Browsing by Author "Shanty Issak"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Development of Technology and Popularization of Biological Control Agents for Integrated Management of Coconut Leaf Rot Disease
    (2011) Srinivasan, N.; Chandra Mohanan, R.; Bharathi, R.; Radhika, N.S.; Shanty Issak
    Coconut is an important social crop of livelihood concern for millions of small- medium farmers.Leaf rot disease (due to a fungal complex-Colletotrichum gloeosoprioides, Exserohilum rostratum and Fusarium solani as major pathogens), in association with root(wilt),is a major problem of coconut in southern districts of Kerala besides certain districts in Tamil Nadu etc. Central Plantation Crops Research Institute(CPCRI) has evolved biological control teclmology for integrated management of leaf rot to improve the health of disease affected palms.Application of biocontrol agents in the disease affected areas was aimed for creation of widespread awareness on eco-friendly disease management,crop sustenance and in realizing human resource potential. Effective strains of biocontrol agents­ Bacillus subtilis,Pseudomonas jluorescens and Trichoderma viride-were evolved, their multiplications in media including coconut water standardized and the antagonists processed into bioformulations (totally 2000 Kg. talc formulations evolved distributed/utilized).Coconut gardens and rural groups in various districts of southern Kerala(Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha,Pathanamthitta,Kottayam,Idukki, Ernakulam and Thrissur), various blocks in Theni district besides specified blocks in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu could be selected.Through effective contacts with extension­ developmental agencies, coconut Research & Development (R&D) meetings etc. reached out to rural people and implemented the technology of mass production-use of biological control agents,and knowledge imparted to rural people. Conducted trainings and allied programmes by on-campus trainings (396 beneficiaries), off-campus trainings (1854 beneficiaries), household/field contacts of rural people (689 beneficiaries) and other awareness programmes encompassing lectures, interfaces etc.(661 beneficiaries) and enlightened women, rural people, youths etc. representing various locations (totally 3600 beneficiaries in three years).Field demonstrations of disease management with biological control agents in coconut gardens (55 units) besides clusters-compact gardens(1850 coconut palms) were also done. Also,promotional materials were made available to various stakeholders. An innovative participatory programme implementation approach for technology transfer was the outcome of the work.Creation of widespread awareness, percolation of knowledge on biocontrol agents to women and other rural people could be visualized that would go a long way.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Field management of coconut leaf rot disease with biological control agents, their bioformulation and viability in organics
    (2011) Srinivasan, N.; Bharathi, R.; Shanty Issak; Rajeev, G.
    Leaf rot disease is an integral part of root (wilt) disease of coconut and hence its control a great importance. Potential of biological control agents against leaf rot pathogens have been established. Field performance of talc-based B. subtilis and P. fluorescens against leaf rot (individually and in consortium mode), growth of bioagents in coconut water-based media for enriching bioformulations and viability of the bioagents in organic carriers based formulations were evaluated. A field experiment conducted with treatments of B. subtilis, P. fluorescens, B. subtilis + P. fluorescens and Phytosanitation + B. subtilis + P. fluorescens in comparison with control showed a decline of disease index in newly emerged leaves of treated palms (higher disease ameliorative effect through consortium of B. subtilis and P. fluorescens). Multiplication of bacterial (P. fluorescens) and fungal (Trichoderma viride) bioagents could be achieved in coconut water-based media - moderate-good growth of P. fluorescens in coconut water (pH adjusted to 7.0), coconut water amended with peptone at 1 % or jaggery at 5 % or 10 % levels comparable with its growth in King’s B broth; moderate-good mycelial yield of T. viride in coconut water-based media with or without jaggery amendment comparable to its growth in potato dextrose broth. The bacterial and fungal biocontrol agents as grown in coconut water-based media could be processed into talcbased bioformulations (quality comparable with such products evolved using conventional media). The talc-based formulations admixed with organics viz., neem cake, vermicompost and coir pith-(1: 1w/w) that were individually packed also assured reasonable period shelf-life (six months) of bioagents, compared well to corresponding other media. Thus mass production of popular biological control agents in coconut water based medium followed by their bioformulations through fortifications with popular organics has been successfully evolved.