Dr. YSRHU e-Newsletter Fortnightly e-Newsletter of Dr.Y.S.R.Horticultural University Volume-III, Issue –2 Dr.YSRHU e-Newsletter 16th —31st January, 2017 Fortnight Focus Events Education Research Extension General Events Republic Day Celebrations Sixty eighth Republic Day was celebrated at Dr.Y.S.R. Horticultural University Campus and off cam- pus institutions on 26.01.2017. Sri. Chiranjiv Choudhary, Vice-Chancellor hoisted the National flag at administrative office of the university in the presence of University Officers, staff and students. Vice- Chancellor has given Republic Day message on this occasion and stressed all to rededicate them- selves to the development of the nation. He opined that there is no substitute for hard work. Education Blood Donation Camp NSS cell of CoH, Venkataramannagudem conducted a blood donation camp on 21.01.2017 in collaboration with Government Hospital, Eluru and Lions Club, Amalapuram. Dr. A.Sujatha, Dean of Student Affairs inaugurated the camp and highlighted the importance of blood donation in the presence of Dr.M.Rajasekhar, Associate Dean Dr.V.Sudha Vani and Dr.N.Emmanuel, NSS programme officers. Twenty five units of blood was donated by volunteers and teaching staff. Awareness programme on ‘Parthenium Management’ Awareness programme on parthenium weed was conducted on 16.01.2017 for staff and students of SKPP Horticultural Polytechnic, Ramachandrapuram who were involved in removal of parthenium in college premises. The harmful effects of parthenium were also ex- plained during the event. Research Evaluation of Gladiolus varieties Among 22 gladiolus varieties evaluated at HRS, An- antharajupeta under drip irrigation and mulching, var. BTS has taken minimum number of days for flowering (49) followed by Punjab Dawn (52), where as maximum number of flowers was recorded in Bin- diya (16) followed by AC.NO.7(15) and Arka Amar BTS Bindiya Acc No.7 Arka Amar (15). Survey on Medicinal and Aromatic crops Dr.P.Rama Devi, Scientist (Pl.Path.) & Head, Smt.D.Aparna, Scientist (Hort.) and Smt.P.Sunitha, Sci- entist (Ento.), HRS, Venkataramannagudem surveyed lemon grass fields in Koyyalagudem mandal and black pepper intercropped in oil palm gardens of Jangareddygudem mandal on 21.01.2017. Dr.P.Rama Devi, Scientist (Pl.Path) &Head, Smt.P.Sunitha, Scientist (Ento.), HRS, Venkataramanna- gudem visited SRKR Engineering College, Bhimavaram for collection of germplasm and information on medicinal plants and survey for pests and diseases on 28.01.2017. Survey on Papaya diseases Smt.T. Naga Lakshmi, Scientist (Pl. Path.) HRS, Anantharajupet surveyed papaya and mango or- chards on 23.01.2017 and observed severe PRSV incidence in papaya and in mango, blossom blight (20-25%) and sooty mould (50-60%) were recorded. Surveys on Coconut Dr. L. Ranjith Kumar, Scientist (Ento.), HRS, Ambajipeta surveyed coconut gardens at Thanelanka, Somudevarapalem and Inapuram villages of Mummidivaram mandal of East Godavari district for concurrent estimation of coconut production in Andhra Pradesh for 2016-17 on 25.01.2017. Volume-III, Issue –2 Dr.YSRHU e-Newsletter 16th —31st January, 2017 2 Dr. N.B.V. Chalapathi Rao, Sr. Scientist (Ento.), HRS, Ambajipeta surveyed coconut gardens at Lolla, Atreyapuram villages of Atreyapuram mandal, Kalvacharla, Pathatungapadu, villages of Rajanagaram mandal, Mode- kurru, Avidi, Kothapeta villages of Kothapeta mandal of East Godavari district for concurrent estimation of coconut production in Andhra Pradesh for 2016-17 from 24.01.2017 to 26.01.2017. Extension Diagnostic visits Dr.N.B.V.Chalapathi Rao, Senior Scientist (Ento.), HRS, Ambajipeta carried out field diagnostic visits to mango orchards in Gokavaram on 17.01.17, Gudapalli of East Godavari district on 18.01.2017 and Nuzvid of Krishna district on 21.01.2017. High incidence of leaf hopper was observed and suggested the control measures to the farmers . On 18.01.2017, Sri G.Sandeep Naik, Scientist (Pl. Path.) and P.Raja Sekhar, Scientist (SS&AC), KVK, Pandirimamidi visited paddy nursery (MTU- 1121) in I.Polavaram village of Rampachodavaram mandal. Suggested to clip the leaf tips of seedlings before transplanting to reduce carry over of eggs from nursery to main field as the eggs of stem borer are laid near the tip of leaf. Also visited maize fields and observed the crop affected with pink shoot borer. Recommended application of carbofuran 3G granules@3 kgs/acre in leaf whorls. Sri. G.Shali Raju Scientist (Ento.) KVK, V.R.Gudem visited tomato, chilli and blackgram fields on 18.01.2017. In tomato, observed TSW (Tomato spoted wilt virus) and suggested to remove and destroy the affected plants fol- lowed by spraying of dimethoate or methyl demeton@ 2 ml or imidaclo- [email protected] ml or fipronil@2 ml/l of water. In case of chillies, thrips infesta- tion was observed and suggested application of fipronil 0.3 % granules@8 kg/acre at 15 and 45 DAT and spraying of fipronil@2 ml or [email protected] g or [email protected] ml or [email protected]/l of water. In case of blackgram leaf curl virus disease was observed and suggested to install sticky traps (yellow & blue)@12 no./ha along with spraying of fipronil@2ml or [email protected] g or spino- sad 0.25 ml/l to control the vector population. Dr. A. Devivaraprasad Reddy, Scientist (Fishery Science), Dr. K. VenkataSubbaiah, Scientist (Hort.), Dr. T. Vijaya Nirmala, Scientist (Vet. Sci.), KVK, Venkataramannagudem and Mr. Masthan Ram Prasad, FDO, ITDA visited West Regulakunta, Reddy Ganapavaram, Kollaigudem, Ravigudem, Pandugudem, Bandarlagudem, Kamaikunta of West Godavari district and identified the beneficiaries for integrated culture practices un- der TSP project on “Development of integrated fish culture cum horticulture /poultry for livelihood of tribal folks”. Dr. K. Subramanyam, Principal Scientist (Pl. Pathology) & Head, HRS, Mahanandi visited cucumber fields at Motukupallli village on 21.01.2017 and noticed fruit rot and yellowing of veins and sug- gested the farmer with suitable management practices. Volume-III, Issue –2 Dr.YSRHU e-Newsletter 16th —31st January, 2017 3 On 20.01.2017, Dr. P.Ramadevi, Scientist & Head, HRS, Venkataramanna- gudem and G.Shali Raju Scientist (Ento.), KVK, Venkataramannagudem vis- ited chilli fields at Chodimella infested with gemini virus, thrips and mites and suggested to collect and destroy infected virus plants for the control of gemini virus and foliar application of phasalone @2 ml or diafenthiuron @1.5 g or chlorfynapyr @ 2ml for thrips and mites control. Application of biozyme vegetable liq- uid@1ml/l and nutrient spray (NPK – 19:19:19) @5g/l to improve plant growth and on the same day visited tomato field infested with root knot nematode and suggested crop rotation with non – host plants like maize and marigold along with application of carbofuran 3G@20 Kg/ha. Dr. A. Devivaraprasad Reddy, Scientist (Fishery Science), KVK, Venkatara- mannagudem visited fish pond at Veerampalem village on 20.01.2017. Based on the clinical signs, the fish was infected with bacteria and suggested for ap- plication of agricultural lime and salt to the water. Dr. L. Mukunda Lakshmi, Scientist (Hort.), Dr. D.Srinivasa Reddy, Scientist (Ento.), CRS, Tirupati carried out diagnostic survey to mango orchard at Mal- laiahpalli village, Chandragiri mandal, Chittoor district on 20.01.2017 and identified stem borer and diplodia gummosis and suggested suitable control measures. Dr.L.Naram Naidu, Principal Scientist (Hort.), HRS, Lam attended diagnostic field visit of chilli in Veeravalli surrounding villages of Krishna District on 18.01.2017. Dr.C.Venkata Ramana, Scientist, (Hort.), HRS, Lam attended diagnostic field visit of chilli in Dhuli- palla and Takkellapadu and Sattenapalli villages of Guntur district and surrounding villages of Mar- turu, Prakasam district on 19.01.2017. Sri. M. Tagore Naik, Scientist (Hort.) and Sri. N. Ramesh Naik, RA (Ento.), HRS, Mahanandi visited the mango fields in Mahanandi mandal on 24.01.2017 and observed mango hoppers and powdery mildew and sug- gested suitable remedial measures for these problems. Also visited turmeric fields around Rudravaram village on 25.01.2017 and suggested suitable re- medial measures against leaf spot and rhizome rot. Sri. D. Sreedhar, Scientist (Hort.) and Smt. T. Nagalaksmi, Scientist (Pl. Path.), HRS, Anantharajupet visited downey mildew affected musk melon crop un- der drip irrigation and mulching at Raghava Raja Puram on 29.01.2017 and suggested remedial measures for the control of downy mildew. Training Programmes KVK, Pandirimamidi organized 6 day vocational training programme on “Skills on maintaining bee hives and extraction of honey” from 23.01.2017 to 28.01.2017. The programme was inaugurated by Dr. R.V.S.K.Reddy, Director of Extension in the presence of Dr. Vijay Kumar Reddy, APD- Velugu, ITDA, Rampachodavaram. Dr. A.Srinivas, Senior Sci- entist & Head, KVK, Pandirimamidi advised the farmers to make use of this programme for establishment of bee keeping units in their fields. Sri G. Shali Raju, Scientist (Ento.), KVK, V.R.Gudem attended as technical resource person and explained the farmers about bee keeping. Volume-III, Issue –2 Dr.YSRHU e-Newsletter 16th —31st January, 2017 4 On 24.01.2017, NABARD in collaboration with KVK, Venkataramanna- gudem organized a workshop on “Doubling the farmers income”. A to- tal of 40 farmers and NGO representatives from various places of West Godavari district attended this workshop. Sri Ramaprabhu, DDM, NABARD attended as chief guest for the programme and discussed the importance of farmer producer organizations. In this programme Dr.R.V.S.K.Reddy, Director of Extension, Dr.J.Dilipbabu, Director of Research, Dr.E.Karunasree, Sen- ior Scientist & Head, Dr.Ramadevi, Senior Scientist and KVK staff, Dr.V.Deephi and Sri G.Shali Raju have participated. A six day vocational training programme on “Apiculture” was conducted by Sri G.Shali Raju, Scientist (Ento.) at KVK, V.R.Gudem from 25.01.2017 to 30.01.2017 and visited apiary unit at Peda tadepalli and State bee keeping extension centre (SBEC), Vijayarai along with 25 trainees and interacted with Sri V.S.Rao, Executive i/c, SBEC, KVIC, Vijayarai.