Temperature Effects on Melon Fly Development in Senegal Watermelon Crops | InformativeBD

Madeleine Ivonne Mendy, Toffène Diome,  Mamecor Faye, and Mbacké Sembène, from the institute of Sénégal. wrote a Research article about, Temperature Effects on Melon Fly Development in Senegal Watermelon Crops. entitled, Effect of temperature on the development of immature stages of Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae), Coquillett, 1899, A major watermelon pest in Senegal. This research paper published by the International Journal of Biosciences | IJB. an open access scholarly research journal Biosciences. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

Global warming strongly influences the development of Zeugodacus cucurbitae, a major pest of cucurbit crops; however, the effects of certain intermediate and high temperatures, as well as natural conditions particularly on watermelon remain insufficiently documented. The present study assessed the effect of a thermal gradient, including ambient temperature and constant temperatures of 25, 27, 30, and 33°C, on the development of the immature stages (egg-larva-pupa) of Z. cucurbitae. The results indicate that preimaginal development time exhibits a non-linear thermal response. The duration of the pupal stage decreases with increasing temperature, whereas pupal survival and total developmental time follow a unimodal pattern, characterized by accelerated development up to a thermal optimum (27°C), beyond which biological performance declines and variability increases. These findings confirm the existence of an optimal thermal window (25-27°C) for the development of Z. cucurbitae and reveal stage-specific thermal plasticity. This sensitivity to temperature fluctuations has important implication for phenological modeling, population dynamics forecasting, and the adaptation of integrated pest management strategies under climate change scenarios.

 Read more : Paddy Straw Cultivation of Volvariella volvacea: Spawn Preparation and Growth Techniques | InformativeBD 

Introduction

Climate warming is now an unequivocal scientific reality. According to Legg (2021), the global mean temperature has increased by approximately 1.1°C relative to pre-industrial levels, primarily due to anthropogenic activities, with a marked intensification of heatwaves and thermal extremes. Recent years rank among the warmest ever recorded, reflecting a persistent upward temperature trend (WMO, 2026). Beyond physical alterations, these changes directly affect biological systems by modifying the distribution, phenology, physiology, and population dynamics of living organisms (Trisos et al., 2022). Temperature is a fundamental abiotic factor governing the distribution and functioning of organisms within ecosystems (Odum, 1971; Ricklefs, 2008). Teder et al. (2022) reported that it strongly influences the growth and development of ectothermic animals. Insects are typical ectotherms, characterized by high taxonomic diversity, large population sizes, and rapid reproductive rates (Chapman, 1998; Grimaldi and Engel, 2005). Their small body size, thin cuticle, rapid heat exchange with the surrounding environment, and limited capacity to maintain a stable body temperature make them particularly sensitive to environmental fluctuations (Zeng et al., 2022). In agroecosystems, climate change regulates the geographic distribution of pests, the number of generations per year, survival rates, and synchronization with host plants (Britannica, 2026). Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett, 1899) (Diptera : Tephritidae), commonly known as the melon fly, is a major pest of tropical and subtropical cucurbit crops, causing substantial agricultural losses when populations reach high densities (Dhillon et al., 2005; Meyer et al., 2015; Zeng et al., 2022). Like other poikilothermic insects, its development is strongly influenced by ambient temperature, which affects both the duration of the immature stages (egg, larva, and pupa) and their survival (Vayssières et al., 2008; Mkiga and Mwatawala, 2015). Although several studies (Vayssières et al., 2008; Mkiga and Mwatawala, 2015; Ahn et al., 2022; Zeng et al., 2022) have examined the effects of temperature on the development of Z. cucurbitae, they rarely include watermelon-one of the fly’s principal host plants-and are generally restricted to a limited range of constant temperatures (20, 25, and 30°C). Moreover, these studies predominantly focus on populations from East Africa or Asia. According to Mwatawala et al. (2016), watermelon is the preferred host of Z. cucurbitae. In addition, intermediate temperatures (27°C) and those approaching the upper thermal tolerance limit (≈33°C) remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. The effects of natural ambient conditions, incorporating daily thermal fluctuations, have also not been directly compared with controlled constant temperatures.

Therefore, evaluating the development of Z. cucurbitae under a thermal gradient including ambient temperature and constant temperatures of 25, 27, 30, and 33°C an approach not previously implemented in Senegal helps fill a critical knowledge gap. This framework enables a more precise determination of the thermal optimum and sublethal thresholds, improves understanding of the species’ thermal plasticity, and strengthens predictive tools for population management. The objective of this study is to compare the thermal responses of the different immature stages and to identify the optimal temperature ranges for their development.

Reference

Ahn JJ, Choi K, Huang YB. 2022. Thermal effects on the development of Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae) and model validation. Phytoparasitica 50, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-022-00985-5

Chapman RF. 1998. The insects: structure and function. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 770 p.

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Costaz TPM, Gols R, de Jong PW, van Loon JJA, Dicke M. 2022. Effects of extreme temperature events on the parasitism performance of Diadegma semiclausum, an endoparasitoid of Plutella xylostella. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 170(8), 656–665. https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.13197

Crawley MJ. 2012. The R book. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester, UK, 1051 p.

Dhillon MK, Singh R, Naresh JS, Sharma HC. 2005. The melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae: a review of its biology and management. Journal of Insect Science 5(1), 40. https://doi.org/10.1093/jis/5.1.40

Estrada-Marroquín MD, Cancino J, Sánchez D, Montoya P, Liedo P. 2022. Host-specific demography of Utetes anastrephae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a native parasitoid of Anastrepha spp. fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 93, 53–69.

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Grimaldi D, Engel MS. 2005. Evolution of the insects. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 755 p.

Legg S. 2021. IPCC, 2021: climate change 2021 – the physical science basis. Interaction 49(4), 44–45.

 McCullagh P, Nelder JA. 1989. Generalized linear models. Chapman & Hall, London, UK, 532 p.

Mendy MI, Diome T, Faye M, Sembene M. 2026. A simple rearing technique for Zeugodacus cucurbitae Coquillett, 1899 (Diptera: Tephritidae), a melon pest in Senegal. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 14(1), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.22271/j.ento.2026.v14.i1a.9666

Meyer MD, Delatte H, Mwatawala M, Quilici S, Vayssières JF, Virgilio M. 2015. A review of the current knowledge on Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Africa, with a list of species included in Zeugodacus. ZooKeys 540, 539-557. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.540.9672

Mkiga AM, Mwatawala MW. 2015. Developmental biology of Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae) in three cucurbitaceous hosts at different temperature regimes. Journal of Insect Science 15(1), 160. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iev141

Mwatawala M, Kudra A, Mkiga A, Godfrey E, Jeremiah S, Virgilio M, De Meyer M. 2016. Preference of Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) for three commercial fruit vegetable hosts in natural and semi-natural conditions. Fruits. https://doi.org/10.1051/fruits/2015034

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Teder T, Taits K, Kaasik A, Tammaru T. 2022. Limited sex differences in plastic responses suggest evolutionary conservatism of thermal reaction norms: A meta-analysis in insects. Evolution Letters 6(6), 394–411. https://doi.org/10.1002/evl3.299

Trisos CH, Adelekan IO, Totin E, Ayanlade A, Efitre J, Gemeda A, Kalaba FK, Lennard C, Masao C, Mgaya YD, Ngaruiya G, Olago D, Simpson NP, Zakieldeen SA. 2022. Africa. In: Pörtner HO, Roberts DC, Tignor MMB, Poloczanska ES, Mintenbeck K, Alegría A, Craig M, Langsdorf S, Löschke S, Möller V, Okem A, Rama B. Climate change 2022: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. Cambridge University Press.

Vayssières JF, Carel Y, Coubes M, Duyck PF. 2008. Development of immature stages and comparative demography of two cucurbit-attacking fruit flies in Reunion Island: Bactrocera cucurbitae and Dacus ciliatus (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Wang X, Biondi A, Daane KM. 2020. Functional responses of three candidate Asian larval parasitoids evaluated for classical biological control of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Journal of Economic Entomology 113(1), 73-80. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toz265

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Zeng B, Lian Y, Jia J, Liu Y, Wang A, Yang H, Li J, Yang S, Peng S, Zhou S. 2022. Multigenerational effects of short-term high temperature on the development and reproduction of Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett, 1899). Agriculture 12(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12070954

Article source : Effect of temperature on the development of immature stages of Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Diptera:Tephritidae), Coquillett, 1899, A major watermelon pest in Senegal  

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Paddy Straw Cultivation of Volvariella volvacea: Spawn Preparation and Growth Techniques | InformativeBD

A. Anees Fathima, and J. Jayasree, from the institute of India. wrote a Research article about, Paddy Straw Cultivation of Volvariella volvacea: Spawn Preparation and Growth Techniques. Entitled, Spawn preparation and cultivation of Volvariella volvacea (Bull. ex Fr.) Singer on paddy straw substrate. This research paper published by the International Journal of Biosciences | IJB. an open access scholarly research journal Biosciences. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract 

Volvariella volvacea (paddy straw mushroom) is an important edible mushroom cultivated widely in tropical and subtropical regions due to its rapid growth, nutritional value, and medicinal properties. The present study investigated spawn preparation and cultivation of V. volvacea using paddy straw as the primary substrate. Pure cultures were established under controlled laboratory conditions, followed by spawn production and indoor cultivation. Growth characteristics, fruiting behavior, yield, and biological efficiency were evaluated. The results showed that pinhead formation occurred within 15 days, and a yield of 2.05 kg per 10 kg of substrate with a biological efficiency of 20.5% was obtained. The findings indicate that appropriate substrate preparation, environmental conditions, and spawn quality are important factors associated with successful cultivation. Despite its commercial importance, production of V. volvacea remains limited by suboptimal practices. This study provides practical insights into spawn preparation and cultivation techniques that may support improved and sustainable mushroom production.

Read more : Major Cucumber Diseases and Their Pathogens in Azerbaijan | InformativeBD

Introduction

Mushrooms are classified as macro fungi, characterized by their fleshy and distinct sporebearing fruiting bodies. They belong to the Pluteaceae family (Kotl. and Pouz) within the class Basidiomycetes (Singer, 1961) and are typically found growing above ground, in soil, or on other food substrates. Among the 12,000 known species of mushrooms, over 2,000 have been identified as edible. However, only about 35 species are widely accepted for consumption, with a limited number being commercially cultivated. Additionally, nearly 200 wild species are utilized for medicinal purposes (Chen et al., 2019). Mushrooms are regarded as a delicacy, offering high nutritional and functional value, and are acknowledged as nutraceutical products. Their appeal has increased due to various advantages, including organoleptic qualities, medicinal properties, and economic importance. Furthermore, mushrooms are being explored as a potential alternative to muscle protein, owing to their high digestibility (Vinay et al., 2021)

Mushroom sporocarps are rich in minerals such as potassium, iron, copper, zinc, and manganese. Additionally, mushrooms serve as a significant source of vitamin D, which is absent in other dietary supplements, alongside these proteins and minerals. (Pehrsson et al., 2003). The unique bioactive compounds found in mushrooms possess immunemodulating effects and enhance human immune function, thereby lowering the risk of cancer and tumor development. Nonetheless, mushroom cultivation in Asian nations commenced over 1000 years ago, with scientific cultivation beginning only in the early 20th century when pure cultures of mushrooms were developed from spores and tissues. Volvariella volvacea is the most widely cultivated edible mushroom species (Walde et al., 2006) and due to its delightful flavor, it ranks third among essential mushrooms (Ramkumar et al., 2012; Thiribhuvanamala et al., 2012) also noted for its rapid growth rate compared to other species (Rajapakse, 2011). This mushroom is also commonly referred to as paddy straw mushroom, straw mushroom, and Chinese mushroom. The first recorded cultivation occurred in China in 1822 (Chang, 1969).

The sporocarp of V. volvacea is characterized by a grayish to black, egg-shaped vulva in its juvenile stage, which ruptures to allow the pileus to expand to a nearly flat form. The straw mushroom is considered a nutritious food source (Feeney et al., 2014). It is rich in protein, phosphorus, and potassium (Ahlawat and Tewari, 2007), while being low in alkalinity, cholesterol, and fat, and is free of salt. This mushroom contains bioactive metabolites that contribute to its rich taste, flavor, and pleasant aroma, as well as notable biological properties such as antioxidant (Hung and Nhi, 2012), antimicrobial (Chandra and Chaubey, 2017), anti-inflammatory, anti-coagulant, anti-hypersensitive, and anti-cancer effects.

Paddy straw mushroom, also known as grass mushroom, derives its name from its cultivation on rice straw. This mushroom is a significant dietary component due to its rich flavor, aroma, and nutritional benefits. Scientifically classified as Volvariella volvacea, it is a Holobasidiomycete that belongs to the Plutaceae family (Mond et al., 2021). This species accounts for 6% of the global mushroom production, predominantly utilized in the South Asian region. Over 100 species of Volvariella volvacea (Bull.ex.Fr) Singh have been documented worldwide (Kurtzman and Yang, 1982). The paddy straw mushroom thrives in high temperatures, making it primarily cultivated in the tropical and sub-tropical areas of Asia, including countries such as China, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, India, and Madagascar. The life cycle of Volvariella volvacea consists of six maturity stages: pinhead, tiny, button, egg, elongation, and mature stages (Najmu et al., 2022).

Depending on the geographical area and climatic conditions, V. volvacea is grown either in outdoor settings or within controlled indoor environments. The choice of substrates for cultivating V. volvacea in a specific nation is primarily determined by the quantity of accessible free resources (Amir et al., 2023).

Mushroom cultivation is a significant and lucrative agribusiness that offers employment opportunities for rural women. The paddy straw mushroom grows rapidly allowing for harvest within two weeks of bed preparation. The demand for mushrooms is rising daily in Odisha. The agro-climatic conditions in Odisha are ideally suited for the cultivation of paddy straw mushrooms (Mijan, 2024). Nevertheless, most of the edible fungi that are presently cultivated belong to medium- and low-temperature varieties, while hightemperature varieties are quite scarce; this results in a limited availability of edible fungal varieties in the market during the high-temperature season (Ali et al., 2024). These circumstances also contribute to the consistently high price of V. volvacea throughout the year, potentially enhancing the profits for mushroom farmers in comparison to those of other edible fungal varieties (Wang et al., 2025). The present investigation was carried out to find out the spawn preparation, cultivation of Volvariella volvacea on paddy straw substrate and supplements for yield enhancement.

Reference

Ahlawat OP, Tewari RP. 2007. Cultivation technology of paddy straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea). In Technical bulletin: National Research Centre for Mushroom (Indian Council of Agricultural Research), New Delhi, 1–33.

Ali S, Yousaf N, Usman M, Javed MA, Nawaz M, Ali B, Azam M, Ercisli S, Tirasci S, Ahmed AE. 2024. Volvariella volvacea (paddy straw mushroom): A mushroom with exceptional medicinal and nutritional properties. Heliyon 10, e39747.

Amir NF, Mohd-Aris A, Mohamad A, Abdullah S, Yusof FZ, Umor NA. 2023. Spawn production and cultivation technology for Volvariella volvacea: A perspective. Food Research 7(4), 93–101.

Chandra O, Chaubey K. 2017. Volvariella volvacea: A paddy straw mushroom having some therapeutic and health prospective importance. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences 6(9), 1291–1300.

Chang ST. 1969. A cytological study of spore germination of Volvariella volvacea. Botanical Magazine 82, 102–109.

Chen X, Zhang Z, Liu X, Cui B, Miao W, Cheng W, Zhao F. 2019. Characteristics analysis reveals the progress of Volvariella volvacea mycelium subculture degeneration. Frontiers in Microbiology 10, 2045.

Feeney MJ, Dwyer J, Hasler-Lewis CM, Milner JA, Noakes M, Rowe S. 2014. Mushrooms and health summit proceedings. The Journal of Nutrition 144(7), 1128S–1136S.

Garcha HS, Chang ST, Phutela RP, Sodhi HS, Dhanda S, Khanna PK, Mok SN. 1989. Studies on substrate manipulation for growing Volvariella volvacea in India. Mushroom Journal of the Tropics 9, 147–154.

Gurudevan T, Subbiah K, Karupannan M, Velappa P, Sakthivel K. 2012. Improved techniques to enhance the yield of paddy straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea) for commercial cultivation. African Journal of Biotechnology 11(64), 12740–12748.

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Luu TTH, Bui DK, Huynh N, Le TL, Green ID. 2022. Effect of the cultivation technology on the yield of paddy straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea). Korean Journal of Mycology 50, 161–171.

Mijan HMD. 2024. Evaluation of different substrates and supplements for growth and yield of paddy straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea). The Pharma Innovation Journal 13(5), 96–99.

Mohd Joha NS, Misran A, Mahmud TMM, Abdullah S, Mohamad A. 2021. Physical quality, amino acid contents and health risk assessment of straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea) at different maturity stages. International Food Research Journal 28, 181–188.

Najmu S, Farahanaz R, Shaheen KJ, Amreena S. 2022. Cultivation of paddy straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea) under Kashmir conditions. The Pharma Innovation Journal 11(4), 397–399.

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Article source : Spawn preparation and cultivation of Volvariella volvacea (Bull. ex Fr.) Singer on paddy straw substrate  

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Major Cucumber Diseases and Their Pathogens in Azerbaijan | InformativeBD

K. F. Bakhshaliyeva, A. Kh. Rajabli,  A. G. Eyvazov, G. A. Gasimova, and P. Z. Muradov, from the institute of Azerbaijan. wrote a Research article about, Major Cucumber Diseases and Their Pathogens in Azerbaijan. Entitled, The main diseases of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) grown in the Republic of Azerbaijan and the species composition of pathogens of these diseases. This research paper published by the International Journal of Biosciences | IJB. an open access scholarly research journal Biosciences. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

Cucumis sativus L. plant cultivated in open and covered conditions in the Republic of Azerbaijan, was studied for phytopathogenic fungal biota. It has been determined that a total of 15 fungal species are involved in the formation of the phytopathogenic mycobiota of cucumber plants. Although more than half of the recorded fungi showed phytopathogenic properties in both conditions, overall, covered conditions were more favorable for the development of fungal. The reason for this is that the parameters that are important for plants in covered conditions are favorable for fungi, and these parameters are relatively more stable in covered conditions. The species involved in the formation of the phytopathogenic mycobiota of cucumber plants had a certain specificity in terms of the prevalence of the diseases they caused, the forms of observation, and the effect of the effects. Although some of them cause diseases with the same name and have similar symptoms, it has been determined that each disease also has symptoms that arise from the biological characteristics of the fungus itself.

Read more : African Swine Fever Surveillance in Cagayan Abattoirs, Philippines | InformativeBD 

Introduction 

In modern times, providing people with plant-based food products is one of the important issues that any country plans to solve. The importance of this issue is necessitated by the increasing world population within the fixed territory of the Earth, the increasing burden of anthropogenic impact on the environment the decrease in useful land areas used by people for various purposes, the expansion of urbanization, and other processes. Thus, according to UNO forecasts, the world population is expected to reach 10.3 billion in 2084, which allows us to note a 1.5-fold increase (Choręziak et al., 2025; Australian Government, 2024) in population compared to 2024. This, in turn, will inevitably create additional problems in meeting the growing population's demand for various substances, primarily food. Therefore, conducting research aimed at solving these problems is currently one of the most relevant.

It should be noted that, against the background of the above, meeting people's needs for nutrients, especially those of plant origin with relatively high biological value, is one of the tasks that is in the focus of special attention (Choręziak et al., 2025). Research conducted to address these issues mainly covers two areas. The first direction is that it includes increasing the productivity of plants used for this purpose, eliminating conditions that cause crop losses, implementing cultivation with more efficient technologies, and so on. The second direction involves the creation of new varieties that are productive, disease-resistant, capable of growing under stressful conditions, and have other characteristics. Sometimes these two directions are carried out in a mixed manner.

Regardless of this, the purpose of conducted research in both directions is to improve both the quantity and quality of the products produced.

As in a number of countries around the world, the agricultural sector plays an important role in the economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, so cereals, vegetables, melons, fruits, etc. are cultivated throughout the country, and hundreds of thousands of tons of crops are harvested every year (Babayeva et al., 2025). For example, about 50% of the country's 86.6 thousand km2 area is occupied by usable land in which, according to data from 2024, 1,685,734.0 tons of wheat, 22,206.6 tons of legumes, 490,558.2 tons of melons, 1,838,903.3 tons of vegetables, and 1,317,868.2 tons of fruit were grown (State Statistical Committee of Azerbaijan, 2025). Despite this, the volume of products produced does not fully meet the needs of the country's population even today, and therefore the issue of increasing productivity and reducing crop losses is of greater importance for the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Vegetables are among the plants widely cultivated in the Republic of Azerbaijan, as the cultivation of vegetable plants such as tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, etc. is found in all regions of the country (Huseynov et al., 2020). Sometimes the expected yield cannot be obtained from these plants, and one of the reasons for this is the result of diseases caused by various organisms, primarily fungi (Bakshaliyeva et al., 2023; Muradov et al., 2019). To prevent this, it is important to determine the species composition of these pathogens.

Therefore, the purpose of the presented work is to determine the species composition of diseases and their causative agents observed in cucumber plants cultivated under covered conditions in Azerbaijan.

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Article source :  The main diseases of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) grown in the Republic of Azerbaijan and the species composition of pathogens of these diseases

 

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African Swine Fever Surveillance in Cagayan Abattoirs, Philippines | InformativeBD

Maricel F. Campanano, Dennis M. Oyardo, and Mary Ann M. Santos, from the institute of Philippines. wrote a Research article about, African Swine Fever Surveillance in Cagayan Abattoirs, Philippines. Entitled, Surveillance and detection of the occurrence of African swine fever in abattoirs in the different municipalities of the second district of Cagayan, Philippines. This research paper published by the International Journal of Biosciences | IJB. an open access scholarly research journal Biosciences. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious hemorrhagic viral disease of domestic and wild pigs, which is responsible for serious economic and production losses. It is caused by a large DNA virus of the Asfarviridae family.  The study was conducted to determine positive   cases of African swine fever on pigs from different slaughterhouses in municipalities of second district in Cagayan. A total of 362 blood samples were collected in 6 municipal slaughterhouses. The samples were analyzed in the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL). The viral DNA of ASF was extracted from the blood samples using the QIAamp Viral RNA Mini Kit (QIAGEN) and was identified through the RT-PCR (ASFV p72 gene-based real-time PCR assay). Two municipalities involve in the study resulted positive of African Swine Fever with a total of 60 out of 362 pigs. The municipality with the highest positive case and incidence rate is Sto. Nino with 41 out of 56 pigs are infected (incidence rate is 11.32%) followed by Piat with 19 pigs out of 96 pigs (incidence rate is 5.25%) and the rest no incidence of African Swine-Fever. The result obtained from the study indicates that out of 230 pooled samples (362 pigs), 35 (60 pigs) are showing 15.22% positivity rate and 16.57% incidence. 

Read more : Diversity of African Yam Bean in Yoruba Communities of Benin | InformativeBD 

Introduction

African swine fever (ASF) is a devastating haemorrhagic fever of pigs with mortality rates approaching 100 per cent. It causes major economic losses, threatens food security and limits pig production in affected countries. ASFV is a large DNA virus that replicates in the cytoplasm and is the only member of the Asfarviridae family. The virus encodes 150–165 proteins, which have „essential‟ functions in virus replication, as well as „non-essential‟ roles in host interactions, including evasion of host defences; for example, many proteins inhibit the early innate responses, including type I interferon and cell death pathways (Dixon et al., 2019).

African swine fever (ASF) was first identified in East Africa in the early 1900s as a disease causing high mortality in domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus). It was quickly established that warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus) could be a source of infection (Montgomery, 1921) and that this host, along with a species of soft ticks (Ornithodoros spp.) which live in warthog burrows, could be persistently infected with ASF virus (ASFV) without showing signs of disease (Plowright et al., 1994).

ASF has a severe socio-economic impact, both in areas where it is newly introduced and where it is endemic. The high impact is most apparent in countries with a significant commercial pig industry. In Africa, ASF has potentially devastating effects on the commercial and subsistence pig production sectors, but the greatest losses are usually inflicted on the poorer pig producers who are less likely to implement effective prevention and control strategies (Edelsten and Chinombo, 1995) or basic biosecurity. The farmers also often lack financial resources to restart production in the absence of compensation schemes. In countries such as Cote d'Ivoire and Madagascar, the introduction of ASF resulted in the loss of between 30 and 50 per cent of the pig population (El Hicheri et al., 1998; Roger et al., 2001).

Although ASF was first described almost a century ago, controlling the disease has proven to be a challenge, in particular because no vaccine is available. Following introduction to ASFV-free countries, the only control measures available are strict quarantine and biosecurity, animal movement restrictions and slaughtering affected/exposed animals.

Reference

Dixon LK, Escribano JM, Martins C, Rock DL, Salas ML, Wilkinson PJ. 2005. Asfarviridae. Virus Taxonomy: VIIIth Report of the ICTV, Elsevier Academic Press, 135–143.

Dixon LK, Stahl K, Jori F, Vial L, Pfeiffer DU. 2020. African swine fever epidemiology and control. Annual Review of Animal Biosciences 8(1), 221–246.

Dixon LK, Sun H, Roberts H. 2019. African swine fever. Antiviral Research 165(1), 34–41.

Edelsten RM, Chinombo DO. 1995. An analysis of the epidemiology of African swine fever in Zimbabwe. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association 66(4), 246–251.

El Hicheri K, Gomez Tejedor C, Penrith ML, Davies G, Douati A. 1998. The 1996–1997 African swine fever epidemic in Côte d’Ivoire. Revue Scientifique et Technique (OIE) 17(3), 660–673.

King DP, Reid SM, Hutchings GH, Grierson SS, Wilkinson PJ, Dixon LK, Bastos ADS, Drew TW. 2003. Development of a TaqMan® PCR assay with internal amplification control for the detection of African swine fever virus. Journal of Virological Methods 107(1), 53–61.

Montgomery RE. 1921. On a form of swine fever occurring in British East Africa (Kenya Colony). Journal of Comparative Pathology and Therapeutics 34, 159–191.

Petrini S, Feliziani F, Casciari C, Giammarioli M, Torresi C, De Mia GM. 2019. Survival of African swine fever virus in various pork products. Italian Journal of Food Safety 8(1), 7835. https://doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2019.7835

Plowright W, Thomson GR, Neser JA. 1994. African swine fever. In Coetzer JAW, Thomson GR and Tustin RC (Eds.), Infectious diseases of livestock (Vol. 1, pp. 567–599). Oxford University Press.

Roger F, Ratovonjato J, Vola P, Uilenberg G. 2001. Ornithodoros porcinus ticks, bushpigs and African swine fever in Madagascar. Experimental and Applied Acarology 25, 263–269.

Taylor RA, Condoleo R, Simons RRL, Gale P, Kelly LA, Snary EL. 2020. The risk of African swine fever virus introduction into disease-free regions via pork products. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 67(2), 846–857. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.13429

Thomas LF, de Glanville WA, Cook EAJ, Fèvre EM. 2016. The spatial ecology of African swine fever in smallholder pig systems: the role of live pig markets in disease transmission. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 63(5), 476–484. 

Article source : Surveillance and detection of the occurrence of African swine fever in abattoirs in the different municipalities of the second district of Cagayan, Philippines  

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Diversity of African Yam Bean in Yoruba Communities of Benin | InformativeBD

Orobiyi Azize, Faton Manhognon Oscar Euloge, Zongo Élisabeth Aboubié, Sossou Kpèdé Nicodème, Houngbo Marcel, Dossou Pierre Fourier, Ogoudjobi Ladékpo Sylvain, Balogoun Ibouraïman, Dansi Alexandre,  and Lokoyêyinou Laura Estelle,  from the institute of Benin. wrote a Research article about, Diversity of African Yam Bean in Yoruba Communities of Benin. Entitled, Inventory of african yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Harms) diversity in some Yoruba areas of Benin. This research paper published by the International Journal of Biosciences | IJB. an open access scholarly research journal Biosciences. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

The study aimed to document varietal diversity, uses, production constraints, and farmers’ selection criteria for the African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) in Benin, identify production areas, prioritize constraints, evaluate genetic diversity, determine varietal selection criteria, and gather endogenous knowledge on cultivation practices, use, conservation, and seeds. A participatory ethnobotanical survey involving group investigations and individual surveys was conducted in ten villages in the Yoruba cultural zone of southern Benin (Plateau and Collines departments). Surveys used participatory methodologies, including group discussions with the four-square method for variety distribution, comparison matrix for constraints and preferences, and structured questionnaires for individual data from 21 households. Data included socio-demographics, varietal nomenclature, diversity loss, uses, preferences, and constraints, with statistical analysis of traits frequency entered in Excel. Eleven local varieties were identified, differentiated by seed color (41.7%), cooking time (25.0%), and ritual/symbolic functions (20.8%), with 2-7 varieties per village. Main constraints included pod rot (17.24%), lack of trees for intercropping (17.24%), and market outlets (12.06%). Diversity loss showed high erosion (up to 100% in some villages). Uses were domestic consumption (100%) and rituals (50%). Preferences focused on seed availability (61.9%). Production declined in 81% of producers, with solutions proposed as upright varieties (42.9%) and improved practices (37.1%). Local knowledge is crucial for conservation despite erosion; revitalization requires farmer-led selection, adapted varieties, and institutional support, with biochemical/molecular characterization recommended for true diversity assessment. 

Read more : Aloe Vera-Based Iron Nanoparticles and Their Effect on Seed Germination | InformativeBD

Introduction

Food and nutritional security remain a crucial challenge in many regions of sub-Saharan Africa, where population pressure and climatic hazards compromise the availability and accessibility of food resources. One of the strategies proposed to strengthen the resilience of food systems is the promotion of neglected and underutilized crops, which offer significant genetic and nutritional diversity (Nnamani et al., 2019). Among these crops, Sphenostylis stenocarpa (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Harms, known as the African yam bean (AYB), is a tropical legume native to West and East Africa, characterized by its dual use: protein-rich seeds and nutritious tubers (Palanga et al., 2025). Several studies have documented the high nutritional value of AYB, including protein content comparable to other legumes and a favorable composition of essential amino acids (Ojuederie and Balogun, 2017).

Despite its advantages, AYB remains underexploited and marginalized in African farming systems due to low institutional interest, limited cultural acceptability, lack of consolidated agronomic data, and seed-related issues such as long cooking time and antinutritional factors (Edem et al., 2025). This situation keeps AYB among “orphan crops,” i.e., species with high potential but little recognition in agricultural and food policies (Sphenostylis stenocarpa conservation review, 2025). At the genetic and agronomic level, recent investigations have revealed significant diversity among AYB accessions, both phenotypically and molecularly (Shitta et al., 2022). For instance, Shitta et al. (2022) demonstrated considerable phenotypic variability in a large collection of accessions conserved at IITA, suggesting a rich genetic base that could be exploited for breeding programs. However, despite these advances, the understanding of local varietal diversity cultivated by farmers, as well as the associated indigenous knowledge (nomenclature, uses, selection criteria, constraints), remains fragmentary in many rural African areas, including Benin. In particular, areas with a strong Yoruba cultural identity, where AYB is traditionally grown, have not yet been comprehensively studied to link local diversity with socio-agricultural dynamics.

In this context, the present study aims to identify the production areas of Sphenostylis stenocarpa in the Yoruba cultural zone of southern Benin; characterize the varietal diversity as perceived by farmers; analyze the local production and conservation constraints; determine farmers’ criteria for varietal selection; and document traditional knowledge related to the cultivation, use, conservation, and seeds of African yam bean.

Reference

AGRIS Database. 2022. African yam bean: Production constraints and adoption challenges. AGRIS FAO.

Baco MN, Vodouhè R, Sinsin B. 2008. The place of orphan legumes in food security: Peasant perception in Northern Benin. International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences 2, 335–346.

Dansi A, Adoukonou-Sagbadja H, Vodouhè R. 2010. Participatory ethnobotanical methods for assessing crop diversity and farmers’ knowledge. Bioversity International.

Dansi A, Vodouhè R, Azokpota P. 2000. Traditional knowledge and genetic diversity of yam (Dioscorea spp.) in Benin. Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter 121, 1–8.

Defoer T, Kamara A, De Groote H. 1997. Gender and variety selection: Farmers’ assessment of local maize varieties in southern Mali. African Crop Science Journal 5, 65–76.

Edem PA, Udoh EJ, James BD. 2025. Constraints to adoption of African yam bean in West Africa: A review. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development 25, 1–15.

Kamara AY, Defoer T, De Groote H. 1996. Farmers’ knowledge and practices in varietal selection and seed systems: A case study in southern Mali. IITA Research Guide 45.

Nnamani CV, Atkinson CJ, Nwite JC. 2019. Neglected and underutilized crops : A potential resource for food security and nutrition. Food Security 11, 1199–1214.

Ojuederie OB, Balogun MO. 2017. Nutritional composition and amino acid profile of African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) accessions. Food Science & Nutrition 5, 201–208.

Palanga PE, Adjei-Gyapong T, Amelewor KA, Dzah C, Oteng-Yeboah AA. 2025. Nutritional and agronomic potential of African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) in Ghana. Journal of Plant Nutrition 48, 345–358.

PMC Database. 2021. Genetic erosion in underutilized legumes: A systematic review. National Center for Biotechnology Information.

Shitta NS, Akande SR, Ogunsesan AR, Abberton M. 2022. Phenotypic diversity in African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) germplasm conserved at IITA. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution 69, 1123–1138.

Sphenostylis stenocarpa conservation review. 2025. Orphan crops and genetic resources: Status of African yam bean. Conservation Genetics Resources 17, 123–134. 

Source : Inventory of african yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Harms) diversity in some Yoruba areas of Benin 

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Aloe Vera-Based Iron Nanoparticles and Their Effect on Seed Germination | InformativeBD

Sundus Hameed Ahmed, Rasha Saatam Hameed, Hassan Thamir, Hashim Kadhum Mohammed, Rana Al- Roomi, and Isam Hussain T. Al-Karkhi, from the institute of Iraq. wrote a Research article about, Aloe Vera-Based Iron Nanoparticles and Their Effect on Seed Germination. Entitled, Production of iron nanoparticle by using Aloe vera gel and studying its effect on Lepidium sativum seed germination. This research paper published by the International Journal of Biosciences | IJB. an open access scholarly research journal Biosciences. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

To synthesized and characterized green iron nanoparticles extracted from plants. Synthesis of iron bio-nanoparticles was done by using ALoe vera gel water extract as un-reducing agent. Characterization of Iron nanoparticles was performed using UV, XRD, and FTIR. The diameter of iron nanoparticles was about 52 nm.  The effect of the exposure of Aloe vera seeds to iron nanoparticles on germination of Lepidium sativum has been studied. Seeds were exposed to green iron nanoparticles. Germination percentage and root shoot length were calculated. The results showed a reduction in germination percentage on exposure to 1000ppm of green nanoparticles while maximum germination percentage was on application of iron nanoparticles at 500ppm. Root and shoot growth was enhanced under iron nanoparticles application while reduction in root and shoot length was observed on exposure to 1000ppm of nanoparticles and Fe.

Read more : BioELIT Effectiveness Against Melon Fly in Cucumber Cultivation | InformativeBD 

Introduction 

Synthesis Green iron nanoparticles, instead of using chemical reducing agent such as sodium borohydride which is flammable and corrosive (Khenfouch et al., 2016). Now a day’s researcher used extracts of plant part in preparing nano particles (Nyangiwe et al., 2015).

These tiny products also have a large surface area to volume ratio, which is their most important feature responsible for the widespread use of nanomaterials in mechanics, optics, electronics, biotechnology, microbiology, environmental remediation, medicine, numerous engineering fields and material science (Sone et al., 2017). Different protocols have been designed for the production of metallic nanoparticles. Chemical physical, electrical and Biological (Sundus et al., 2013).

The coating is used to stabilize the particles in colloidal form, to prevent them from degradation and to minimize the toxicity. Generally, magnetite and maghemite are the two important forms of iron oxide, which are used as the magnetic materials for biomedical applications (Sundus et al., 2017).

Agglomeration of magnetic nanoparticles is inevitable, because of their Vander Waals attractive forces between the tiny particles. Magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles are chemically stable and non carcinogenic and has high saturation value (92emu/g) compared to the maghemite bulk material.

The production of iron nanomaterials, such as metallic iron and oxide of iron via a more convenient greener route, is a great step forward in the development of nanomaterials. This review highlights the significance of biogenic approaches and the role of biocompatible green materials in technological and economically feasible process and practices (Sundus 2018).

The main objective of the current study is to preparation green iron nano particles by using Aloe vera gel and characterize it by absorption spectrophotometer (UV- VIS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (FTIR).

Studying Several indexes during the germination seed of Lepidium sativum such as root length, shoot length, fresh weight and germination ratio. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first reports focused on the effect of Lepidium sativum seeds germinating after exposing to Aloe vera iron nano particles nanoparitcles with different morphologies.

Reference

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Burklew CE, Ashlock J, Winfrey WB, Zhang B. 2012. Effects of aluminum oxide nanoparticles on the growth, development and micro RNA expression of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). PLOS ONE, 7(5), e34783. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0034783

Page AL. 1982. Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 2. Madison, WI: American Society Agronomy.

Donnini S, Castagna A, Guidi L, Zocchi G, Ranieri A. 2003. Leaf responses toreduced iron availability in two tomato genotypes: t3238 fer (iron efficient) and t3238 fer (iron inefficient), Journal of Plant Nutrition. 26, 2137-2148.

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El-Temsah YS, Joner EJ. 2012. Impact of Fe and Ag nanoparticles on seed germination and differences in bioavailability during exposure in aqueous suspension and soil. Environmental Toxicology 27, 42-49.

Fuku X, Kaviyarasu K, Matinise N, Maaza M. 2016. Punicalagin green functionalized Cu/Cu2O/ZnO/CuO nanocomposite for potential electrochemical transducer and catalyst, Nanoscale Research letters 11(1), 386. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s11671-016-1581-8

Khenfouch M, Minnis NR, Diallo A, KhamLich S, Hamzah M, Dhlamini M,  Mothudi B, Baitoul M, Srinivasu V, Maaza M. 2016. Artemisia herba-alba Asso eco friendly reduced few-layered graphene oxide nanosheets: structural investigations and physical properties. Green Chemistry Letters Review 9(2), 122–131. https://doi.org/10.1080/17518253.2016.1181791

Madison WI, Agron SCM, Cakmak I. 2002. Plant nutrition research: Priorities to meet human needs for food in sustainable ways. Progress in Plant Nutrition: Plenary Lectures of the XIV International Plant Nutrition Colloquium, The Netherlands. Caglar KO. 1949. Soil Science. Ankara, Turkey: Ankara University, Agricultural Faculty.

Nyangiwe NN, Khenfouch M, Thema F.T., Nukwa K, Kotsedi L, Maaza M. 2015. Free-green synthesis and dynamics of reduced graphene sheets via sun light irradiation. Graphene 4(3), 54–61. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/graphene.2015.43006

Rasha SH, Rajwa HE, Sundus HA, Al-Karkhi 2018. Study the Effect of Citrus aurantium Leaves Water Extracted Coper Nano Particles on the 3th, 4th Larave and Pupa of Culex pipiens, Pakistan Journal of Biotechnology 15(1), 101-106.

Salim Al-T, Sundus HA. 2014. Heavy Metals in Canned, Fresh and Frozen Fish from Local Iraqi Markets, International Journal for Sciences and Technology, 143(1733), 1-10.

Sone B, Diallo A, Fuku X, Gurib-Fakim A, Maaza M. 2017. Biosynthesized CuO nano-platelets: physical properties & enhanced thermal conductivity nanofluidics. Arabian Journal of Chemistry, in press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2017.03.004.

Sundus HA. 2018. Evaluation of antioxidant and anti-mutagenic activity of naturally fortified honey with Curcuma longa extract, International Journal of Medical Research & Health Sciences 7(5), 136-142.

Sundus HA, Rajwa HE, Mohammad M. 2017. Evaluation, Antioxidant, Antimitotic and Anticancer Activity of Iron Nanoparticles Prepared by Using Water Extract of Vitis vinifera L. Leaves, Journal of Advanced Laboratory Research in Biology 8(3), 67-73.

Sundus HA, Shatha S, Farah D, Raad T. 2013. Evaluation of biosynthesis of nanoparticles using medicinal plant extract of its anti oxidant and anti microbial activities, International Journal for Sciences and Technology 143(1731), 1-10.

Article source : Production of iron nanoparticle by using Aloe vera gel and studying its effect on Lepidium sativumseed germination 

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BioELIT Effectiveness Against Melon Fly in Cucumber Cultivation | InformativeBD

Diabate Dohouonan, Kouadio Kouakou Norbert, Akpesse Akpa Alexandre Moïse and Tano Yao, from the institute of Côte d'Ivoire. wrote a Research article about, BioELIT Effectiveness Against Melon Fly in Cucumber Cultivation. Entitled, Effectiveness of the insecticide BioELIT on Bactrocera cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae) in cucumber Cucumis sativus (Linné, 1753). This research paper published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES. an open access scholarly research journal Biodiversity. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

The fruit fly Bactrocera cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae) is an important pest of cucurbit fruits. It reduces the quality and yield of cucumber despite the use of chemical pesticides harmful to humans and the environment. Thus, this study was conducted in the Tonkpi region to compare the efficacy of the botanical extract BioELIT® to the chemical pesticides K-OPTIMAL 35 EC® and Cypercal 50 EC® commonly used by farmers. Foliar applications of these three insecticides were made from the 35th day after sowing. Only the control plots were not treated. For each treatment and the untreated, 5 replicates were made. Each elementary plot was two meters long and one meter wide. Sampling of Bactrocera cucurbitae adults were made weekly by using pitfall traps and direct observation, starting on the 35th day after planting just before the first foliar applications. From the 45th day after sowing, three visits with an interval of 4 days were made to count fruits attacked by Bactrocera cucurbitae. The results showed that the females of Bactrocera cucurbitae sting the young cucumber fruits, insert eggs and cause the loss of elaborated sap accumulated in the fruit, the malformation of the fruit, the browning then the necrosis of the fruit tissues. The botanical extract BioELIT® showed similar efficacy to the pesticides K-OPTIMAL 35 EC® and Cypercal 50 EC®. These treatments significantly reduced the number of Bactrocera cucurbitae on cucumber. The percentages of reduction of Bactrocera cucurbitae infested on cucumber varied between 12% and 70% during the trial. The number of fruits attacked (F= 27.103; p <0.0001) and the fruit attack rates (F= 73.352; p <0.0001) by Bactrocera cucurbitae were statistically identical in the plots treated with the botanical extract BioELIT® and the pesticides K-OPTIMAL 35 EC® and Cypercal 50 EC®. Thus, the botanical extract BioELIT® can replace chemical pesticides in the control of Bactrocera cucurbitae.

Read more : Health Benefits of Banana (Musa): A Review | InformativeBD

Introduction 

The fruit fly Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillet) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is an important pest of Cucurbitaceae and solanaceae fruits in the tropics and subtropics (McQuate and Teruya, 2015; Assi et al., 2017; Shahzadi et al., 2019). It reduced both fruits quality and the yield of cucumber. The insects B. cucurbitae cause abundant crop losses (Déclert, 1990; Koyama et al., 2004) and crop losses vary between 30% and 100% despite chemical pesticides application (Dhillon et al., 2005; Shahzadi et al., 2019). In Côte d’Ivoire, farmers use pesticides to protect cucumber Cucumis sativus against B. cucurbitae (Doumbia and Kwadjo, 2009). However, in Côte d’Ivoire, several studies showed that, the recommended application rates were not respected and only 27% of pesticides used by farmers were registered (Doumbia and Kwadjo, 2009). Indeed, these pesticides used by farmers were persistent and accumulate in water, soil and air but also in food (Baglieri et al., 2011; Horváth et al., 2013). Furthermore, during foliar spraying, a proportion of pesticides always reach bacteria, earthworms, insects and soil fungi. Their toxic effects reduce the activity of the essential fauna for maintaining soil fertility.

In order to guarantee food safety for consumers and to preserve the environment, maximum residue limits for pesticides in food and water must be increasingly low. It is therefore important to provide an alternative solution to the use of pesticides by advocating the use of biopesticides. Thus, in Japan, the population of B. cucurbitae has been considerably reduced by the release of sterile insects (Koyama, 1994). In Thailand, parasitoids have been used to the control of B. cucurbitae (Ramadan and Messing, 2003). In Hawaii and Taiwan, the biopesticide Spinosad has been used against B. cucurbitae as an alternative to organophosphate pesticides that are harmful to humans and the environment (Hsu et al., 2012).

In India, various seed and leaf extracts and plant bulbs significantly reduced Bactrocera tau (Walker) egg hatch (Thakur et al., 2012). Thus, this study was conducted in the Tonkpi region to compare the efficacy of the biopesticide BioELIT® with the two chemical pesticides Cypercal 50EC® and KOPTIMAL 35 EC® commonly used by farmers. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of the biopesticide BioELIT® and the two chemical insecticides on the level of infestation and the attack rate of cucumber fruits by B. cucurbitae.

Reference

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Diabaté D, Gnago AJ, Tano Y. 2014b. Toxicity, antifeedant and repellent effect of Azadirachta indica (A. Juss) and Jatropha curcas L. aqueous extracts against Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). Journal of Basic and Applied Scientific Research 4(11), 51- 60.

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Article source : Effectiveness of the insecticide BioELIT on Bactrocera cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae) in cucumber Cucumis sativus (Linné, 1753)   

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