Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) Special Issue-7: 4605-4609

International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Special Issue-7 pp. 4605-4609 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com

Original Research Article

Emerging Pests of Makhana (Euryale ferox Salisb.) Crop in Koshi Region of Bihar

Paras Nath*, Anil Kumar, P. K. Yadav and Rajesh Kumar

Bihar Agricultural University, B. P.S. Agricultural College, Purnea-854302, *Corresponding author

ABSTRACT

Makhana (Euryale ferox Salisb.), also known as Gorgon nut/Fox nut, Prickly water lily is an important aquatic fruit crop in Koshi region of Bihar. Survey and surveillance was conducted over the years to record the emerging pest status in Makhana crop. A total of six and different unidentified species of gastropods were recorded as pests of K e yw or ds Makhana crop. Almost all parts of Makhana i.e. , leaf rib, petiole, shoot, fibrous

root, , fruits etc. were attacked. The insect pests viz., , case worms, rib borer Makhana, Insect pests, Gastropods, and gastropods under the changing cropping patterns and intensification of crop emerge as Natural enemies major constraints in getting maximum yield. Further, some of the pest like leaf bug and singhara beetle emerged as minor pest and in future intensification and changing cropping patterns may aggravate their population and infestation. Among the natural enemies, Coccinellids beetle viz., Coccinella septumpunctata; Scymnus spp; Menochilus sexmaculatus; Brumus spp. etc. were found to be associated with aphid.

Introduction

Makhana (Euryale ferox Salisb.) also known Bihar, Manipur, parts of Assam, West as Gorgon nut/Fox nut, Prickly water lily is Bengal and Madhya Pradesh. In the state of an important aquatic fruit. In general, its Bihar, major Makhana producing districts distribution is extremely limited to tropical include Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, and subtropical regions of South-East and Saharsa, Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj, Purnea East Asia and is known to exist in China, and Katihar of Mithila and Koshi region Japan, , Russia, North America, (Mishra, Jha, and Dehaidrai, 2003). Nepal, Bangladesh, Marala Headworks wetlands, North West side of Punjab, In India, it is cultivated in an area of 20,000 commonly growing along the water inlets on ha, out of which 80% area is in Bihar. The the left bank of River Chenab, facing average production and productivity of Village Gondal, District Gujrat, Pakistan Makhana crop in Bihar is 3.19 lakh q and (Muhammad et al., 2010) and some parts of 21.25 q/ha, respectively (Minten et al., India. In India, it is distributed in Bihar, 2014). At present, 40-45 % of Makhana crop West Bengal, Assam, Manipur, Tripura, is cultivated in low land rice field condition Eastern Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and rest are traditionally grown in the pond and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. However, its system. Due to changing pattern of cropping commercial cultivation is limited to North system and intensification of crop, number 4605

Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) Special Issue-7: 4605-4609 of abiotic and biotic factors acting upon, as older root, leaf, leaf vein/rib, flowers, reducing the crop yield, of which insect pest fruits and petiole of Makhana. Apart from and gastropods especially Mollusca’s pose direct injury, the damaged / were threats and emerges as potential major pests predispose to the secondary growth of of the crop. Though there are meagre reports pathogens, fast decay, pre-mature damage on the occurrence and status of pests, the and significant yield loss. four dozen insect and eight gastropod species were found associated with Though most of the pest were emerging/ Makhana crop (Mishra et.al. 1992). potential pests but due to the adoption and intensification of Makhana crop from pond Hence, the survey and surveillance was to low land rice field, number of pests pose taken up to investigate the status of insect threats and emerges as major and minor pest and diseases in Makhana crop in and pests. around Purnea and adjoining districts of Koshi region of Bihar since 2014 to Aphid (R. nymphaeae L.) understand the emerging pests in the region. The peak activity of Aphid (R. nymphaeae Materials and Methods L.) was from February to March and it sharply declined and disappeared in the For survey and surveillance, Makhana plots month of April. Cloudy weather together were randomly selected at different with western winds enhances the aphid locations in and around Purnea and infestation. adjoining districts of Koshi region of Bihar since 2014. Five plants were randomly Both nymph and adult suck the sap from selected from 0.4 ha plot and accordingly, 3 upper surface of leaves. Under heavy leaves (each from one plant) were examined infestation, the affected part of leaves turn for the collection of data on associated yellow/rust red, fast decay and results in Insect and Gastropod at fortnightly interval reduction in yield. from 10 spots during entire Makhana season. Case Worms ((E. depunctalis G. & E. crisonalis W.) The survey and surveillance of key pests was conducted continuously year after year The case worms (E. depunctalis G. & E. since 2014 cropping season and different crisonalis W.) appeared in February on the pests were found as emerging pests in crop with peak activity from March to June Makhana crop in Koshi region of Bihar and their population declined in July. The young larvae feed by scraping the leaf Results and Discussion surface either in middle or at the margin. The makes an oval case out of the During survey, the following emerging pests portion of the leaf cut out from it and were observed on Makhana crop in Koshi remains inside it, moving with the case on region of Bihar. Six insect pests and the leaves. The larva of case worms were different species of gastropod especially observed as one of the major pests of Mollusca’s were found to damage Makhana Makhana as it causes heavy damage and crop (Table-1). It was observed that the significant reduction in yield of Makhana pests were mainly damaging younger as well crop.

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Table.1 Insect and Gastropods associated with Makhana (Euryale ferox Salisb.) crop

S Common Scientific name Damaging Plant part Pest N name stage status 1. Aphi d Rhopalosiphum Homoptera Nymph & Adult Leaves ++ nymphaeae 2. Singharabet Galerucella Chrysomelidae Coleoptera Grub & Adult Leaves + tele birmanica 3. Root borer Donacia delesserti Chrysomelidae Coleoptera Grub & Adult , leaves & + root 4. Rib borer Chironomus spp Cheronomidae Diptera Larvae Leaves & pod ++ 5. Leaf Plea litruata Nymph & Adult Leaves + sucking bug 6. Case Elophila depuntalis Pyralidae Lepidoptera Larvae Leaves ++ worms E. crisonalis 7. Mollusca’s Unidentified* - - Adults Leaves & Petiole ++ *May be 3-5 species. ++ Major pest, + Minor pest, - Natural enemies

Table.2 Natural enemies of Aphid (Rhopalosiphum nymphaeae) in Makhana (Euryale ferox Salisb.)

S. Common Scientific name Family Order Period of Status No name activities 1 Lady bird Coccinella Coccinellidae Coleoptera Jan. to Mid + beetle septumpunctata April. 2 Lady bird Scymnus spp Coccinellidae Coleoptera Mid Jan. to ++ beetle April. 3 Lady bird Menochilus Coccinellidae Coleoptera Jan. to Mid + beetle sexmaculatus April. 4 Lady bird Brumus spp. Coccinellidae Coleoptera Feb. to + beetle March

Leaf Midge or Rib Borer (Chironomous and causes rapid destruction. The colour of spp.) affected leaves changes to yellow, decay fast and affects the crop yields. Besides above The Rib borer (Chironomous spp.) appeared three major insect pests, some of the insect in February and showed increasing trend up pests were recorded as minor pest. These to July and their incidence was found till the insect pests will gain momentum with the harvest of the crop in the month of August. intensification of Makhana crop and will The incidence of chironomid larvae was cause significant economic losses to the crop observed minimum in February but it in future. showed increasing trends from March onwards and continued till July. However, Sucking bug (Plea litruata F.) the population goes down from August onwards. The larvae of Chironomid were The population of this pest appeared in the observed in developed ribs under the leaf month of January in nursery and showed surface. The larvae easily move inside the increasing trends from mid-February with aerenchymatous cavities of ribs of the leaves maximum population in March and April.

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The pest showed declining trends and Makhana crop. The maximum population of disappeared in May. The population of bug these coccinellids beetle was found in is low and observed on leaves, tender shoots March. Among coccinellids beetle, Scymnus and roots of Makhana. Both the nymph and sp was observed more in number than adult suck the cell sap from the under Coccinella septumpunctata, Menochilus surface of the tender leaves, shoots and roots sexmaculatus and Brumus sp. The Scymnus of the crop. sp was also found more effective predator of aphid compared to others. Singhara beetle (Galerucella birmanica) It may be concluded from the survey and The pest population appeared in last week of surveillance that the insect pests viz., aphid, March and showed increasing trends in case worms, rib borer and gastropods under April with maximum population in May. the changing cropping patterns and The pest showed declining trends from May intensification of crop emerges as major end and disappeared in June. constraints in getting maximum yield. Further, some of the pest like leaf bug and Grub and adult damages the younger and singhara beetle emerged as minor pest and mature leaves, even some times petiole and in future intensification and changing integument of Makhana fruit. Grubs were cropping patterns may aggravate their more destructive than adults. population and infestation. Paucity of information, as no detail work was reported Gastropods on pest status in Makhana crop. However, occurrence and associated pest were Gastropods especially different species of reported by different worker (Banerjee, S.R., Mollusca’s were found throughout the crop 1972; Mishra et.al., 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, growth season with increasing trend from 2003). February to April with maximum in May- July and their incidence was found till the Acknowledgement harvest of the crop in the month of August. This is one of the most notorious emerging Authors thankful to Publication Committee, pest of Makhana crop and outnumber the BAU, Sabour for providing BAU, other pests. They lay eggs on fibrous root communication No 357/2018 for the and leaves. The adults remain attached with research paper. under surface of the leaves, shoots and fibrous roots. It feeds on plant tissue of the References host plant and caused fast decay of affected plants. This is a menace in Makhana crop as Banerji, S.R. (1972) Infestation of Euryale it is found in entire crop growth period and ferox Salisb. by larvae of Nymphula led to significant yield reduction. crisonalis w. and trial on its control. Journal of Bombay Natural History Natural enemies of Aphid Society, 69(1):79-90. (Rhopalosiphum nymphaeae) in Makhana Minten, B., Singh, K. M. and Sutradhar, R. (Euryale ferox Salisb.) (2014). Branding in food retail of high value crops in Asia: Case of Makhana A total of four coccinellids beetle was from Bihar (India).MPRA No. 54349 observed feeding on aphid (Table-2) in pp14-34

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