Imran Bodlah¹*, Muhammad Adnan Bodlah², Muhammad Naeem¹,

Sobia Khaliq^1* and Ayesha Aihetasham³

¹Laboratory of Biosystematics, Department of Entomology, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture

University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, ²Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University,

Nanjing 210095, China, ³Department of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

 ABSTRACT

The parasitoid species, Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard, 1881) (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae) is recorded for the first time from Rawalpindi and Islamabad Punjab (Pakistan). It was detected on mung bean (Vigna radiata) and kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris); damaged by two species of Genus Callosobruchus: C. chinensis and C. maculatus. Main identification characters and measurements of taxonomically important parts supported with micrographs have been given for future identification and its possible utilization against C. chinensis and C. maculates on various stored products.

Keywords: Anisopteromalus calandrae, bio-control agent, stored grain beans

Huma Nazir Kayani and Munir Ahmad*

Department of Entomology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Three pyrethroids (deltamethrin, bifenthrin and ג-cyhalothrin) and four new chemistry insecticides were tested against second instar larvae of Plutella xylostella under laboratory condition. Based on their LC₅₀ values, deltamethrin was most toxic than ג-cyhalothrin and bifenthrin and among new chemistry insecticides, emamectin benzoate was the most toxic followed by acetamiprid, diafenthiuron and imidacloprid. Selection of two subpopulations for five generations with gradual toxic exposures of deltamethrin and emamectin showed decrease in survival rate. However, there was no drastic increase in LC₅₀ values for both selected subpopulations than that of unselected subpopulation. Such high cross-resistance between emamectin benzoate with deltamethrin and ג-cyhalothrin suggest their wise use against this important insect pest. Rotational use of insecticides with different mode of action against P. xylostella might help avoiding development of resistance.

Keywords: Plutella xylostella, cross-resistance, pyrethroids, emamectin, toxicity 

Amna Tanveer, Umar Farooq*, Kashif Akram, Afshan Shafi,

Farkhandah Sarfraz, Hafeez-ur-Rehman

Institute of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan 

Abstract

Aqueous extracts of pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel and seeds were investigated to evaluate their antibacterial activity against selected pathogenic microorganisms Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus feacalis using disc inhibition zone technique and the results were compared with commercial antibiotic. The studied extracts possessed strong antibacterial activity against the tested microorganisms. Maximum antibacterial activity was shown by the peel extract against Escherichia coli with average zone of inhibition 19.5 ± 0.93 mm followed by seeds 7.12 ± 0.99 mm. The antibacterial activities of peel extract were comparable with commercial antibiotic, Amoxicillin (21.12 ± 0.23 mm). Enterococcus feacalis was appeared to be the most resistant with inhibition induced by the extracts of peel 14.87 ± 0.13mm and seeds 7.12 ± 0.19 mm. The results revealed that the aqueous extracts of pomegranate peel and seed possessed significant antibacterial potential against food borne pathogens.

Keywords: Pomegranate fruit waste, extract, antibacterial activity

Muhammad Usman Raja¹*, Muhammad Waseem Ali¹, Farid Asif Shaheen²

¹Department of Plant Pathology, ²Department of Entomology,

PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Pea (Pisumsativum L) is a major legume grown in Pakistan which used both as fresh vegetable and canned food. However, pea production in Pakistan is under stress due to various abiotic and biotic factors. Among biotic, the most destructive is bacterial blight caused by Pseudomonassyringae pv pisi(Ppi). Therefore, in present study different pathogenicity assays were performed to observe the innate immunity present in different commercial pea cultivars against Ppi isolated from pea seeds. The results of pathogenicity assays showed that leaf detach method was best method for symptom development as it took 2 days in comparison to foliar injection and soil drenching methods where incubation period prolonged for 6-8 days respectively. Pea varieties viz. DMR-4, DMR-7 Green forest, Rondo and Dasan showed susceptibility against Ppi isolates in all three methods of inoculations. Commercially growing pea germplasm is not showing resistance against Ppi which considered a looming threat to pea productions all over the world. Therefore, an extensive screening of commercial pea germplasm against local bacterial isolates needed to be performed to avoid future crop failure. 

Keywords: Pea, Pisumsativum L, Pseudomonas syringaepvpisi, Bacterial blight

D. Dongock Nguemo ^1*, J. Tchoumboue ² and E. Youmbi ³

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ngaoundere,Ngaoundere- Cameroon

²Department of Zootechny, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultura Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon

³Department of Plant Biology & Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaounde I. Yaounde, Cameroon

 ABSTRACT 

In order to assess the influence of seasons on the exploitation of mellliferous plants by Apis mellifera adansonii, seasonal pollen spectra of 104 honey samples collected between  September 2010 and March 2011  in the Highlands area of west Cameroon (LN 5°21.459–5°35.449 and LE 10°04.729–10°26.249) were analysed using melissopalynology methods. The aim was to evaluate the influence of seasons on the exploitation of melliferous plants by A. mellifera adansonii. The spectrum of bee-plants exploited during the rainy season was large and diversified compared to the dry season. Asteraceae and Caesalpiniaceae were the most represented families for the dry and the rainy seasons, respectively. Asteraceae was also the most represented family in the two seasons. The spontaneous Eucalyptus saligna and Terminalia mantaly were much foraged during the two seasons. Flowers of herbs were highly exploited in both the seasons and white colour flowers were frequently foraged. Honey of rainy season was more diversified with four distinguished colours. Predominant and important minor was significantly higher in rainy season compared to the dry season. The frequency of pollen in honey varied considerably with seasons and availability of blooming vegetation exploited by honeybees. Irrespective of vegetation diversity with seasonal variation, honeybee visits were very specific to some plants species.

Keywords: melliferous plants, season, biological characteristic, honey colour, Cameroon