Browsing by Author "Muniappan, Rangaswamy (Muni)"
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- Biological Control of Tropical Weeds using ArthropodsMuniappan, Rangaswamy (Muni); Reddy, G. V. P.; Raman, A. (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2009)Recognizing that globalization has led to increased movement of plants and the introduction of invasive plant species across the tropics, this book explores how arthropods may be used as an alternative to chemical means of weed control in tropic and aquatic environments. This involves analysis of the ecology and origins of 20 invasive species and offers multiple options for their management through different arthropod species.
- Climatic Trends in Different Bioclimatic Zones in the Chitwan Annapurna Landscape, NepalLuitel, Dol Raj; Jha, Pramod K.; Siwakoti, Mohan; Shrestha, Madan Lall; Muniappan, Rangaswamy (Muni) (MDPI, 2020-11-20)The Chitwan Annapurna Landscape (CHAL) is the central part of the Himalayas and covers all bioclimatic zones with major endemism of flora, unique agro-biodiversity, environmental, cultural and socio-economic importance. Not much is known about temperature and precipitation trends along the different bioclimatic zones nor how changes in these parameters might impact the whole natural process, including biodiversity and ecosystems, in the CHAL. Analysis of daily temperature and precipitation time series data (1970–2019) was carried out in seven bioclimatic zones extending from lowland Terai to the higher Himalayas. The non-parametric Mann-Kendall test was applied to determine the trends, which were quantified by Sen’s slope. Annual and decade interval average temperature, precipitation trends, and lapse rate were analyzed in each bioclimatic zone. In the seven bioclimatic zones, precipitation showed a mixed pattern of decreasing and increasing trends (four bioclimatic zones showed a decreasing and three bioclimatic zones an increasing trend). Precipitation did not show any particular trend at decade intervals but the pattern of rainfall decreases after 2000AD. The average annual temperature at different bioclimatic zones clearly indicates that temperature at higher elevations is increasing significantly more than at lower elevations. In lower tropical bioclimatic zone (LTBZ), upper tropical bioclimatic zone (UTBZ), lower subtropical bioclimatic zone (LSBZ), upper subtropical bioclimatic zone (USBZ), and temperate bioclimatic zone (TBZ), the average temperature increased by 0.022, 0.030, 0.036, 0.042 and 0.051 °C/year, respectively. The decade level temperature scenario revealed that the hottest decade was from 1999–2009 and average decade level increases of temperature at different bioclimatic zones ranges from 0.2 to 0.27 °C /decade. The average temperature and precipitation was found clearly different from one bioclimatic zone to other. This is the first time that bioclimatic zone level precipitation and temperature trends have been analyzed for the CHAL. The rate of additional temperature rise at higher altitudes compared to lower elevations meets the requirements to mitigate climate change in different bioclimatic zones in a different ways. This information would be fundamental to safeguarding vulnerable communities, ecosystem and relevant climate-sensitive sectors from the impact of climate change through formulation of sector-wise climate change adaptation strategies and improving the livelihood of rural communities.
- Cycad Aulacaspis Scale, a Newly Introduced Insect Pest in IndonesiaMuniappan, Rangaswamy (Muni); Watson, Gillian W.; Evans, Gregory Allyn; Rauf, Aunu; Von Ellenrieder, Natalia (Department of Biology, Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia, 2012-09)Cycad aulacaspis scale (Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi (Hemiptera: Diaspididae)) is native to Thailand and Vietnam. Since the early 1990s it has been spreading around the world due to the trade in cycad plants for ornamental use. Infestation by this scale can kill cycads in only a few months. Its accidental introduction to Florida endangered the ornamental cycad-growing industry; and in Guam and Taiwan, endemic cycads (Cycas micronesica and C. taitungensis, respectively) are currently threatened with extinction by cycad aulacaspis scale. In November 2011, an introduced scale was discovered damaging cycads in the Bogor Botanic Garden. Samples from Bogor were taken for identification of the scale, and the material was kept for some time to rear out any insect parasitoids that were present. Both the scale insects and parasitoids were prepared on microscope slides and studied microscopically for authoritative identification. The scale was confirmed as A. yasumatsui. The parasitoid Arrhenophagus chionaspidis Aurivillius (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and the hyperparasitoid Signiphora bifasciata Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Signiphoridae) were identified from the samples. Unless immediate remedial measures are taken, several endemic species of cycad in Indonesia may be endangered by infestation by cycad aulacaspis scale.
- Development of an optimum diet for mass rearing of the rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), and production of the parasitoid, Habrobracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), for the control of pearl millet head minerAmadou, Laouali; Baoua, Ibrahim; Ba, Malick N.; Muniappan, Rangaswamy (Muni) (Library of the University of Arizona, 2019-02-28)The rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica Stainton, an alternate host for the production of the parasitoid, Habrobracon hebetor Say, was reared on different diets, including pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] (Poales: Poaceae) flour only, and in combinations of flours of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] (Poales: Poaceae), peanut (Arachis hypogea L.) (Fabales: Fabaceae), and cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] (Fabales: Fabaceae) to identify the optimal and economical proportion to be used under the conditions of Niger. The addition of cowpea or peanut to the pearl millet diet slightly increased C. cephalonica larval development time. Likewise, the addition of cowpea or peanut to cereal diets yielded a higher C. cephalonica larval survival. Female moths emerging from larvae fed on cereal and legume mixed diets produced higher eggs compared to the ones fed on sole and mixed cereals. Among legumes, cowpea addition is most interesting in terms of cost/production of C. cephalonica larvae. However, female moths emerging from larvae fed on different millet cowpea mix (5, 25, and 50%) laid significantly more eggs than those fed on sole pearl millet. Further, individual C. cephalonica larvae fed on 75% pearl millet + 25% cowpea produced significantly more H. hebetor. With an initial 25 C. cephalonica larvae kept for a 3-mo rearing period, the number of H. hebetor parasitoids produced will reach 2.68–10.07 million. In terms of cost/production ratio, the 75% pearl millet: 25% cowpea yielded better results. © The Author(s) 2019.
- Evaluation of integrated pest and disease management module for shallots in Tamil Nadu, India - A farmer’s participatory approachDinakaran, D.; Gajendran, G.; Mohankumar, S.; Karthikeyan, G.; Thiruvudainambi, S.; Jonathan, E. I.; Samiyappan, R.; Pfeiffer, Douglas G.; Rajotte, E. G.; Norton, George W.; Miller, S.; Muniappan, Rangaswamy (Muni); Pfeiffer, Douglas G. (2013)Efforts made to evaluate the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) module for shallots through Farmer’s Participatory Approach in Tamil Nadu, India, are discussed. The shallot IPM module with special emphasis on nonchemical management components viz., healthy seed bulb selection, seed treatment with bio-pesticides, soil application of bio-pesticides and bio-inputs, growing of barrier crops, installation of sticky traps and pheromone traps, spray application of bio-pesticides, and need-based application of synthetic pesticides were evaluated in large fields in farmers’ holdings in six locations during 2009 –2012. In all the locations, the IPM fields registered reduced incidence of the major insect pests and diseases viz. onion thrips (Thrips tabaci L.) (5.99 thrips/plant), leafminer (Liriomyza sp.) (12.59% damage), tobacco cutworm (Spodoptera litura F.) (3.51% damage), basal rot (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae W. C. Snyder and H. N. Hansen) (3.50% incidence) and purple blotch (Alternaria porri (Ellis) Cif.) (24.50 Percent Disease Index) compared with farmer’s approach registering higher incidence of onion thrips (11.58 thrips/plant), leafminer (19.65% damage), tobacco cutworm (6.22% damage), basal rot (8.14% incidence), and purple blotch (51.6 Percent Disease Index). The IPM fields registered a higher mean bulb yield of 13.81 t/ha with a cost:benefit ratio of 1:3.05 compared with 10.69 t/ha with a cost:benefit ratio of 1:2.47 in farmer’s approach. Field days, exhibitions, and demonstrations were organized in all the locations to popularize the shallot IPM module among the growers.
- Feed the Future IPM Innovation Lab: A Critical Role in Global Food SecurityMuniappan, Rangaswamy (Muni); Heinrichs, Elvis A. (Research Information Ltd., 2015-08)The need: food security The World Food Summit of 1966 defined “food security” as existing “when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life.” Food insecurity is part of a continuum that includes hunger (food deprivation), malnutrition (deficiencies, imbalances, or excess of nutrients) and famine. Although difficult to measure, food security statistics indicate that there is a food crisis in a stressed world. Consider these facts: • 805 million people suffer from malnutrition. • Most of the 805 million are in Southern Asia (35%), sub-Saharan Africa (27%), and Eastern Asia (19%). • 99% of the undernourished live in developing countries. • 642 million people in Asia and the Pacific are undernourished. • 6 million children’s deaths/year are linked to malnutrition.
- First Record of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in SenegalPfeiffer, Douglas G.; Muniappan, Rangaswamy (Muni); Sall, Dienaba; Diatta, Paterne; Diongue, A.; Dieng, E.O. (Florida Entomological Society, 2013-06)The tomato leafminer, also known as South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is a native of South America, where it is a serious pest of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.; Solanales: Solanaceae) but also known to attack cultivated solanaceous plants such as eggplant (Solanum melongena L.; Solanaceae), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.; Solanaceae), pepper (Capsicum annuum L.; Solanaceae), tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.; Solanaceae), solanaceous weeds and garden bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.; Fabales: Fabaceae) (Ferracini et al. 2012). Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) was accidentally introduced to Spain in 2006, from where it spread north to the Netherlands and east to Iran (Desneux et al. 2010, 2011; Baniameri & Cheraghian 2012). In northern Africa, it was reported in Tunisia in 2008 (Abbes et al. 2012), Morroco in 2008 (Ouardi et al. 2012), north of the Sahel in 2008 (Desneux et al. 2010), Western Africa in 2010 (USDA APHIS 2011), Sudan and Ethiopia in 2011 (Anon. 2012).
- A Guide to Biological Control of Fall Armyworm in Africa Using Egg ParasitoidsTefera, Tadele; Goftishu, Muluken; Ba, Malick N.; Muniappan, Rangaswamy (Muni) (Virginia Tech, 2019)The Integrated Pest Management Innovation Lab (IPM IL) has been addressing the Fall Armyworm (FAW) problem in Africa since May 2017, when it invaded Ethiopia. Even though FAW prefers maize, it is polyphagous and can infest over 300 species of plants. Several workshops supported by international organizations were held in different parts of Africa over the past three years; however, they mostly concentrated broadly on IPM approaches for FAW management on maize, with little or no emphasis given for management on other crops. The IPM IL has consistently focused on biological control of FAW since its involvement, as this approach can tackle this pest not only on maize but also on other crops, and additionally, it can suppress the pest on a farm, village, province, country, or regional basis depending upon the effort and resources that are made available. Further, it is compatible with joint application with all other IPM tactics in the field, except that of chemical pesticides, which would most likely impede processes using biological control. The IPM IL, in collaboration with icipe and ICRISAT-Niger, has identified egg parasitoids – Trichogramma spp. and Telenomus remus – and some larval parasitoids which attack FAW in Africa. It is known that these parasitoids are amenable for augmentative biological control and they are being used in augmentative biological control of FAW in the Caribbean and South America. This publication provides information on rearing and release of these parasitoids under African conditions. The IPM IL, icipe, and ICRISAT-Niger have already jointly conducted two workshops for participating countries in Africa and Asia.
- Impact of farmer field schools on cabbage production in two districts of Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions of GhanaMochiah, M. B.; Osei, M. K.; Osei, K.; Pfeiffer, Douglas G.; Muniappan, Rangaswamy (Muni) (2014)Cabbage production is constrained by myriad of pest infestations reducing the farmers’ profit margin substantially. The objectives of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different land preparation methods, reduce the use of conventional toxic pesticides in the management of cabbage pests, and make comparison of recorded parameters to determine change in pest density, injury and yield in two regions of Ghana. The effect of three different land preparation methods: planting on the flat, ridge and raised bed on pest infestations and yield of cabbage was investigated in 2012 and 2013 at Asiwa and Dormaa Ahenkro in Ghana respectively using Farmer Field School (FFS). This is a participatory method of learning, technology development, and dissemination. In the IPM fields, every pest management/ intervention was preceded by regular monitoring of pest populations to determine the need for chemical intervention. Data collected included insect pest population, plant injury and yield. Results indicated that there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) among the three different land preparation methods under both research (IPM) and Farmers practice for any of the parameters measured. However, comparison of recorded parameters to determine either per cent decrease or increase over farmers practice gave some remarkable difference from both locations. IPM technologies generated and transferred to the farmers through FFS would reduce the use of conventional pesticides in the management of cabbage pests, thus resulting in vegetables that are safer to produce and consume.
- IPM CRSP Annual FY 2012 Annual Report(Virginia Tech, 2013-04)Published every year, the annual reports detail work, accomplishments, training, and publications from each of our programs.
- IPM CRSP Annual Report, Phase III – Year Five: 2008-2009(Virginia Tech, 2009)Published every year, the annual reports detail work, accomplishments, training, and publications from each of our programs.
- IPM CRSP Annual Report, Phase III – Year Three: 2006-2007(Virginia Tech, 2007)Published every year, the annual reports detail work, accomplishments, training, and publications from each of our programs.
- IPM CRSP Annual Report, Phase III – Year Two: 2005-2006(Virginia Tech, 2006)Published every year, the annual reports detail work, accomplishments, training, and publications from each of our programs.
- IPM CRSP Annual Report, Phase III: 2007-2008(Virginia Tech, 2008)Published every year, the annual reports detail work, accomplishments, training, and publications from each of our programs.
- IPM CRSP Annual Report, Phase IV – Year One: 2009-2010(Virginia Tech, 2010)Published every year, the annual reports detail work, accomplishments, training, and publications from each of our programs.
- IPM CRSP FY 2011 Annual Report(Virginia Tech, 2011)Published every year, the annual reports detail work, accomplishments, training, and publications from each of our programs.
- Modeling Commodity Flow in the Context of Invasive Species Spread: Study of Tuta absoluta in NepalSridhar, Venkataramana; Wu, S.; Shi, B.; Marathe, Achla; Sah, L.P.; Giri, A.P.; Colavito, L.A.; Nitin, K.S.; Asokan, R.; Muniappan, Rangaswamy (Muni); Norton, George W.; Adiga, A.; Eubank, Stephen (Virginia Tech, 2017)Trade and transport of goods is widely accepted as a primary pathway for the introduction and dispersal of invasive species. However, understanding commodity flows remains a challenge owing to its complex nature, unavailability of quality data and lack of systematic modeling methods. A robust network-based approach is proposed to model seasonal flow of agricultural produce and examine its role in pest spread. It is applied to study the spread of Tuta absoluta, a devastating pest of tomato in Nepal. Further, the long-term establishment potential of the pest and its economic impact on the country are assessed. Preliminary analyses indicate that T. absoluta will invade most major tomato production regions within a year of introduction and the economic impact of invasion could range from $17-25 million. The proposed approach is generic and particularly suited for data-poor scenarios.
- Parasitism of Locally Recruited Egg Parasitoids of the Fall Armyworm in AfricaLaminou, Saidou A.; Ba, Malick Niango; Karimoune, Laouali; Doumma, Ali; Muniappan, Rangaswamy (Muni) (MDPI, 2020-07-09)The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is an insect native to the tropical and subtropical Americas that has recently spread to Africa, where it predominately attacks maize, sorghum and other plant species. Biological control is an environmentally friendly way of combatting the pest and contributes to an integrated pest management approach. In Africa, several trichogrammatid parasitoids and Telenomus remus Nixon (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) have been found parasitizing eggs of the FAW. In Niger, the egg parasitoids encountered include Trichogrammatoidea sp. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) and Telenomus remus Nixon. Parasitism of the FAW eggs by the two egg parasitoids was assessed in the laboratory, followed by field testing on sentinel eggs. In the laboratory, T. remus parasitized on average 78% of FAW eggs, compared to 25% for Trichogrammatoidea sp. Telenomus remus was able to parasitize egg masses that were fully covered with scales, while Trichogrammatoidea sp. parasitized only uncovered egg masses. On-farm releases of T. remus in sorghum fields caused up to 64% of FAW egg parasitism. Parasitized eggs yielded viable progeny, which can contribute to FAW egg parasitism build-up during the cropping season. Our findings lay the groundwork for the use of T. remus in augmentative releases against FAW in Africa.
- Predicting the Current and Future Distribution of the Invasive Weed Ageratina adenophora in the Chitwan–Annapurna Landscape, NepalPoudel, Anju Sharma; Shrestha, Bharat Babu; Joshi, Mohan Dev; Muniappan, Rangaswamy (Muni); Adiga, Abhijin (International Mountain Society, 2020-05)With increasing globalization, trade, and human movement, the rate of alien species introduction has increased all around the globe. In addition, climate change is thought to exacerbate the situation by allowing range expansion of invasive species into new areas. Predicting the distribution of invasive species under conditions of climate change is important for identifying susceptible areas of invasion and developing strategies for limiting their expansion. We used Maxent modeling to predict the distribution of one of the world’s most aggressive invasive weeds, Ageratina adenophora (Sprengel) R. King and H. Robinson, in the Chitwan–Annapurna Landscape (CHAL) of Nepal under current conditions and 3 future climate change trajectories based on 3 representative concentration pathways (RCPs 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5) in 2 different time periods (2050 and 2070) using species occurrence data, and bioclimatic and topographic variables. Minimum temperature in the coldest month was the most important variable affecting the distribution of A. adenophora. About 38% (12,215 km2) of the CHAL area is climatically suitable for A. adenophora, with the Middle Mountain physiographic region being the most suitable one. A predicted increase in current suitable areas ranges from 1 to 2% under future climate scenarios (RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5). All protected areas and 3 physiographic regions (Siwaliks, High Mountain, High Himalaya) are likely to gain climatically suitable areas in future climate scenarios. The upper elevational distribution limit of the weed is expected to expand by 31–48 m in future climate scenarios, suggesting that the weed will colonize additional areas at higher elevations in the future. In conclusion, our results showed that a vast area of CHAL is climatically suitable for A. adenophora. Expected further range expansion and upslope migration in the future make it essential to initiate effective management measures to prevent further negative impacts of this invasive plant.
- Sap-sucking insect records (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha and Thysanoptera: Thripidae) from IndonesiaWatson, Gillian W.; Muniappan, Rangaswamy (Muni); Shepard, B. Merle; Sembel, Dantje T.; Rauf, Aunu; Carner, Gerald R.; Benson, Eric P. (Florida Entomological Society, 2014-12)Sap-sucking insects (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha and Thysanoptera: Thripidae) collected in Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi were identified. From 28 samples collected on 9 crop and ornamental host-plant species, 21 species of sap-sucking insects were identified, 12 (57%) of which were new island distribution records. This suggests that the Indonesian insect fauna has not been documented for a long time. The new distribution records are: from Java, Lepidosaphes gloverii (Packard) (Diaspididae); from Sumatra, Clavaspidiotus apicalis Takagi (Diaspididae); and from Sulawesi, Coccus hesperidum L. (Coccidae), Saissetia coffeae (Walker) (Coccidae), Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi (Diaspididae), Hemiberlesia palmae (Cockerell) (Diaspididae), Lepidosaphes tokionis (Kuwana) (Diaspididae), Microparlatoria fici (Takahashi) (Diaspididae), Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli (Cooley) (Diaspididae), Icerya aegyptiaca (Douglas) (Monophlebidae), I. pulchra (Leonardi) (Monophlebidae) and Selenothrips rubrocinctus (Giard) (Thripidae). Clavaspidiotus apicalis could become a potentially invasive pest of citrus.