Journal of Advances in Biology & Biotechnology

Pesticide-use Patterns in Okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench, in Rajasthan, India

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Pesticide-use practices among okra growers were assessed in Jaipur, Dausa and Alwar districts of Rajasthan, India, during 2025. A structured, pre-tested questionnaire was administered through personal interviews with 60 farmers, comprising 20 respondents from each district. Information was recorded on pesticide selection, sources of advice, dosage, spray frequency, pre-harvest interval, storage, disposal and personal-protection practices. Seventeen pesticides covering insecticides, acaricides and fungicides were reported. The most widely used products were copper oxychloride 50% WP (81.66%), carbendazim 12% + mancozeb 63% WP (80.00%), profenofos 40% + cypermethrin 4% EC (73.33%) and chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC (66.66%). Pesticide dealers were the principal source of recommendations for 75% of respondents, whereas only 5% obtained advice from the State Department of Agriculture or an ICAR institute. Only 23.33% of farmers used the recommended insecticide dose, and 85% mixed different pesticides during application. Although 80% were aware of pesticide hazards, knowledge of natural enemies and integrated pest management was limited to 20% and 46.66%, respectively. Most farmers stored pesticides safely and reported using some protective measures, but 88.33% left or discarded empty containers in fields. The findings indicate important gaps in label awareness, dosage compliance, pre-harvest intervals and safe container disposal. Targeted extension support and practical training are needed to improve pesticide stewardship in okra production.

Assessment of Leaf Harvesting Methods on Physiological Indices and Yield of Mulberry in Kashmir

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The productivity and profitability of sericulture mainly depend on maximising leaf yield per unit area at an economically viable cost. Mulberry (Morus spp.) is the only food source for the silkworm (Bombyx mori L.). The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of different autumn leaf-harvesting methods on physiological indices and yield of mulberry under Kashmir conditions. The investigation was conducted at the College of Temperate Sericulture, Mirgund, SKUAST-K, to evaluate the effects of different autumn leaf-harvesting methods on subsequent spring leaf yield and yield-attributing parameters in mulberry. The physiological and yield parameters recorded during spring showed significant differences among treatments. Among the treatments, T6 (25% branch cutting by length) produced comparatively better spring leaf yield and remained at par with the control, in which no leaf was plucked during the previous year. In contrast, T2 (100% leaf plucking during the previous autumn) recorded the highest frost damage (33%), compared with 2% in T7, and showed only 59% sprouting, compared with 84% in T7. During spring, leaf yield in T2 was 1.03 kg per plant, whereas T6 recorded 2.87 kg per plant. Although annual yield in T2 (4.53 kg per plant) was at par with T7, T6, T5 and T3, its spring yield, which represents the main crop at the farmers’ level, was very low. Overall, T6 outperformed the treatments in which the second flush was harvested during autumn through either defoliation or branch cutting, particularly in terms of leaf yield per plant.

Phytochemical Profile and in vitro Antiplasmodial Activity of Ximenia americana L. (Olacaceae) and Waltheria indica L. (Sterculiaceae)

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Ximenia americana and Waltheria indica are used in traditional medicine in Burkina Faso for treating malaria in children aged 0–5 years. This study evaluated their phytochemical profiles, antioxidant properties, mineral contents, and in vitro antiplasmodial activities. Leaf and bark extracts of X. americana and whole-plant extracts of W. indica were prepared using solvents of increasing polarity. Phenolic and terpenoid constituents were screened by high-performance thin-layer chromatography, while total phenolic, flavonoid, and terpenoid contents were quantified using colourimetric methods. Mineral contents were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Antioxidant activity was assessed by DPPH radical-scavenging and ferric-ion-reduction assays. Antiplasmodial activity was evaluated against the chloroquine-sensitive 3D7 and multidrug-resistant Dd2 strains of Plasmodium falciparum by measuring parasite lactate dehydrogenase production. Aqueous leaf and bark extracts of X. americana showed high activity against 3D7, with IC₅₀ values of 4.08 ± 0.00 and 4.41 ± 0.00 µg/mL, respectively. The ethyl acetate fraction of W. indica showed good activity against Dd2, with an IC₅₀ of 7.41 ± 4.45 µg/mL. Both species contained phenolic compounds, flavonoids, terpenoids, and essential minerals and exhibited antioxidant activity. These findings support further investigation of the two species as sources of antiplasmodial and antioxidant constituents, while recognising that the present evidence is limited to in vitro assays.

Proximate Composition and Macromineral Profile of Portulaca oleracea L.: A Wild Edible Plant from the Kashmir Himalayas, India

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Wild edible plants contribute to dietary diversity and may provide valuable nutrients and minerals, particularly in rural and mountainous communities. Portulaca oleracea L. is a widely consumed wild edible species, but its proximate composition and macromineral profile remain insufficiently documented in the Kashmir Himalayas.

Aims: This study was conducted to evaluate the proximate composition and macromineral profile of the wild edible plant species, Portulaca oleracea, from the Sindh Forest Division of the Kashmir Himalayas.

Study Design: An experimental laboratory-based study.

Place and Duration of Study: Plant samples were collected from different habitats within the Sindh Forest Division, Kashmir Himalayas, India, from April to June 2025, and proximate and mineral analyses were conducted using standard laboratory procedures.

Methodology: Healthy, fresh plant samples were collected, air-dried, powdered, and analysed for their proximate and mineral contents. Organic matter, ash, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, nitrogen-free extract, and acid-insoluble ash were determined according to standard AOAC methods. Sodium (Na) and potassium (K) concentrations were determined by flame photometry following acid digestion, whereas calcium (Ca) content was estimated by wet acid digestion and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). All procedures were conducted according to standard AOAC methods.

Results: The proximate analysis revealed dry matter (92.56 ± 0.14%), crude protein (13.98 ± 0.09%), crude fat (1.65 ± 0.001%), crude fibre (11.23 ± 0.21%), organic matter (91.03 ± 0.16%), ash (8.97 ± 0.16%), nitrogen-free extract (64.17 ± 1.0%), and acid-insoluble ash (3.44 ± 0.009%). Mineral analysis showed that potassium (3.70 ± 0.17%) was the predominant macromineral, followed by sodium (3.30 ± 0.70%) and calcium (1.15 ± 0.01%).

Conclusion: The findings indicate that P. oleracea has a favourable proximate composition and considerable concentrations of essential macrominerals, thereby highlighting the nutritional potential of this wild edible plant.

Predatory Efficiency and Functional Response of the Wolf Spider Pardosa pseudoannulata (Boesenberg and Strand) against the Brown Planthopper Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) under Laboratory Conditions

Kota Sahithi Chowdary, Gopu Sushma, Repaka Harika — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The present study evaluated the predatory efficiency and functional response of the wolf spider Pardosa pseudoannulata against nymphs of the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens, under laboratory conditions. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomised design with six prey-density treatments consisting of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 brown planthopper nymphs per arena. A single adult spider was released into each arena, and prey consumption was recorded after 24 hours. Each treatment was replicated three times. The number of prey killed increased with increasing prey density, indicating that prey availability influenced predator feeding. The mean number of nymphs consumed increased from 8.67 at a prey density of 10 nymphs to 23.33 at a prey density of 60 nymphs. In contrast, the proportion of prey killed declined from 0.87 to 0.39 across the same prey-density range, showing reduced proportional consumption at higher prey densities. Functional response analysis based on the relationship between reciprocal prey attacked and the reciprocal prey density-time product indicated a Holling Type II functional response. This pattern was characterised by an increase in prey consumption at lower prey densities, followed by a gradual reduction in consumption efficiency as prey density increased. The findings suggest that P. pseudoannulata can consume brown planthopper nymphs effectively under laboratory conditions and may contribute to the natural regulation of planthopper populations in rice ecosystems. Further field-based studies are required to confirm its practical role in integrated pest management.

Genetic Variability, Character Association, and Path Coefficient Analysis for Yield and Grain Quality Traits in Indian Basmati Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Genotypes

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.) occupies a unique position in global agricultural trade, prized for its distinctive aroma, superior milling recovery, and extra-long slender grains. However, simultaneously improving grain yield and premium quality attributes remains one of the most persistent challenges in basmati breeding. The present study evaluated genetic variability, trait associations, and yield-determining factors among 57 basmati rice genotypes across 18 morphological, yield, and grain quality characters during Kharif 2024 at Rice Research Station, Kaul, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences (p ≤ 0.01) among genotypes for all 18 traits, confirming a broad spectrum of heritable diversity within the experimental material. Broad-sense heritability ranged from 41.56% for flag leaf length to 96.39% for days to 50% flowering, with high heritability coupled with high genetic advance as a percentage of the mean recorded for the number of grains per panicle, number of effective tillers per plant, harvest index, plant height, and grain yield per plant, indicating predominant additive gene action and strong prospects for direct phenotypic selection. Correlation analysis revealed significant positive associations of grain yield per plant with biological yield per plant (r = 0.584), harvest index (r = 0.490), number of grains per panicle (r = 0.400), 1000-grain weight (r = 0.365), and head rice recovery (r = 0.248), whereas plant height (r = −0.349) and days to maturity (r = −0.167) showed significant negative correlations with grain yield. Path coefficient analysis identified biological yield per plant (direct effect = 0.939) and harvest index (direct effect = 0.879) as the principal direct contributors to grain yield, with a modest residual effect of 0.011, confirming that the model adequately explained yield variation. Importantly, the positive association of grain yield with milling percentage, head rice recovery, and kernel dimensions indicates that improvements in yield need not compromise grain quality. On the basis of superior grain yield and quality parameters, ten genotypes, namely HKR-17-424, HKR-15-455, HKR-17-422, PB-7, UPR 4636-18-2-1-1, CSR 301-16 BT-208, Pusa 3067-16-10-6, PAU 8484-111-1-1, CSR BT-252-19, and PB-1885, were identified as promising breeding parents for developing high-yielding, export-quality basmati cultivars.

Microplastics in Indian Freshwater Systems: Current Status and Future Research Needs

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Microplastic (MP) pollution has emerged as critical environmental issue affecting aquatic ecosystems worldwide. Freshwater systems have received less research attention in the past but have been identified as significant sources and alteration points for MP. The mandate of this review is to bring together the existing information about source, occurrence, distribution, characterization, biological and ecological effects and mitigation measures related to MPs in Indian freshwater environments. Land-based sources such as wastewater effluents, urban runoff, industrial effluents, agricultural activities, and the breakdown of larger plastic waste are main sources of MPs. The prevalence of contamination of river, lake and riverbed sediments and freshwater biota, commonly in the form of micro and macro fibres, is reported from all over the world. Biological and ecological effects encompass ingestion at different levels, physiological stress responses, feeding behaviour changes and possible ecosystem level disturbances. The increasing evidence suggests that consumption of freshwater fish and drinking water may be sources of exposure to humans, which may be of concern for food safety and public health. Microplastics are also a pathway for toxic chemicals and microbial communities, which further contributes to environmental and toxicological hazards. In India, MP contamination has been reported from several freshwater ecosystems, including the Ganga, Yamuna, Gomti, Saryu, Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Cauvery, Netravathi, Periyar, and Vembanad Lake. MPs have been detected in water, sediments, and freshwater fishes, with fibres and fragments being the dominant particle types and polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polystyrene (PS) identified as the predominant polymers. The available evidence indicates increasing contamination in highly urbanized and industrialized river stretches, highlighting the urgent need for harmonized monitoring protocols and effective mitigation strategies in Indian freshwater ecosystems. The successful implementation of mitigation measures needs a coordinated approach that involves source reduction, advanced wastewater treatment, implementation of circular economy, policy enforcement, and public participation.