Tufail Ahmad - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Tufail Ahmad

Trends in Biosciences, 2009

Abstract An outbreak of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella occurred in agroclimatic conditions... more Abstract An outbreak of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella occurred in agroclimatic conditions of Aligarh, western part of Uttar Pradesh, India during September to first fortnight of October, 2006 on cauliflower. The infestation increases gradually from first fortnight of ...

African Journal of Agricultural Research, May 9, 2019

The experiment was conducted in the Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Eritrea, from January 2017 to... more The experiment was conducted in the Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Eritrea, from January 2017 to May 2017. This was done to study the attraction of major insect pest and diseases in three solanaceous crops (tomato, chilli and brinjal) grown singly and with mix cropping pattern. In Eritrea, solanaceous crops are important vegetables grown in different areas of the country. Insect pest and diseases are the major biotic factors that limit the production of these vegetables in the country, these are recorded at the vegetative, flowering and fruiting stages for all three crops. The major insects pest, that is white fly, African boll worm, tomato fruit borer and leaf miner, were recorded on tomato followed by chilli and brinjal; whereas lace wing bug, leafhopper was attracted more on brinjal crops. Tomato and chilli were more susceptible for leaf curl virus and collar rot, while intensity of powdery mildew was maximum on tomato and minimum on chilli, whereas brinjal was least susceptible to any kind of diseases.

Journal of entomology and zoology studies, 2020

Effect of intercropping of cauliflower with tomato (Lycopesicon esculentum), radish (Raphanus sat... more Effect of intercropping of cauliflower with tomato (Lycopesicon esculentum), radish (Raphanus sativus), carrot (Daucus carota), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), coriander (Coriandrum sativum), cumin (Cuminum cyminum), garlic (Allium sativum), berseem (Trifolium alexandrium) and marigold (Tagetes tagetta) were studied on the infestation of P. xylostella during 2007 and 2008. The intercrops were sown 30-days earlier than sole crops and 40 days seedling of cauliflower were transplanted with spacing of 60x45 cm in a ratio of 15:1, 15:2, 25:1 and 25:2. 15:2 ratios was significantly more effective than 15:1 ratio and in the same manner 25:2 ratio of intercrop was more effective than 25:1. In sole crop the population of diamondback moth was found to be increasing from 15 to 75 DAT and then declined to 17.24 larvae and pupae/plant at 85 DAT. The fennel was more effective than other intercrops tested. 40-days old seedling holds less number of larvae and pupae of P. xylostella as compared to 30-d...

International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 2020

Balanites fruit pulp and seed kernel contain considerable amount of steroidal saponins, which are... more Balanites fruit pulp and seed kernel contain considerable amount of steroidal saponins, which are used as raw material for the production of pharmaceutical drugs. However, insect and avian pests are the key limiting factors in balanites production. This study was conducted to record the causal insect and avian pests and level of their infestation. Balanites fruits fallen on the ground were collected at regular intervals for two fruiting seasons at Keren, Eritrea. The fruits were put in polybags and stored at room temperature. The emerging insects were counted and percent infestation was calculated. The insects identified were balanites stone borer, Eublemma (= Eupsoropsis) robertsi (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) and carob moth, Apomyelois (=Ectomyelois) ceratoniae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Eublemma robertsi larva consumed the kernel and bored into the stone with one exit hole (ca. 3 mm) at pre-pupal stage whereas A. ceratoniae larvae infested and contaminated fruit pulp with faecal waste. More than 70% of fruits collected during October and November were infested by E. robertsi and oviposition of 1-3 eggs were found on 73% of examined fruits. Damage from A. ceratoniae was unnoticeable in field-collected fruits but larval infestation was observable after one month of storage. The speckled mousebird, Colius striatus (Coliiformes: Coliidae), was the most frequent avian visitor, which not only nibbled on fruits attached to branches but also caused drop of fruits to the ground. Fruit damage caused by birds ranged 58 to 95% during the two fruiting seasons.

Journal of Eco-friendly Agriculture

The syrphid flies are large and diverse group of insects and the larvae of the most of the specie... more The syrphid flies are large and diverse group of insects and the larvae of the most of the species are predator of aphids and used as biological control aphids. Adults of syrphid flies are important pollinators of flowering plants. The study was conducted to determine the population dynamics of syrphid flies in HAC agricultural farm Karen, Eritrea and their identification of the flies were done which are found during the study period. The larvae were collected from the Horticultural, plant protection and Agronomy fields at weekly interval starting October 2018 up to March 2019. The samples were placed in glass jar containing aphid colony till the pupation of larvae. After emergence of the adult were identified and kept in collection box. During the period of six months study, total about 387 of adults were recorded. The larval population of syrphid flies varied in different monthly, the highest abundance was recorded in October 2018 while lowest in the months of January and February of 2019. The Pearson's correlation results revealed that, there was strong, positive/negative and no significance correlation with varying temperature were recorded. Moreover, relative humidity was negatively correlated with syrphid fly population and found non significant.

Journal of Eco-friendly Agriculture, 2019

Cowpea bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus, is a major pest of stored cowpea in Eritrea. A comparat... more Cowpea bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus, is a major pest of stored cowpea in Eritrea. A comparative study was conducted on the effectiveness of plant extract and chemical as grain protectants against C. maculatus in Hamelmalo Agricultural College. Five hundred gram cowpea was treated with extract of neem leaf 5 per cent, Lantana leaf 5 per cent, wood-ash and carbaryl 2 per cent with three replicates. The plant extracts significantly reduced the population of C. maculatus at different days of intervals. At 14 DAT, the mortality by carbaryl was 8.21 per cent, while ash 7.67 per cent and control 7.34 per cent showed low mortality, respectively. The mean weight loss of control was 44.9 per cent, whereas it was low in ash (41.8%), lantana (38.4%), neem (34.2%) and carbaryl (19.5%). The treated seeds recorded higher germination percentage, while the control had the least germination percentage (40%). Among the botanical protectants neem was found to be effective against the storage pests.

Journal of Eco-friendly Agriculture, 2021

A field trial was conducted at Hamelmalo Agricultural College, State of Eritrea to study the occu... more A field trial was conducted at Hamelmalo Agricultural College, State of Eritrea to study the occurrence and management of aphid (Aphis gossypii) on okra. The effect of dimethoate, neem cake, and garlic oil extract were tested with the objective to compare efficiency of the treatments in controlling the population of aphids. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with four replications. The sprays were done in ten days interval whereas counting of nymph and adult population on leaves and flower was done three times before and after each spray. The results showed that the population of aphids was highly controlled from the beginning of the first spray of dimethoate while the botanical pesticides showed effective control starting from the second spray. As regard the effect of the treatment on average yield (kg ha-1) of okra, dimethoate gave increased yield by 4.05 per cent. Higher pod number per plot was recorded in the dimethoate treated plots compared to both neem and garlic extracts. However, statistically both dimethoate and neem were on par with respect to yield. Overall, neem was found to be the most profitable.

Canadian Journal of Plant Protection, Dec 4, 2014

Entomological Research, 2010

Feeding behavior of Plutella xylostella under optional to non-optional conditions was studied at ... more Feeding behavior of Plutella xylostella under optional to non-optional conditions was studied at 10°C, 15°C, 20°C, and 25°C on Indian mustard, Brassica juncea. The study reveals that the variety Pusa Bahar was significantly less preferred by the larvae as compared with Pusa Bold and Varuna under optional to non-optional conditions. Larvae of P. xylostella consumed more food at 25°C than 20°C, 15°C and 10°C. Larval survival was found to be highest on cabbage (control) as compared with Indian mustard and was found to vary with host plants and temperature. The larval survival decreased to 11.29% on Pusa Bahar at 10°C. Increasing the temperature from 10°C to 20°C, larval mortality resulted more on Varuna than Pusa Bahar and Pusa Bold. Developmental period was prolonged on Pusa Bold at 10°C while it was shortest on cabbage at 25°C. A total of 536.47 degree days were required to complete the development by immature stages on Varuna at 25°C and 421.64 degree days on cabbage.

Annals of Plant Protection …, 2008

Laboratory studies were conducted to find the total effect of imidacloprid on development of pult... more Laboratory studies were conducted to find the total effect of imidacloprid on development of pultella xylostella. LC 0 of imidacloprid on 3rd instar larvae was ascertained and larvae were then, fed on cauliflower leaves impregnated with 0.002% of imidacloprid. Life table was ...

Journal of Biological Sciences, 2007

Reduction of seed harvester ants, Pogonomyrmex spp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), damages by using s... more Reduction of seed harvester ants, Pogonomyrmex spp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), damages by using some insecticides

Journal of entomology and zoology studies, 2017

The present study was undertaken to record the infestation of insect pests in citrus orchard duri... more The present study was undertaken to record the infestation of insect pests in citrus orchard during November 2014 to April 2015 at Keren, Eritrea and to control key insect pests with botanicals or chemical and document the natural enemies’ situation. The present study recorded the infestation of woolly whitefly (Aleurothrixus sp.), cottony cushion scale (Icerya purchasi), citrus leaf miner (Phyllocnistis sp.), diaspine black scale (Parlatoria sp.) and brown scale (Coccus sp.). To control the high incidence of Aleurothrixus sp. and I. purchasi, field evaluation of locally prepared botanicals (5% neem seed kernel extract, 5% balanites kernel extract) and imidacloprid 17.8% SL were carried out. Overall results indicate the effectiveness of these botanicals and chemical insecticide in managing the pests at three weeks post-foliar spray. Surprisingly no natural enemy was observed which could check the growing populations of insect pests.

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is one of the important vegetable crops of Eritrea and many insect ... more Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is one of the important vegetable crops of Eritrea and many insect pests and diseases infest the crop from germination up to harvesting. The field trail was conducted at Hamelmalo Agricultural College in okra crop to study the seasonal incidence of pest and diseases. Insects such as aphid, leafhopper, spotted bollworm and dusky cotton bug were noticed on the crop whereas plant diseases like powdery mildew and okra blight infested the crop. The maximum average population of aphids/plant was 143 with (r = 0.452) and its population increased from December to March. The jassid population was non-significantly affected the okra but maximum population (13 leafhoppers/plant) was recorded during February. The maximum number of spotted bollworm was 7 larva?/plant. The dusky bug population was 0.6 and 11 per plant during February and March, respectively. The natural enemies, lady bird beetle and sirphid fly, were recorded but their population were non-significant...

Asian Journal of Plant Science & Research, 2013

The Life table and development of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, was studies on four must... more The Life table and development of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, was studies on four mustard varieties, Brassica napus var. Neelam, B. campestris var. Pusa Kalyani, B. campestris var. BSH-1, B. juncea var. Pusa Bold in protected field conditions for two consecutive year 2004 and 2005. Mortality of immature stages was higher on Indian mustard during both cropping years than to other varieties. Maximum number of eggs laid by P. xylostella was on cauliflower and minimum on B. campestris BSH-1 in both cropping years of 2004-05 and 2005-06. Net reproductive rate (R0) was smallest i.e. 8.36 and 10.36 females/female/generation on B. campestris var. BSH-1 in both cropping years. Intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was smallest on B. campestris var. BSH-1 > Indian mustard > Pusa kalyani > Neelam > cauliflower. Generation time was prolonged on India mustard and BSH-1, therefore, egg, larval and pupal stages are more exposed to parasites than shorter generation. Doubling time i...

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PLANT PROTECTION, 2019

Method of storage and loss assessment of stored grains of farmers of Anseba region, Eritrea was c... more Method of storage and loss assessment of stored grains of farmers of Anseba region, Eritrea was carried out in 2015-16. 96% farmers stored their grains 6-12 months, 77.7% for food, 15.2% sale after increase of price and 7.2 % farmers for seed purpose. In Anseba region the method of storage are traditional and their type, size and shape are quite similar. The storage types are basically plastic bags, barrel, sacks, pots, hides and skins, gufet, and shirfa. The participants also reported that seeds are stored in pot, sack, godo, skin and Plastic bag (meshemae). In the present study the major storage pests of cereal were Sitophilus granaries L., Sitophilus zeamais Mostch, Sitophilus oryzae L. and Sitotroga cerealella followed by Tribolium spp. lesser grain borer and saw-toothed grain beetle whereas, in stored pulses Callosobruchus chinensis L. and Callosobruchus maculates F. are the major ones followed by Acanthoscelides obtectus Say and Zabrotes subfasciatus. These storage pests affected the quality and quantity of the grains and reduce their germination capacity. The germination loss for the damaged maize, sorghum barley were (58.5%), (2.17%) and (2.3%), respectively, whereas, in all undamaged cereals the germination was more than (85.0%). The germination of the damaged pulses grain varies from (12.3%) to (35.0%), the highest was observed in cowpea followed by faba bean and he lowest germination was recorded in stored lentil. The weight loss in cereals varies from (2.6%) in barley to a maximum in (15.8%) in sorghum. Likewise, the weight loss for pulses varied from (9.6%) to (42.6%). In general the weight loss of cereals and pulses in the region is very high with a mean of (8.4%) and (24.1%), respectively, which is very high to affect the food security of the region. Farmers use different type of traditional storage structure for grains and seed such as Koffo in the high land and Gufet in the lowlands with the main being plastic bags and sacks. How to view point the article : Haile, Adugna and Ahmad, Tufail (2019). Survey on storage method, insect pest and loss assessment of stored grains in Anseba region, Eritrea. Internat. J.

Journal of Stored Products and Postharvest Research, Mar 31, 2015

Eco-friendly management of bruchid beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis infesting faba bean (Vicia fa... more Eco-friendly management of bruchid beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis infesting faba bean (Vicia faba) and cowpea (Vigna angulculata) under laboratory conditions were conducted at Department of Plant Protection, Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Keren, Eritrea, to evaluate the effectiveness of four environment friendly treatments, that is, sesame oil, neem seed powder, hot water salt solution and cold water salt solution were applied to faba bean and cowpea seeds. The lowest percent grain damage by C. chinensis was recorded in cold water salt solution for cowpea (18.7%) followed by faba beans (56.7%) compared with control treatments (62.1% in cowpea and 65.3% in faba beans). However, the sesame oil, neem seed powder and hot water salt solution are significantly (P =0.05) affecting damage of bruchid beetle in both, faba bean and cowpea. The maximum percent weight loss was found in control and cold water salt solution in comparison to other treatment.

African Journal of Agricultural Research, Nov 30, 2012

Seed harvester ants are one of the dominant insect pest groups in Eritrea causing great economic ... more Seed harvester ants are one of the dominant insect pest groups in Eritrea causing great economic loss in cereal crops from sowing up to harvesting. The effectiveness of malathion, carbaryl and neem seed extract on the reduction of seed harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex spp.) populations and damages was also evaluated by the amount of seed removal. Results of the study showed that high number of germination rate (14.6) and yield (1.7 kg/plot) was obtained from malathion-treated ant mounds while carbaryl showed fair control. But neem seed extract was not effective where low germination rate (3.24) and yield (0.7 kg/plot) was found. The seed removal rate for seed harvester ant colony was very high in pearl millet (89.4 to 100%) than in maize (59.2 to 51.3%).

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PLANT PROTECTION, 2017

Development of Plutella xylostella was studied on cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli and radish in pr... more Development of Plutella xylostella was studied on cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli and radish in protected field condition under nylon net cage for two consecutive years. Result revealed that P. xylostella preferred to lay maximum eggs on cauliflower followed by cabbage, broccoli and radish. Fecundity was more at beginning but declined gradually with advancing of female age. The highest unhatched eggs were recorded on radish and minimum on cauliflower. Larval mortality was least when P. xylostella reared on cauliflower and maximum on radish. Mortality survival ratio for immature stages was highest on radish and lowest on cauliflower. The immature stages of P. xylostella were over within 27.45 days on cauliflower and 30.62 days on radish. Thermal constants significantly differed among the host plants during both the years of study. Maximum degree-days 66.66 and 125.00 was required for development of P. xylostella on cauliflower and minimum 37.03 and 58.82 on radish during both the cropping seasons, respectively. However, P. xylostella required maximum degree days to complete the development of immature stages on broccoli 473.03 and 394.95 degree-days in both cropping years. How to view point the article : Ahmad, Tufail and Ansari, M. Shafiq (2017). Characterization of four Brassica crops for development of diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (L.

Journal of Eco-friendly Agriculture, 2022