Ghulam Hussain Abro

Removal of Pesticide Residues from Tomato and its Products

Plant protection agents (more commonly known as pesticides) are widely used in agriculture to increase the yield, improve the quality and extend the storage life of food crops. The study was carried out in order to determine the effectiveness of various traditional processing treatments on reducing the residual load of pesticides from tomato and its products. Results showed that lipid soluble pesticides residues were reduced most effectively in sun-drying (90-97%) followed by frying (91-99%) and thermal dehydration (89-90%). The data further indicated that profenofos residues dislodged more effectively than bifenthrin and endosulfan. The least reduction was noticed in endosulfan residues. Similarly in case of water soluble pesticides, the effect of sun-drying, frying and thermal dehydration on reduction of pesticide residues were within the range of 94-97%, 92-96% and 91-96%, respectively. Maximum reduction was found in emamectin benzoate residues followed by imidacloprid and diafenthiuron.

Efficacy of Bio-Pesticides for Managegement of Sucking Insect Pests of Cotton, Gossipium hirsutum (L.)

The studies were conducted consecutively for two years, 2006 and 2007 for management of cotton insect pests through eco-friendly measures. Bio-pesticides Neem seed extract, Neem oil, Asafoetida (Hing) and Tobacco leaf extract were evaluated against sucking complex. The experiment regarding evaluation botanical pesticides showed that among all bio-pesticides, the highest percent reduction of thrip (67.65%) was recorded in Neem seed extract followed by Neem oil (60.00%), Tobacco (63.59%) and Hing (Asafoetida) (52.68%) after 96 h. of application. Overall maximum mean reduction (64.69%) was recorded in Neem seed extract followed by Neem oil (57.74%), Tobacco (52.91%) and Asafoetida (46.52%). The highest reduction of jassid (71.97%) was recorded followed by Neem oil (70.06%), Hing (Asafoetida) (68.15%) and Tobacco (23.56%) after 96 h., of application of pesticides. With regards to reduction percent of whitefly revealed that maximum reduction (60.18%) was recorded in Hing (Asafoetida) followed by Neem oil (59.78%), Neem extract (59.38%) and tobacco (40.61%) after 96 h., of spray application. The botanical pesticides started reducing their toxicity after 96 h. However, the effective reduction of pests was recorded up to one week. Integrated pest management (IPM) model was developed for the control of sucking insect pests of cotton, for benefit of farming community through seminars, trainings and pamphlets. Using the safe botanical pesticides remained effective against sucking pests and is recommended against cotton pests, which showed less effective to natural enemies and environment friendly.

Feeding Potential of Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricius) Against Sucking Insect Pests

This laboratory experiment was conducted to find out the feeding performance and larval development of Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricuis) on Aphis gossypii (Glov.), Bemisia tabaci (Ginn.) and Amrasca biguttula biguttula (Distant) at 26 ± 2ÂoC temperature and 65 ± 5% relative humidity. The result indicated that the 3 rd and 4 th instar larvae of the beetle consumed 76.20 ± 3.44 and 79.7 ± 0.77 nymphs of A. gossypii /day followed by (23.0 ± 0.77) and (23.4 ± 0.75) nymphs of B. tabaci and (19.73 ± 1.17) and (21.55 ± 0.77) nymphs of A. b. biguttula , respectively as compared to 1 st and 2 nd instar larvae. Adult female consumed maximum (101.0 ± 0.55) nymphs of A. gossypii /day followed by (26.90 ± 0.27) nymphs of B. tabaci and (22.16 ± 0.20) nymphsof A. b. biguttula as compared to male. The result further revealed that the 4 th instar larva consumed highest number 159.4 ± 7.35 of A. gossypii nymphs during its life span followed by (93.8 ± 3.02) and (86.2 ± 3.09) nymphs of B. tabaci and A. b. biguttula, respectively. Similarly, the adult female devoured highest number of nymphs (3040.2 ± 26.4) of A. gossypii followed by B. tabaci (807.0±8.1) and A. b. biguttula (664.98±6.0) during its life span as compare to male. The shortest life span was recorded on A. gossypii as compared to A. b. biguttula and B. tabaci, There was highly significant difference in consumption rate and development period of larvae and adult beetles on different prey species ( P <0.05).

Comparative Influence of Green Manure (Trifolium Alexandrinum L.) and Conventional IPM on Population of Sucking Insect Pests of Cotton

C is one of the most sensitive crop to pest attack, in Pakistan and farmers mostly rely heavily on pesticides for the control of insect pests in cotton crop (Poswal and Williamson, 1998). Hence, cotton is a chemically intensive crop among all field crops as it uses about 25% of all insecticides consumed in agriculture (ICAC, 1998). Despite the continued improvement in the performance of chemical control strategies, harvest losses remain very high in cotton (Deguine et al., 2009). The chemicals used in non-organic cotton production pollute air, surface waters and cause health hazards to people. It has been reported that more than seventy workers die every day due to the pesticide poisoning mostly during insecticides application (Tahir and Anwar, 2012; Khan et al., 2002; WHO, 2014).

Effect of Different Synthetic Pesticides Against Pink Bollworm Pectinophora gossypiella (Saund.) On Bt. and non-Bt. Cotton Crop

The field studies were conducted at the farmer’s field in 2015-2016 to determine the effect of three different insecticides (triazon, radiant and polytrin C) on Bt. and non-Bt. cotton varieties against pink bollworm. The results revealed that triazon was observed the most effective pesticide against PBW on both cotton varieties. The mortality reduction percent of 33.99 to 30.45% was recorded at triazon, 27.72 to 26.95% at radiant and 24.68 to 14.48% at polytrin C respectively, in 2015. However, in 2016 the mortality reduction percent decreased but effective trend of these selected pesticides were observed same with mortality reduction percent of 28.15 to 25.46% at triazon, 21.95 to 23.52% at radiant and 19.96 to 16.37% at polytrin C in Bt. and non-Bt. cotton varieties. In present investigation, triazon was observed the most effective pesticide than radiant and polytrin C on larvae of PBW in both Bt. and non-Bt. varieties.

Effect of Green Manure, Sesbania bispinosa Wight Amendment on Incidence of Sucking Insect Pests, their Predators and Yield in Organic Cotton

Cotton holds the key importance in the economy of Pakistan, but its yield is severely affected due to the infestation of many insect pests. Farmers mostly rely on chemicals to control pests but their adverse effects on human health and their interests are also considerable. Therefore, this study was conducted over two years to evaluate the influence of amendment of soil with green manure (GM) Dhancha, Sesbania bispinosa Wight on the population of cotton sucking insect pests and their predators. Significant impact of GM was found in lowering the population of sucking pests of cotton i.e., Thrips tabaci (Lind), Bemisia tabaci (Gennadus), Amrasca bigutulla bigutulla (Ishida) and Tetranychus urticae (Koch) during both years. Population of predators i.e., Chrysoperla carnea, Geocoris punctipes and Orius sp. was also higher in dhancha treated plots in comparison to control. Application of neem oil was found effective in lowering the population of sucking insect pests during 2014; whereas, application of C. carnea cards showed significant impact after the mid cotton season during 2015. Overall growth and yield parameters were better in dhancha amended organic cotton treatment in comparison to control.

Residue Removal of Pesticides from Brinjal Using Different Processing Methods

The present study was conducted on the residual removal of six pesticides (bifenthrin, profenofos, endosulfan, imidacloprid difenthiuron and emamectin benzoate) from brinjal by using various house hold processing methods such as washing, detergent washing, peeling, drying and cooking/frying etc. The data revealed that high amount of all pesticide residues (above MRLs) were present and unfit for human consumption in raw form. From water soluble pesticides diafenthiuron reduced more in blanching as compared with imidacloprid and emamectin benzoate. Frying reduced the residues more effectively, rendering it fit for human consumption. Washing followed by frying reduced the fat soluble residues >70% whereas water soluble pesticide residues >80%. It was concluded that each processing was found to be effective in reduction of pesticides residues.

Effect of Application of Micronutrients on Spotted Bollworm Earias vittella (Fabricius), Infestation and Yield Components in Cotton Crop

Studies were carried out on the effect of micronutrients on spotted bollworm, Earias vittella F. infestation and yield components in cotton crop under field conditions. Cotton variety (CRIS-134) was sown in randomized block design with seven treatments including control (check) and was replicated three times on May 22, 2004-2005. Three micronutrients Bonus ® , Dawn ® and Power ® were applied three times at 79, 95 and 109 days after sowing. The results indicated that there was no significant effect of removal of leaves and fruiting bodies on infestation of bollworm. However, application of micronutrients significantly affected the bollworm infestation. There was significant effect of micro-nutrients on boll volume and opening of bolls in different micronutrients applied plots. The maximum yield was obtained from Bonus ® applied plots than other micronutrients applied plots.