http://www.informaticsjournals.com/index.php/jbc/issue/feedJournal of Biological Control2024-02-02T14:59:31+0530Dr. Kolla Sreedevichiefeditorjbc@gmail.comOpen Journal Systems<div id="i-scholarabout"><img class="media-object" style="width: 222px; float: left; margin: 0px 34px 15px 20px;" src="https://www.informaticsjournals.com/public/journals/16/coverimage.jpg" /> <p><strong>Editor :</strong> Dr. Kolla Sreedevi<br /><strong>Online ISSN :</strong> 2230-7281<br /><strong>Print ISSN :</strong> 0971-930X<br /><strong>Frequency :</strong> Quarterly<br /><strong>Publisher/s :</strong> Informatics Publishing Limited, Society for Biocontrol Advancement</p> <p>The Journal of Biological Control published quarterly, is an exclusive journal in India devoted to the science of Biological Control. The journal publishes original research articles on all aspects relating to biological control of pests (insect pests, mites, pathogens, vertebrates and weeds) of crop plants and animal diseases. The journal has been abstracted in Review of Agricultural Entomology, Biocontrol News and Information, CABPest CD. <strong>The Journal is indexed in NAAS, UGC Mandate, Index Copernicus</strong>. The society receives matching grant from ICAR towards the cost of publication for the Journal of Biological Control.<br /><span style="color: blue;">NAAS Score 5.46</span></p> </div> <p id="homecontent"><a href="#" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://www.informaticsjournals.com/public/journals/17/rsz_1ici.png" alt="" /></a><a href="http://naas.org.in/" target="blank"><img src="https://www.informaticsjournals.com/public/journals/11/NAAS.jpg" alt="" width="160" height="77" /></a><img src="https://www.informaticsjournals.com/public/site/images/rsz_indexed-scop.png" alt="" width="136" height="44" /></p> <p><a href="#" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://www.srels.org/public/journals/57/scilit.png" alt="" /></a><a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&view_op=list_hcore&venue=dsrh74Bjgo8J.2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://www.srels.org/public/journals/57/google.png" alt="" /></a><a href="http://jgateplus.com/" target="blank"><img src="https://www.srels.org/public/journals/57/jgate.png" alt="" width="160" height="77" /></a><a href="http://www.i-scholar.in/" target="blank"><img src="https://www.srels.org/public/journals/57/scholar.png" alt="" width="160" height="77" /></a></p>http://www.informaticsjournals.com/index.php/jbc/article/view/34762<i>In vitro</i> evaluation of microencapsulated <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> exposed to different temperatures against <i>Helicoverpa armigera</i> (Hubner)2024-02-02T14:56:00+0530K. AKSHAYA KUMARbskalmath@gmail.comBASAVARAJ S. KALMATHbskalmath@rediffmail.comD. K. HADIMANIbskalmath@rediffmail.comA. PRABHURAJbskalmath@gmail.comS. MALLIKARJUNAbskalmath@gmail.comB. KISANbskalmath@gmail.com<p>The experiment was conducted to prepare and evaluate microencapsulation of lyophilized Spore Crystal Aggregate (SCA) of native <em>Bacillus thuringiensis</em> isolate BGC-1 and standard isolate HD-1 against second instar larvae of <em>Helicoverpa armigera</em> at the Department of Agricultural Entomology, Bheemarayanagudi. The zetasizer analyzer results revealed that the microcapsule diameter ranged from 3.2 to 8.3 µm. Median lethal concentrations of the BGC-1 and Bt-HD1 were 0.66 g/l and 0.50 g/l, respectively. UV protectants <em>viz.,</em> melanin and (PABA) para-amino benzoic acid were evaluated by exposing microencapsulated <em>Bacillus thuringiensis</em> to temperature regimes of 25°C, 30°C, 35°C, 40°C and 45°C in the B.O.D at different intervals of time. Among four microencapsulated formulations, BGC-1 with melanin recorded the highest mortality of 95 % at zero h exposure. As time increased, the mortality decreased and HD-1 was on par with BGC-1. HD-1 melanin showed significantly higher mortality of 62.50 to 92.50 % followed by BGC-1 (melanin) which ranged from 70 to 90 %. Even though formulations were exposed to different temperatures, because of encapsulation, potential to cause insect mortality was retained.</p>2023-12-31T00:00:00+0530Copyright (c) 2024 K. AKSHAYA KUMAR, BASAVARAJ S. KALMATH, D. K. HADIMANI, A. PRABHURAJ, S. MALLIKARJUNA, B. KISAN (Author)http://www.informaticsjournals.com/index.php/jbc/article/view/34295Identification of bio-active compounds in indigenous <i>Trichoderma asperellem</i> against <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>ciceris:</i> A causal agent of chickpea wilt2024-02-02T14:59:31+0530GURURAJ SUNKADsunkadgururaj@gmail.comRANJANA JOSHIsunkadgururaj@gmail.comMEGHANA PATILsunkadgururaj@gmail.com<p>Wilt caused by <em>Fusarium oxysporum</em> f. sp. <em>ciceris</em> (Padwick) is an important soil-borne disease and considered as most serious and widespread disease of chickpea throughout the world. Twenty indigenous isolates of <em>Trichoderma</em> spp. were isolated from the rhizosphere of chickpea in different geographic regions of Karnataka. Among twenty isolates, a higher concentration of volatile compounds was produced by TR-14 (72.22%) followed by TR-19 (66.67%) and TR-9 (65.93%). Further, the efficient strain that is TR-14 was identified as <em>Trichoderma asperellum</em> molecularly and was used to extract metabolites by using solvent extraction technique and subjected to GC-MS/MS analysis. The results have shown presence of twenty-nine compounds at different retention times ranging from 4.910 to 21.868 min. and the mass-to-charge (m/z) ratio from 43 to 190. Out of twenty-nine compounds, the concentration of 2-Imidazol-1-ylmethyl-pyridine 1-oxide (C<sub>9</sub>H<sub>9</sub>N<sub>3</sub>O) was highest with the maximum area (14375440) and retention time (19.842). Apart from this compound, 7-Isopropylidene-5-methyl-2, 3-diazabicyclo (2.2.1) hept-5-ene-2,3 dicarboxylic acid, diethyl ester was present at the highest peak with a retention time of 20.021.</p>2023-12-31T00:00:00+0530Copyright (c) 2024 GURURAJ SUNKAD, RANJANA JOSHI, MEGHANA PATIL (Author)http://www.informaticsjournals.com/index.php/jbc/article/view/35973Identification of secondary metabolites biosynthetic genes, antagonistic activity and potential mechanism of <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> NBAIR-BSWG1 in suppression of <i>Alternaria alternata</i>2024-02-02T13:55:32+0530S. RUQIYAmanjuc.nbair@gmail.comH. C. GIRISHAmanjuc.nbair@gmail.comR. RANGESHWARANmanjuc.nbair@gmail.comA. KANDANmanjuc.nbair@gmail.comG. SIVAKUMARmanjuc.nbair@gmail.comK. T. SHIVAKUMARmanjuc.nbair@gmail.comK. ADITYAmanjuc.nbair@gmail.comK. S. ANKITHAmanjuc.nbair@gmail.comH. S. VENUmanjuc.nbair@gmail.comS. NANDITHAmanjuc.nbair@gmail.comN. AARTHImanjuc.nbair@gmail.comC. MANJUNATHAmanjuc.nbair@gmail.com<p><em>Alternaria alternata</em> wreaks havoc on fruit and vegetable production globally, threatening food security by causing black leaf spot disease. <em>Bacillus subtilis</em>, a natural inhabitant of soil, is a promising biological control agent for the management of <em>A. alternata</em>. In the present study, the antagonistic potential of B. subtilis NBAIR-BSWG1 was initially confirmed against <em>A. alternata</em> through a dual culture technique with 43.03% inhibition of mycelial growth. Subsequently, we extracted the cell-free extract from the NBAIR-BSWG1 pure culture and assessed its impact on <em>A. alternata</em> through the poison food technique and found mycelial growth inhibition of 85.82%. Identification of secondary metabolites biosynthetic genes using specific PCR markers showed the presence of surfactin genes (<em>sfp, srf AA</em>) with an amplicon size of 675 bp and 201 bp, respectively. Amplification of fengycin (<em>fen</em>B) and iturin (<em>itu</em>D) at 670 bp and 423 bp respectively, by using a specific PCR primer confirms the contribution of fengycin and iturin for the antagonistic potential of NBAIR-BSWG1. This study identifies NBAIR-BSWG1 as an effective bacterial biocontrol agent for control of <em>A. alternata</em>, unlocks the genetic basis of antifungal activity NBAIR-BSWG1, depicts molecular mechanisms involved in biological suppression of <em>A. alternata</em> by NBAIR-BSWG1 paving the way for the development of bioformulations for management of <em>A. alternata</em>.</p>2023-12-31T00:00:00+0530Copyright (c) 2024 S. RUQIYA, H. C. GIRISHA, R. RANGESHWARAN, A. KANDAN, G. SIVAKUMAR, K. T. SHIVAKUMAR, K. ADITYA, K. S. ANKITHA, H. S. VENU, S. NANDITHA, N. AARTHI, C. MANJUNATHA (Author)http://www.informaticsjournals.com/index.php/jbc/article/view/35037Effect of augmentative releases of the parasitoid, <i>Habrobracon hebetor</i> Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) using plastic cups on <i>Heliocheilus albipunctella</i> De Joannis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the Sahelian region of Burkina Faso2024-02-02T14:49:13+0530ADAMA KABOREadamskab9@gmail.comABOUBACAR BOLYadamskab9@gmail.comANTOINE WAONGOadamskab9@gmail.comAPOLLINE SANOUadamskab9@gmail.comFOUSSENI TRAOREadamskab9@gmail.comCLEMENTINE DABIRE-BINSOadamskab9@gmail.comANTOINE SANONadamskab9@gmail.comMALICK NIANGO BAadamskab9@gmail.com<p>The most important insect pest of the millet crop in Burkina Faso is the Millet Head Miner (MHM), <em>Heliocheilus albipunctella</em> De Joannis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). To reduce its damage, the use of the parasitoid, <em>Habrobracon hebetor</em> Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) constitutes the most promising control strategy. The present study aims to know the effect of augmentative releases of <em>H. hebetor</em> on this pest using a new parasitoid release technique. This new technique release consists of a recycled plastic cups containing <em>Corcyra cephalonica</em> Stainton larvae parasitized individually at different times (8, 12 and 24 hours) by <em>H. hebetor</em> females. These cups were installed in the millet fields of different villages (release villages) to control this pest <em>H. albipunctella</em> by <em>H. hebetor</em>, and maitained the control villages that didn’t receive any release. Our findings showed that plastic cups containing parasitized larvae at different times can be used to produce parasitoids. Thus, <em>C. cephalonica</em> larvae parasitized in 24 hours produced 280 <em>H. hebetor</em>, unlike larvae parasitized in 8 and 12 hours. Emerged <em>H. hebetor</em> had a male-biased sex ratio when the time of parasitism of <em>C. cephalonica</em> larvae by <em>H. hebetor</em> females was 24h. Releasing parasitoids into millet fields reduced the length of mines by 3.80 cm and two times higher parasitism of the pest by <em>H. hebetor</em> in the villages where parasitoids were released as compared to control villages. Finally, a millet yield gain of 31% was obtained in the parasitoid released fields. This new release technique of <em>H. hebetor</em> could be used in biological control programmes against MHM in the Sahel.</p>2023-12-31T00:00:00+0530Copyright (c) 2024 ADAMA KABORE, ABOUBACAR BOLY, ANTOINE WAONGO, APOLLINE SANOU, FOUSSENI TRAORE, CLEMENTINE DABIRE-BINSO, ANTOINE SANON, MALICK NIANGO BA (Author)http://www.informaticsjournals.com/index.php/jbc/article/view/35583<i>In silico</i> screening of phytochemicals against Ypd1 protein of a destructive storage fungi, <i>Aspergillus</i>2024-02-02T14:45:22+0530ANJAN KUMAR SARMAsurajc30@gmail.comSURAJ CHETRIsurajc30@gmail.com<p>One of the most common pests in stored grain is <em>Aspergillus</em>. This group of fungi produces a carcinogenic toxin, Aflatoxin during their growth and development. Contamination of <em>Aspergillus</em> in food grains during storage leads to food insecurity. In the present-day scenario, using plant-based derivatives in controlling <em>Aspergillus</em> is one of the efficient and eco-friendly ways. Hence an <em>in silico</em> study was carried out to know the effective phytochemicals present in <em>Citrus, Carum carvi, Coriander sativum, Aloysia citriodora, Mentha citrate, Spent hops, Nardostachys jatamansi, Feoniculum vulgare, Zingiber officinale, Lantana camara, Chamaecyparis obtusa, Ocimum kilimandscharium, Tagetes filifolia</em> against <em>Aspergillus</em>. Results revealed that the photochemicals viz. Eugenol, zingiberene, carvone, citronellal, limonene, coumaran, linalool, linalyl acetate, esdragol, menthol, E-anethole, camphor, bornyl acetate, xanthohumol and aristolone present in the selected plants can inhibit the normal functioning of Ypd1 protein of <em>Aspergillus</em> by blocking its active site. Thus, the present study makes a base for future researchers to find the most effective phytochemicals in controlling <em>Aspergillus</em> following <em>in vivo</em> method.</p>2023-12-31T00:00:00+0530Copyright (c) 2024 ANJAN KUMAR SARMA, SURAJ CHETRI (Author)http://www.informaticsjournals.com/index.php/jbc/article/view/35639Assemblage of spider diversity in Okkarai region of Pachamalai hills, Eastern Ghats, Tiruchirappalli district, Tamil Nadu, India2024-02-02T14:12:09+0530MIRIAM CECILIA VASSOUsamtennyson@gmail.comSUREENTHIRA TAMILPERIYARDHASANsamtennyson@gmail.comSUBRAMANIAN ARIVOLIsamtennyson@gmail.comSAMUEL TENNYSONsamtennyson@gmail.com<p>The Okkarai area of Pachamalai hills, Eastern Ghats, Tiruchirappalli district, Tamil Nadu, India, was studied for spider diversity in the current study. In total, 178 spiders were recorded, belonging to 12 distinct families (Araneidae, Desidae, Linyphiidae, Nephilidae, Oxyopidae, Pholcidae, Pisauridae, Salticidae, Sparassidae, Tetragnathidae, Theridiidae and Thomisidae), and 17 and 20 different genera and species, respectively. Araneidae family dominated the spider population, and the family dominance curve was in the ascending order of Araneidae (25.28%) > Oxyopidae (14.04%) > Pholcidae (14.04%) > Thomisidae (10.11%) > Tetragnathidae (7.86%) > Linyphiidae (6.74%) > Nephilidae (6.17%) > Sparassidae (5.05%) > Theridiidae (4.49%) > Pisauridae (3.37) > Salticidae (2.24%) > Desidae (0.56%). Araneidae (17.64%) had the most genera per family, and Araneidae and Oxyopidae (20.00%) had the most species per family; and about species composition, <em>Pholcus phalangioides</em> dominated with 14.04%. Spider guilds were represented by web patterns as well as hunting patterns. Web pattern comprised orb web (60.86%), cobweb (34.78%) and sheet web (4.34%). Orb web was represented by families Araneidae, Nephilidae and Tetragnathidae; cobweb by Desidae, Pholcidae, Pisauridae and Theridiidae; while Linyphiidae for sheet web. Ambushers (53.22%) and stalkers (46.77%) represented the hunting pattern whereas Pisauridae, Sparassidae and Thomisidae represented ambushers, and Oxyopidae and Salticidae represented stalkers. Araneidae and Oxyopidae had high species richness indicated by Hill’s (4), Margalef’s (1.33), and Menhinick’s (0.299) indices. Salticidae had high species evenness denoted by Alatalo’s (0.578), Pielou’s (0.488), Shannon’s (1.471) and Sheldon’s (1.413) indices; while Linyphiidae represented Heip’s index (1.347). Araneidae scored high on other indices, viz., Berger-Parker dominance (25.28%), community dominance (1.24), and relative dominance (20.00%); while Salticidae had a high Hill’s number abundance (1.413%), and Pholcidae had a high relative frequency (0.55). This study will contribute to the data on spider biodiversity, taxonomy, it's abundance, distribution, and community organization.</p>2023-12-31T00:00:00+0530Copyright (c) 2024 MIRIAM CECILIA VASSOU, SUREENTHIRA TAMILPERIYARDHASAN, SUBRAMANIAN ARIVOLI, SAMUEL TENNYSON (Author)http://www.informaticsjournals.com/index.php/jbc/article/view/35773Parasitic efficiency of different egg parasitoids against invasive fall armyworm, <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> (J. E. Smith)2024-02-02T14:04:26+0530RENUKA S. MAHAJANrenukamahajan1695@gmail.comV. K. BHAMARErenukamahajan1695@gmail.com<p>A study was conducted to examine the parasitic efficiency of different egg parasitoids viz., <em>Trichogramma chilonis</em> Ishii, <em>Trichogramma pretiosum</em> Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) and <em>Telenomus remus</em> Nixon (Hymenoptera: Scelionadae) of <em>Spodoptera frugiperda</em> J.E. Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and <em>Corcyra cephalonica</em> Stainton (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), respectively under the laboratory condition at 28 ± 3°C. The investigation showed that <em>T. chilonis</em> displayed a parasitic efficiency ranging from 85 to 87 per cent, <em>T. pretiosum</em> from 80 to 89 per cent, and <em>T. remus</em> from 7 to 90 per cent. Both host species were accepted for parasitization, but <em>C. cephalonica</em> was identified as more suitable for the development of <em>T. chilonis</em> and <em>T. pretiosum</em>, while <em>S. frugiperda</em> was deemed the most suitable host for rearing <em>T. remus</em>. These findings contribute valuable insights into the host preferences and parasitic efficiencies of these parasitoids, essential information for potential applications in biological control strategies against agricultural pests.</p>2023-12-31T00:00:00+0530Copyright (c) 2024 RENUKA S. MAHAJAN, V. K. BHAMARE (Author)http://www.informaticsjournals.com/index.php/jbc/article/view/36348First report of <i>Schizoglyphus</i> (Acari: Schizoglyphidae) on white grub larvae from India2024-02-02T13:48:31+0530KOLLA SREEDEVIpsreeramakumar@yahoo.co.inPRAKYA SREERAMA KUMARpsreeramakumar@yahoo.co.inSALIL KUMAR GUPTApsreeramakumar@yahoo.co.inNANJUNDAIAH SHEELApsreeramakumar@yahoo.co.inSATYA NAND SUSHILpsreeramakumar@yahoo.co.in<p>White grubs cause serious yield losses in high-value and staple crops, including sugarcane, groundnut, maize and potato, but biological control through entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes is by far the most sustainable management strategy available. In our investigations on the factors causing mortality of several species of white grubs, we found an undermined species of the soil-dwelling mite, <em>Schizoglyphus</em> affecting white grub species belonging to Scarabaeidae of Coleoptera. This is the first report of the occurrence of this mite from India and as well from scarab larvae. The potential of this mite as a biocontrol agent has to be explored.</p>2023-12-31T00:00:00+0530Copyright (c) 2024 KOLLA SREEDEVI, PRAKYA SREERAMA KUMAR, SALIL KUMAR GUPTA, NANJUNDAIAH SHEELA, SATYA NAND SUSHIL (Author)