A. Samanta

Entomotoxicity and biosafety assessment of PEGylated acephate nanoparticles: A biologically safe alternative to neurotoxic pesticides

This is a report of an experimental study on a nanoencapsulation of the organophosphate acephate. Acephate was encapsulated in polyethylene glycol, using a simple, easy-to-replicate method that required no special equipment or conditions. The nanoencapsulation (nanoacephate) was characterized and its bioefficacy as compared to the regular commercial acephate was tested. The biosafety of the new compound was also tested on a murine model. Our new nanoencapsulation scored over the regular variety on all counts. It was found to successfully incorporate the active pesticidal component, acephate and this compound retained greater functional integrity over time as a nanoencapsulation. It was significantly more efficacious than the regular variety. It was biosafe when tested on murine model. We have reason to believe that this nanoencapsulation would allow the use of an organophosphate in a more targeted manner, thereby making it a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to the regular variety in use now.

Nano-fabricated materials in cancer treatment and agri-biotech applications: Buckyballs in quantum holy grails

New ideas in the development of the intelligent nanomaterials miniaturized at the nanometer sizes gained substantial interest because of the wide range of their technological purposes. The recognition of the ultimate limits of computation has also lead computer scientists to seek inspiration from nanobiology. Because living organisms function with nanoscale buildings blocks and exploit collective quantum effects and thermal energy. This is necessary for the survival in its “living” thermodynamic status. The hope to break the barrier of miniaturization seems to lie in the knowledge of the self-organization mechanism of living objects. Furthermore, knowledge about the mesoscopic scale might be able to explain the self-assembly and the working regime of the simplest organisms created by nature. In solid-state physics and electronics, a large variety of different non-equilibrium phenomena accompany with the spontaneous self-assembly of the spatial and the spatio-temporal patterns in the nano-size objects. First, we present a recent update of the different nanomaterials experimentally or commercially produced which have been successfully applied in complex biological systems. Finally, we give examples of our pioneering research on ‘cancer’ and ‘agricultural biotechnology’ to provide readers better vistas about the enormous growth potential of nanotechnology in coming years. We have developed an international nanosilica network to do research on cancer biology and agricultural biotechnology. Surface modified hydrophobic and lipophilic nanosilica developed by us has already attracted huge investments in different parts of the globe. We also propose a nanoparticle assisted cybernetic approach, which could be used for early cancer detection in future.

Field efficacy of flubendiamide 480sc against brinjal shoot and fruit borer (Leucinodes orbonalis)

The field experiments were conducted at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani, West Bengal during 2012 and 2013 to evaluate the field efficacy of flubendiamide 480SC against shoot and fruit borer (Leucinodes orbonalis) of brinjal. Seedlings of variety Muktakeshi were transplanted in plots of 25 m2 area with a spacing of 60 x 45 cm. The experiment was designed in randomized block design (RBD) with four replications, and treatments viz., flubendiamide 480SC at 90 g, 72g and 60 g a.i./ha; thiodicarb 75 SP (750 g a.i./ha); quinalphos 20 EC (200 g a.i./ha); and water as untreated control. The insecticides were applied twice at 7 days interval. Results revealed that all the treatments gave significant reduction in infestation. It was evident that flubendiamide 480 SC @ 72 and 90 g a.i./ha was very effective with only 1.64 and 1.03% shoot, and 9.11 and 4.44% fruit infestation, respectively along with significant increase in yield.

Efficacy of newer insecticides against major lepidopteran pests of cabbage

The experiments were conducted at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India during rabi seasons of 2011–12 to 2013–14 for management of major lepidopteran pests of cabbage. The treatments viz., pyridalyl 10 EC (56.25, 75, 112.5 and 150 g a. i./ha), indoxacarb 14.5 SC (56.25, 75, 112.5 and 150 ga. i./ha), chlorfenapyr 10 SC (75, 100, 150 and 200 g a. i./ha), chlorpyriphos 20 EC (250 g a. i./ha) and triazophos 40 EC (250 g a. i./ha) were applied twice with three replications. Pooled data indicated that chlorfenapyr @ 200 g a. i./ha recorded lowest percentage of DBM damage (1.38%) followed by pyridalyl @ 150 g a. i./ha (2.33%) and indoxacarb @ 150 g a. i./ha (2.38%). Minimum infestation of S. litura was found in indoxacarb @ 150 g a. i./ha treated plots (1.38%) followed by pyridalyl @ 150 g a. i./ha (1.96%). Highest marketable yield (61.88 t/ha) was recorded in indoxacrab (150 g a. i./ha) treated plots followed by chlorfenapyr (200 g a. i./ha) and pyridalyl (150 g a. i./ha) with 59.71 and 59.43 t/ha marketable yield, respectively.

Efficacies and economics of some novel insecticides for management of major lepidopteran pests of tomato

Efficacies and economics of some new insecticides were evaluated for the management of major lepidopteran pests of tomato at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani, West Bengal during 2012–14. Three novel insecticides viz., pyridalyl 10 EC (56.25, 75, 112.5 and 150 g a. i./ha), indoxacarb 14.5 SC (56.25, 75, 112.5 and 150 g a. i./ha) and chlorfenapyr 10 SC (75, 100, 150 and 200 g a.i./ha) were applied twice with four doses along with two standard checks (chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 350 g a. i./ha and triazophos 40 EC @ 350 g a. i./ha) and untreated control. Pooled results revealed that pyridalyl and indoxacarb @ 150 g a. i./ha were found to be very effective insecticides against Helicoverpa armigera (3.10 and 2.60% fruit damage) and Spodoptera litura (3.34 and 3.59% fruit damage) with 211.21 and 209.59 q/ha marketable yield, respectively. Results indicated that traditional insecticides such as triazophos and chlorpyriphos were most cost effective insecticides with 10.24 and 9.56 benefit: cost ratio, respectively, whereas pyridalyl and indoxacarb at lower doses showed cost efficiency for management of lepidopteran pests of tomato.