Rice Blast Forecasting Using Interval Valued Data at Coimbatore, India

Aims: The persistence of rice blast, caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, continues to pose a significant threat to rice production worldwide, impacting both yields and food security. The primary goal of this study is to apply interval-valued independent weather data to accurately model the dependent variable of percentage disease incidence.Study Design: In this paper, we present a detailed study on forecasting rice blast outbreaks through the application of Average method, Center method and Min Max method using interval valued weather data and percentage disease incidence.Place and Duration of Study: The blast disease data include percent disease incidence (PDI) collected at the Paddy Breeding Station (PBS), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, from 2018 to 2021.And Weather variables includes the following: Maximum Temperature, Minimum Temperature, Relative humidity (morning), Relative humidity (evening) from 2018 to 2021.Methodology: The available interval weather parameter data and disease incidence data are utilized to fit a regression model, specifically employing simple linear regression and multiple linear regression, in the R version 4.3.0.Results: Upon analyzing various methods, it is evident that the variables of Minimum temperature exhibit a significant relationship with a high level of significance, indicating a significance level at P 0.001.Conclusion: Minimum temperature shows more contribution in disease incidence followed by relative humidity at evening.

Evaluation of entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema feltiae against field population of mustard sawfly, Athalia lugens proxima (Klug) on radish.

Mustard sawfly, A. lugens proxima, was found to be highly susceptible to entomopathogenic nematode, S. feltiae under laboratory condition. Application of three different doses of S. feltiae, viz. 1.1 x 10(3), 1.1 x 10(4) and 1.1 x 10(5) infective juveniles/ml, at weekly intervals, significantly reduced the field population of mustard sawfly on radish. The mean larval population of A. lugens proxima in all doses of nematode treated plots ranged from 0.42 to 0.48 larvae per plant as against 2.95 larvae / plant in untreated control plots. Similarly, the yield of radish in all the nematode treated plots was significantly higher by way of recording 2.80 to 2.87 tons/ha as compared to 1.63 tons/ha in the case of control.

Studies on the pharmacological actions of Cardiospermum helicacabum.

The leaves of the plant "Cardospermum helicacabum" were extracted with different solvents and found to contain largely tannins, saponins and traces of alkaloids. The alcoholic extract was tested for its pharmacological effects on various intact and isolated biological preparations. On the CNS the extract produced depression in near lethal doses. On the CVS the extract produced fall of blood pressure and bradycardia. The fall of blood pressure was antagonised partially by atropine and anti-histamine. On guinea pig ileum the extract produced powerful contraction which was partially antagonised by atropine and anti-histamine. The extract produced mild analgesia as tested by the radiant heat method in rats. It appears to be a proconvulsant in nature as tested by the electroshock method in rats. The extract when administered orally produced significant anti-inflammatory effect in rats as tested by the granuloma pouch and cotton pellet implantation methods.