No abstract

The study on Role of agrometeorological factors in regulating the abundance of Brinjal shoot and fruit borer (Leucinodes orbonalis) in Kupwara revealed that at all the locations of District Kupwara, first adult male moth of Leucinodes orbonalis was trapped during 24 SW. Moth population increased and peaked during 34 SW (4.0 moths/trap), thereafter population declined and reached to zero level during last week of September. Correlation studies between abiotic factors and adult moth catch of Leucinodes orbonalis from three locations of  District Kupwara viz Langate, Chowgal and Handwara had positive and significant correlation with minimum temperature (0.469,0.461 and 0.462) but positive and non-significant with maximum temperature (0.406,0.401 and 0.410), rainfall (0.032,0.058 and 0.035), relative humidity evening(0.434,0.418 and 0.421), though negative and non-significant with relative humidity morning (-0.149,-0.123 and -0.166) respectively. Multiple regression analysis revealed minimum temperature as major contributor in population buildup of the pest followed by relative humidity (evening) while as relative humidity (morning) had least effect in population buildup of the pest.

Hymenoptera is the fourth diverse and the most economically important insect order comprising of bees, wasps, ants, sawflies etc. Being an important part of ecosystem, their conservation is of utmost importance. The first step towards conservation strategies is the identification of the species. The traditional morphological approach can sometimes lead to misidentification due to a lack of expertise. DNA barcoding using the small genomic fragments has been identified as an efficient tool in the identification as well as the phylogenetic analysis of the species. In the present study, we used the COI gene sequences as a tool for the characterization of Hymenoptera from different parts of the Jammu region. The collected samples were proceeded for the isolation of DNA, PCR for amplification of the COI gene, and then sequenced by Sanger dideoxy method. A total of 22 COI sequences belonging to 18 different species were successfully generated. Among which eight species sequences (Tachytes sp., Bombus trifasciatus, Rhynchium carnaticum, Ropalidia brevita, Lasioglossum marginatum, Camponotus pennsylvanicus, Tapinoma melanocephalum, Formica rufibarbis) are the novel contribution in the global database. NJ tree using the K2P model with 1000 bootstrap supporting values has been used to study the phylogeny of the species. Sequence analysis shows high AT content (67-77%) in the COI region of Hymenopterans. The generated COI sequence analysis also revealed less than 1% intra-specific divergence in the examined taxa, while the interspecific distances ranged between 8% to 38%. This study added significantly to the databases of DNA barcodes of Hymenopterans species from Jammu region.

To assess the spatial exchangeable nutrient status (Ca, Mg and Na), a soil survey was conducted at district Doda, J&K. Composite surface soil samples were collected randomly from different land use systems viz; Forest, Horticulture at a depth of (1 metre), Barren Lands and Agriculture at a depth of (0-15cm). The exchangeable calcium recorded was higher under barren lands (2.15-6.18 meq100g -1 ) followed by horticulture, forest and agriculture land uses. The exchangeable Magnesium of the soils under different land use systems recorded was higher under barren lands (0.57-1.75 meq100g -1 ) followed by horticulture, forest and agriculture land uses. The exchangeable sodium range recorded was higher under barren lands (15.69-97.56 mg Kg -1 ) followed by forest, horticulture and agriculture, respectively. Exchangeable calcium was low (<2.5 meq100g -1 ) in northern area of block Ghat. Calcium was medium (<2.5-5.0 meq100g -1 ) in major portions of the district. Exchangeable magnesium was low (<0.75 meq100g -1 ) in north-eastern areas of Ghat and major portions of Gandoh block towards northern and southern side. Magnesium was medium (0.75-1.50 meq100g -1 ) in major portions of the district. Exchangeable sodium was medium (50-100 mgKg -1 ) in major portions of district. Sodium was low (<50 mgKg -1 ) in Northern area of Bhaderwah block, respectively.

The pollination services provided by wild insect fauna in peach depends on many factors, among them the diverse landscapes and habitat diversity is of immense importance contributing to foraging characteristics and hourly visitation frequencies. A considerable variation existed in visitation rate; total visits, percent visitation and total time spend on peach flowers by insect pollinators/visitors during our course of study in low maintained mountainous landscapes. Flower handling times consumed by species created a significant variation between total visitation and visitation rate. Most species prefer to collect pollen however the nectar is main reward from flowers, therefore time per flower sought by hymenopteran species were inherently shorter than lepidopteran and dipteran species. Among the members of genus Lasioglossum the total visits, visitation rate and per cent visitation were found highest by species L. marginatum and overall the order hymenoptera showed comparatively higher visitation rate, total visits and per cent visitation on peach flowers. From members of family Apidae species Xylocopa valga and X. violacea makes highest number of total visits followed by family Halictidae. During the two years of studies, almost 95% of the available peach flowers were visited by foraging wild bees varied significantly as per ANOVA; however, the statistical significance across two years of investigation varies too. The time spend by pollinators/visitors on peach flower bout varies among different species. Rank dominance curve (K-dominance curve) were determined with respect to species abundance and inferences were drawn species wise.