Maqsood Shah

ASSESSMENT OF INDIGENOUS PLANT EXTRACTS IN COMBINATION WITH SYNTHETIC INSECTICIDE AND WOOD ASH FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF RED PUMPKIN BEETLE Aulacophora Foveicollis (Lucas) (CHRYSOMELIDAE: COLEOPTERA) ON SNAKE MELON (Cucumis melo var. Long melon)

Botanical extracts, synthetic insecticide and ash were evaluated against red pumpkin beetle (RPB) Aulacophora foveicollis (Lucas) on snake melon Cucumis melo var. long melon at Newly Developmental Farm (NDF) of The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, during March 2015. The Experiment was performed by using Randomize Complete Block Design with total of six treatments and each treatment was replicated three times. Treatments included botanical extracts such as Cyperus rotundus (Dela), Convolvulus arvensis (Gishkay), and Melia azedarach (Bakayan), Lufron (synthetic insecticide), ash and control. Results revealed that all tested treatments significantly reduced population density of red pumpkin beetle. However, in both the spray application, lowest Red Pumpkin Beetle population plant was recorded in Lufron treated plots followed by ash were as high population of red pumpkin beetle plant was recorded in control plots. All the three weed extracts showed similar effect on Red Pumpkin Beetle population and were not as effective as synthetic insecticide and ash. Minimum (4.63 plant) infested leaves were recorded in lufron as compared to control (7.00 plant) while lowest (3.56 plant) leaves perforations were found in the ash and luforn (3.56 plant) treated plot. Besides these, the tested treatments had enormous effect on plant growth. The fruit length (37.19 cm) and fruit diameter (8.88 cm) was found maximum in lufron treated plot. Tallest snake melon plant was recorded in the ash treated plot followed by lufron, C. rotundus, C. arvensis and M. azedarach were as shortest plants were found in control plots. The snake cucumber production was also high in lufron and ash treated plot and lowest in control (6.47 kg). Based on current study, it is concluded that lufron and ash not only showed excellent protection of snake cucumber from the attack of red pumpkin beetle but also increased the snake cucumber production. Hence, the tested botanicals also have the potential to be used as alternate to synthetic insecticide in IPM program.

An Analysis of Integral Challenges and Promises for Technological Applications of Emerging HTSC

The search for novel high-phase transition temperature (Tc) superconducting (HTSC) phases overcome the existing problems and expedite commercialization to achieve room temperature superconductors (RTSC) with integral challenges and promises for technological applications. The proposal presents an analysis of structural characterization and applicability aspects of the HTSC phases as the emerging sophisticated field for technological applications.