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This paper presents the finding of the field experiment conducted on monitoring of flower visiting insects on buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.) at farmers' field during winter, 2012/13 at Meghauli, Chitwan, Nepal. The abundance and distribution of flower visiting insects were studied by monitoring with insect net and pan traps at 500 m, 1500 m and 2800 m from the natural habitat (forest). The wild insects (wasps and Apis dorsata F.) were found higher near to natural habitat and domesticated insects (Apis mellifera L. and Apis cerana F.) found more away from the natural habitat or close to housing and apiaries. Besides, Apis florea F., Andrena sp., Synoeca sp., Chalcid sp., Formica sp., Syrphus sp. and various Dipteran, Coleopteran, and Lepidopteran were also the flower visitors of buckwheat close to natural habitat. So, the diversity index varied with distance from the natural habitat, i.e. increase on proximity to natural habitat, i.e. 1.11, 1.25 and 1.62 at 2800 m, 1500 m and 500 m, respectively on sweeping with insect net and 0.65, 1.04 and 1.30 at 2800 m, 1500 m and 500 m, respectively on setting pan traps. Thus, the number and diversity of flower visiting insects get increased on proximity to natural habitat suggesting either conservation of natural habitat (forest) near farming communities or shifting of buckwheat cultivation near to natural habitat for adequate pollination and production.

A field experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications and seven cultivars of Radish as treatments for screening against Alternaria leaf spot for seed production. Disease scoring was done as percentage of leaf area infected on individual plant at 7 and 10 days intervals on leaf and siliqua respectively for 3 times, and disease severity and mean AUDPC were calculated and yield was recorded. Disease symptoms appeared first in Long Chetki 22 DAS and last in Green Neck Miyashige 38 DAS. Maximum mean AUDPC (886.7) on foliage was recorded in Long Chetki while minimum mean AUDPC (690.7) was recorded in Green Neck Miyashige Similarly, highest and lowest total mean AUDPC on siliqua were seen on cultivars 40 Days (1080) and Green Neck Miyashige (66.67) respectively. Highest yield was recorded in Green Neck Miyashige (695.2kg/ha) and lowest yield was recorded in cultivar Long Chetki (477.4kg/hac). Similarly, highest test weight was recorded in cultivar Mino Early (10.28gm) and lowest was recorded in cultivar 40-Days (8.4gm). Cultivar, All Season Green Long failed inflorescence formation hence no evidence of siliqua formation therefore bears value 0 for seed yield. Similarly, highest biomass yield excluding root was found in cultivar Subhra-32 (613.3gm/m2) and lowest biomass yield was recorded in cultivar Green Neck Miyashige (341.7gm/m2). Green Neck Miyashige was found resistant to Alternaria leaf spot disease with maximum seed yield (695.2kg/ha). The cultivars Subhra-32 and 40 days were highly susceptible to Alternaria leaf spot disease with minimum seed yield.Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol 4(3): 318-324

A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy block of the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS), Rampur to evaluate chlorophyll content of 20 drought tolerant wheat genotypes as a parameter of stay green character and spot blotch response. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replications, considering 25 November as normal sowing and 15 December as late sowing dates. Of the tested genotypes, Aditya had highest SPAD value (46.67) with least AUDPC (146) on flag leaf on 25 November sowing and higher SPAD value (43.57) with lower AUDPC (161) on 15 December sowing. Similarly, CSISA DRYT 5204 and CSISA DRYT 5205 had moderate SPAD values with AUDPC value at par with Aditya. Aditya with low AUDPC possessed longer stay green days (118.3) on 25 November sowing and shorter green days (107.5) on 15 December sowing. The susceptible check variety RR-21 possessed shorter stay green days (113.6) with SPAD value (35.7) on 25 November sowing and 100.4 days of stay green with SPAD value (31.23) on 15 December sowing. Aditya also had highest grain yields and thousand kernel weights on both the 25 November and 15 December sowing. The results showed Aditya, CSISA DRYT 5204 and CSISA DYRT 5205 were having longer period of stay green with higher SPAD and low AUDPC values and thus these three genotypes can be recommended for late sown conditions. Journal of the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science. Vol. 33-34, 2015, Page: 65-72