Genetically modified Cotton species detection by LISS-III satellite data

It is possible to infer the genetically modified species by using remotely sensed data. Using ERDAS software the algorithm of BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) Cotton in Punjab, India was developed successfully. GPS enabled space technology has the potential to identify the exact location of Bt Cotton by generating Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for the calculation of total area covered by this species. It was possible to develop a correlation in between genetically modified Cotton crop and NDVI value. In parts of Bhatinda district of Punjab the yield of Bt Cotton and NDVI showing R2 value of more than 4.5 in regression analysis. A correlation matrix was also generated which shows that NDVI values of BT cotton has reasonably acceptable correlation with Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) of soil and water also

Genetically modified Cotton species detection by LISS-III satellite data

It is possible to infer the genetically modified species by using remotely sensed data. Using ERDAS software the algorithm of BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) Cotton in Punjab, India was developed successfully. GPS enabled space technology has the potential to identify the exact location of Bt Cotton by generating Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for the calculation of total area covered by this species. It was possible to develop a correlation in between genetically modified Cotton crop and NDVI value. In parts of Bhatinda district of Punjab the yield of Bt Cotton and NDVI showed R2 value of more than 4.5 in regression analysis. A correlation matrix was also generated which shows that NDVI values of BT cotton also has reasonably acceptable correlation with Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) of soil and water

Wisdom of honey bees: colony foraging is governed by colony needs

Honey bees visit the flowers for two essential nutritional requirements, viz., pollen and nectar. Sometimes the foraging bees collect more nectar, whereas at other times they collect more pollen. What makes them take such decisions has been the interest of many honey bee scientists. The objective of this article was to find out about the drivers causing such changes in the foraging decisions of the honey bee colony. The published literature was examined to find an answer to this question. For this, published research on foraging behavior of honey bees was scanned on different search engines. From the published reports, it has become evident that for making a choice between these two food sources, a high level of colony wisdom is involved. Sometimes the colony engages in brisk pollen collection, whereas on other occasions it engages in brisk nectar collection. Given the scarcity of a particular food type in the colony, the latter takes immediate and wise decisions. The colony makes these changes in the foraging decision depending on the needs of the colony. For example, with the addition of the unsealed brood and honey stores in the colony, the latter increases pollen foraging and decreases nectar foraging activity. However, with the addition of the sealed brood, the colony does not significantly change foraging activity. Likewise, with the addition of pollen stores, the honey bee colony decreases pollen foraging and increases nectar foraging activity. However, these colony decisions are not long-lasting. After some 20 days, the colony resumes its normal behavioral plasticity of usual nectar and pollen foraging activity. This knowledge of honey bee wisdom regarding its foraging decisions will be highly useful in colony management for honey production and/or pollination of crop

Two native andrenid bee pollinators face severe population declines in the semi-arid environments of Northwest India

Pollinator declines at the global level are the major concern of ecologists. Two ground nesting native andrenid bee species are important part of the pollination services of Northwest India. These include, Andrena savignyi Spinola an important wild pollinator of some major oilseed crops of the family Brassicaseae, and Andrena leaena Cameron an important wild pollinator of some spices crops of the family Umbelliferae, and vegetable crops of the families Brassicaceae, Apiaceae and Leguminoseae. Their importance in the agroecosystems of Northwest India notwithstanding, the actual status of their populations in such habitats is not known. The purpose of this study is to explore the latter aspect of these bees in Northwest India. A survey was conducted on the abundances of two andrenid species foraging on their respective host plants from 1990 to 2015 at an interval of 5 years. I counted the number of foraging bees of the two species on two crops viz. Andrena savignyi on a winter-flowering crop, raya (Brassica juncea) and Andrena leaena on a summer-flowering crop, carrot (Daucus carota). In 25 years, the foraging populations of Andrena savignyi declined from 4.16±0.168 bees/m2 in 1990 to 1.2±0.09 bees/m2 in 2015 and of Andrena leaena from 5.24±0.156 bees/m2 in 1990 to 1.4±0.11 bees/m2 in 2015. This decline in the numbers of foraging bees seemed to be caused by the habitat loss and poisoning of these bees due to the excessive and indiscriminate use of weedicides in the wheat and rice crops grown in this region. Viewing the importance of these bees in the pollination of crops, it is suggested that, habitat of these bees be conserved and, if at all necessary, weedicides safe to the soil nesting bees be use

Abundance, foraging behavior and pollination efficiency of insects visiting the flowers of Aonla (Emblica officinalis)

Many insect species visit the flowers of a plant and play an important role in their pollination. Of late, the interest of the pollination biologists has been to determine their relative contribution towards the reproductive success of the plant. Such information is lacking on the pollinators of Aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.), a plant of very high nutritive and medicinal importance. Therefore, let’s attempt to make this study to generate such information on this plant. The study was conducted on three varieties of Aonla (viz. Chakaiya, NA-7 and NA-10) for two years. An entire range of flower visitors of this fruit plant was captured with hand net from its field during its flowering period and were identified. On the basis of foraging mode, the flower visitors were characterized as pollinators and non-pollinators. Their abundances, foraging rates, activity durations and number of pollen grains carried on the surface were recorded, and these parameters were used to determine their relative contribution towards the reproductive success of this plant. Among the 12 insect species visiting the flowers of Aonla at the study site, 5 belonged to Hymenoptera, 6 to Diptera and one to Lepidoptera. Apis dorsata was the most abundant visitor having maximal foraging rate and carried maximal number of loose pollen grains, followed by A. mellifera, A. florea and Sarcophaga sp; other visitors had lesser values of these parameters. On the basis of these parameters, melittophilous mode of pollination was found to predominate in Aonla. However, the plant was found to be benefitted from the multispecies pollinator guild, and the pollinator diversity seemed to matter for maximization of pollination in Aonla. Therefore, there is a dire need to conserve the pollinator diversit

Effect of initial colony strength on productivity and pollination services of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.)

Honey bees are one of the important pollinators of crops. That is why beekeeping is considered as one of the essential inputs in agriculture. Beekeeping also provides many hive products, including honey. Therefore, the main purpose of beekeeping is honey production and pollination of crops. But it is not known what the initial colony strength should be for starting a profitable beekeeping venture. To accomplish this objective, the present study was conducted. Three types of colonies were selected for this study. These included 5-Frame, 7-Frame and 9-Frame colonies. Seven colony parameters were studied at an interval of 21 days on five observation days. These include the number of nectar and pollen foragers, the amount of unsealed and sealed brood, the amount of pollen and honey stored, and the size of the colonies. The results reveal that during the study period, nectar foragers increased about 2.8 times in 5-frame colonies, 3 times in 7-frame colonies, and 3.2 times in 9-frame colonies. Likewise, pollen foragers increased about 2.8 times in 5-frame colonies, 3 times in 7-frame colonies, and 3.2 times in 9-frame colonies. But, the increase in unsealed as well as sealed broods of three colony types was marginal. The gain in honey storage was also similar in all the three types of colonies, but pollen storage was less in the larger colonies. However, the size of the colonies increased about 2.9 times in 5-Frame colonies, 3.1 times in 7-Frame colonies, and 3.3 times in 9-Frame colonies. Therefore, based on the net gains in colony parameters, a 9-Frame colony proved better than a 7-Frame and 5-Frame colony. It is recommended that a potential beekeeper starting a beekeeping venture should have at least 9-Frame colonies at the initial stage to make it a successful and profitable ventur

Abundance, foraging behavior and pollination efficiency of insects visiting the flowers of Aonla (Emblica officinalis)

Many insect species visit the flowers of a plant and play an important role in their pollination. Of late, the interest of the pollination biologists has been to determine their relative contribution towards the reproductive success of the plant. Such information is lacking on the pollinators of Aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.), a plant of very high nutritive and medicinal importance. Therefore, let’s attempt to make this study to generate such information on this plant. The study was conducted on three varieties of Aonla (viz. Chakaiya, NA-7 and NA-10) for two years. An entire range of flower visitors of this fruit plant was captured with hand net from its field during its flowering period and were identified. On the basis of foraging mode, the flower visitors were characterized as pollinators and non-pollinators. Their abundances, foraging rates, activity durations and number of pollen grains carried on the surface were recorded, and these parameters were used to determine their relative contribution towards the reproductive success of this plant. Among the 12 insect species visiting the flowers of Aonla at the study site, 5 belonged to Hymenoptera, 6 to Diptera and one to Lepidoptera. Apis dorsata was the most abundant visitor having maximal foraging rate and carried maximal number of loose pollen grains, followed by A. mellifera, A. florea and Sarcophaga sp; other visitors had lesser values of these parameters. On the basis of these parameters, melittophilous mode of pollination was found to predominate in Aonla. However, the plant was found to be benefitted from the multispecies pollinator guild, and the pollinator diversity seemed to matter for maximization of pollination in Aonla. Therefore, there is a dire need to conserve the pollinator diversit

Knowledge and Attitude regarding Honour Killing of People coming to a Tertiary Care Hospital in India

Introduction: “Honor killing” is an extreme and brutal abuse of human rights, violating the most basic of human rights-the right to life-as well as every other article in the International Convention on Human Rights (1948). The practice of honor killing “goes across cultures and across religions.”Objective: The present study attempts to assess knowledge and attitude of people regarding honor killing.Materials and Methods: After conducting focused group discussions (FDGs) on honor killings with the participants, researchers reached consensus about the core themes emerging from FDGs and formed a questionnaire to assess the knowledge and attitude of people about the practice of honor killing.Results and Conclusions: Most of the participants were aware of honor killing and opposed this practice. Their ideas about “honor” and “dishonor” were reflective of observations in existing literature. Based on the key points, a 16-item Hindi questionnaire was formed which awaits validation