus, Rattus sikkimensis and Cannomys badius were identified from bamboo flowering areas in Meghalaya. However B. bengalensis was the predominant species.
Damage assessment and evaluation of rodenticides Rodent damage to rice, maize and groundnut crop was observed to the tune of 7.25%, 9.45% and 10.25%, respectively. However, damage was negligible in different vegetable crops viz., broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. The Bandicota bengalensis was recorded the predominant species. Bromadiolone (0.005%) and zinc phosphide (2%) were used for the rodent control by burrow and field placement methods. Zinc phosphide proved effective by reducing rodent activities between 70.51 – 78.00% by burrow placement method whereas bromadiolone reduced the active burrows upto 35%. Use of zinc phosphide followed by bromadiolone to control the residual rodent population proved effective in reducing the rodent population upto 87%. Consumption of rodenticide increased with bamboo bait stations for poison bait placement which resulted increase in the control efficiency.