Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is a multipurpose palm known as kalpavriksha due to its extensive use of all plant parts. Basal stem rot disease, caused by Ganoderma lucidum/Ganoderma aplanatum in coconut, may affect this palm. Under pot culture studies, Redgram (Cajanus cajan) and Bengal gram (Cicer arietinum) were identified as indicator plants for early detection of basal stem rot (Ganoderma wilt) disease in coconut. Furthermore, in 2014, the dosage, frequency, and method of application of effective biocontrol agents, Trichoderma reesei, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and neem cake (5 kg/palm/year), were standardised and compared to root feeding of Hexaconazole @3ml/100ml of water/palm/quarter and micronutrient application @1kg/palm/year at Patha gannavaram village of east godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. Soil application of a talc-based formulation containing 125 g of Trichoderma reesei and 125 g of Pseudomonas fluorescens + 5 kg of Neem cake/palm/year was found to be successful in lowering the disease index from 28.44 to 4.23 under field conditions over three years from 2014 to 2017.

Andhra Pradesh is one of the important coconut-growing states in India with an area of 0.115 million hectares producing 1,567.60 million nuts annually. The exotic pest rugose spiraling whitefly (RSW), Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) has entered India in 2016 with first reports from Kerala and Tamil Nadu states and from Andhra Pradesh in 2017. The IPM strategies which included the installation of yellow sticky traps @12/acre, re-distribution of parasitoid Encarsia guadeloupae, foliar application of entomopathogenic fungi Isaria fumosorosea NBAIR pfu 5 (5 g/litre @1x108 spores/ml) along with the release of neuropteran predator Apertochrysa astur @600 eggs per palm resulted in successful containment of RSW in experimental plantations. An effective extension network promoting IPM strategies for RSW management resulted in a decrease in incidence and intensity from 50 to 75 percent in four major coconut-growing villages in two districts in the year 2020-21 as compared to 2019-20. However, continuous monitoring for invasive whiteflies should be done rigorously as another neotropical invasive, Bondar’s Nesting Whitefly (BNW), Paraleyrodes bondari Peracchi (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) was observed along with RSW in coconut plantations during surveys necessitating development of an integrated approach for all invasive whiteflies.

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Godavari khani in Telangana is located on the banks of river Godavari and has large coal deposits. Coal mining in this area has greatly impacted the surrounding environment. Flora, fauna, quality of air and also the waters in and around have been drastically affected by the coal dust and coal ash emanating from the coal mines. Quite a number of respiratory disorders, skin diseases and also sometimes, cancer are linked to coal pollution. Though the impact of coal pollution has been reported, in leading local dailies, not many systematic studies have been conducted to learn about the coal pollution on physiology of aquatic animals. Channa striata is the common fish found in the waters, of Godavari khani and this fish was selected for the present study. As liver is the major detoxifying organ of the body, its vital enzymes, are drastically affected under the influence of toxicants and pollutants. In the present study, major liver enzyme such as Alanine transaminase, one of the biomarker for liver damage was selected. The enzyme levels in the serum were estimated under the influence of varying concentrations of coal dust and coals ash (0.5%, 1% and 2%). The enzyme showed significant (PP<0.01) upsurge under the influence of coal dust and coal ash as compared to the control fish. However, the impact of coal dust was greater when compared to that of coal ash. Our results clearly demonstrated that coal pollution drastically affects the liverenzyme, Alanine transaminase, probably due to destruction of hepatocytes.