Browsing by Author "Ramkumar"

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Bugs for benefits: Harnessing the nutritional and environmental potential of edible insects for human consumption
(Nova Science Publishers Inc., 2025) Ramkumar; Sunaullah Bhat; Vinay Kumar; Manisha Chaudhary; Krishna Kant Prajapati; Varun Arya; Ram Kewal; Ashish Kumar Singh
The importance of finding hygienic food became a topic of discussion after COVID-19 was classified as a worldwide pandemic by the WHO. Human beings have consumed insects as a source of food, especially protein, since ancient times, and now they're getting more attention as a possible food source. An edible insect could become an environmentally friendly, sustainable source of protein in the future. Chitosan, a polysaccharide derivative of insect chitin and silk fibroin (produced by Bombyx mori), a high-quality protein, is used in various industries, viz., agriculture and biomedicine. The natural lustrous properties of silk fibres have made it a highly valuable product in the textile industry. Honeybee workers are considered master chemists, and their products have been utilised by humans for various purposes. Honey is the best natural sweetener as well as an excellent source of energy for humans, while beeswax is used for its moisture-proof properties. Pollen and bee venom also have therapeutic properties that can be used to treat various inflammatory conditions. Lac, a natural resin produced by a type of insect, is another material that has a wide range of applications in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and many industrial uses for surface coatings. Lac culture, the process of cultivating these insects, is a sustainable and environmentally friendly way of obtaining this valuable material. Overall, using insect by-products and insects themselves has the potential to provide sustainable solutions to global food shortages and various industries. © 2025 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
Effect of Humidity on Pest and Disease Incidence in Crops
(Apple Academic Press, 2025) Ramkumar; Manisha Chaudhary; Prince Sahu; Kartikey Singh; Ravi Kumar; Anju Shukla; Chander Singh; Vishal Dinkar; Ashish Kumar Singh; Niharika Singh; Ram Keval; Anshuman Semwal; Rishi Nath Pandey
Humidity is a term used to describe how much moisture or water vapor is present in an atmosphere. It is a crucial environmental factor in the emergence, growth, and development of diseases and pests. Insects have a greater ability for reproduction, and high humidity has an impact on their physiology. There are several differences in how ambient moisture affects an insect’s metabolic rate. It may have an impact on insect behavior such as post-diapause egg hatching, molting, mating, and pest movement. Dry environments trigger diapause, but moist ones promote the growth and pupation of insect pests. With a maximal rate of disease progress at intermediate RHs (50–56%), disease development is often faster at close to room temperature. Low RH levels speed up host tissue death, inhibit disease progression, and limit spore germination and lesion growth. Within a range of suitable temperatures, intermediate RH levels enhance disease progression by increasing spore germination. Although prolonged exposure to these conditions seems to be detrimental for the development of disease, high RH enhances spore germination. Epidemics of disease, the prevalence of pests, and the use of pesticides are all influenced by weather conditions, especially high ambient humidity. Soil moisture and temperature have a considerable impact on the emergence and spread of nematodes and plant diseases. The population growth, survival, and incidence of nematodes are influenced by humidity. When egg-laying in a dry environment, mites produce more eggs more quickly and live longer than when doing so in a nearly saturated environment. In a moist environment, newly hatched mites have a limited chance of survival. At higher RH levels (>96%) with a well-defined incubation period, entomopathogenic agents exhibit their highest infection potential and mortality rates. © 2025 by Apple Academic Press, Inc.
Field screening of certain chickpea genotypes against gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner)
(Malhotra Publishing House, 2022) Pavan Kumar; P.S. Singh; A.K. Saroj; G. Chaitanya; Ramkumar
Sixteen chickpea genotypes including susceptible Check BG 362 were screened against gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera. The mean larval population of H. armigera ranged from 0.69 to 3.22 larvae per five plants in different genotypes. The lowest larval population was recorded in genotype KPG 59 (0.69 larvae/five plants) and highest in genotype L 550 (3.22 larvae/five plants). The genotype RVG 203 recorded significantly lowest per cent pod damage (5.33%) followed by KPG 59 (6.03%) and BG 212 (9.66%). The genotype L550 recorded significantly highest per cent pod damage (31.33%) followed by BG 362 (24.33%) and GG 2 (23.33%). The genotypes RVG 203 (1840 kg/ha), KPG 59 (1822 kg/ha) produced highest grain yield. The genotype L 550 (8 PSR) recorded significantly highest pest susceptibility rating (PSR) and the lowest pest susceptibility rating was recorded in genotype KPG 59 and RVG 203 i.e 2 PSR © 2022, Journal of Entomological Research.All Rights Reserved.
Incidence pattern of major insect pests of long duration pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) and their correlation with weather factors
(Malhotra Publishing House, 2024) Krishna Kant Prajapati; Ramkumar; Ram Keval
The incidence of Melanagromyza obtusa was observed in the 2nd SW, whose maggot population was highest in the 11th SW (8.07 maggots/plant). The presence of Clavigralla gibbosa was noticed for the first time in the 2nd SW, which reached its peak (6.13 bugs/plant) in the 12th SW. Gram pod borer (H. armigera) larva initially appeared in the 3rd SW, and the maximum in the 12th SW (4.40 larvae/plant). The plume moth (E. atomosa) larval first incidence in the 4th SW and maximum larval population was found in the 12th SW (2.20 larvae/plant). The highest and lowest temperatures had a significant positive association with all insect populations, whereas a significant negative association between all the insects with evening RH. The tur pod fly and plume moth population had a significant positive association with sunshine hours. © (2023), (Malhotra Publishing House). All Rights Reserved.
Insect Virulence Mechanisms against Entomopathogenic Nematodes: Understanding the Molecular Basis of Host-Parasite Interactions
(Nova Science Publishers, Inc., 2024) Ramkumar; Ravi Kumar; Amit Shekhar; Prince Sahu; Kartikey Singh; Ram Keval; Shivam Kumar; Vinay Kumar; Puneet Kumar; Pankaj Kumar Rajpoot; Ashish Kumar Singh
Nematodes have demonstrated remarkable adaptability, occupying an extensive array of ecological niches, particularly as parasites. Among these parasitic nematodes are the entomopathogenic nematodes, which have formed associations with insect pathogenic bacteria, often lethal to their insect hosts. Notably, two nematode genera, Heterorhabditis, and Steinernema, have evolved to coexist with specific bacteria, Photorhabdus, and Xenorhabdus, respectively. This symbiotic partnership equips them with the ability to kill insects and utilise them as a source of sustenance. A critical phase in this process involves specialized infective stage IJ3, non-feeding juveniles. These IJ3 nematodes are adept at locating and invading suitable insect hosts, often through natural openings like anus, mouth, and spiracles. These hosts typically carry symbiotic bacteria within their intestines. Upon invasion, the nematodes release the bacteria into the insect host. This co-infection has multifaceted effects, including the suppression of host insect’s immune system and induction of septicemia. This ultimately leads to the host’s demise within a short timeframe of 24 to 48 hours. Once the insect host has perished, the nematodes, aided by the bacteria, contribute to the decomposition of the cadaver, thus accessing essential nutrients. They also serve as guardians, preventing opportunistic bacteria and fungi from utilising the nutrient-rich cadaver. After exhausting the available resources within the insect host, the entomopathogenic nematodes transition into colonised infective stages, ready to embark on their quest for a new insect host. This unique relationship between nematodes and bacteria is mutualistic in nature. Nematodes act as vectors, transporting the bacteria into the host, where they thrive and create optimal conditions for the nematodes’ survival and reproduction within insect cadavers. This intricate mechanism of insect infection through nematodes has found applications in pest management practices, making it an integral component of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. © 2024 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.
Molecular Basis of the Evolution of Pathogens Under Changing Climate Conditions
(Apple Academic Press, 2025) Chander Singh; Supriya Pandey; Umara Rahmani; Manisha Chaudhary; Aman Chauhan; Anshuman Semwal; Sumit Rai; Ramkumar; Varsha Mishra; Vishal Dinkar; Ashish Kumar Singh
In the last 200 years, environmental changes brought on by both natural and human activity have increased globally. Long-term changes in weather patterns and extreme weather event frequency are referred to as climate change. It is widely understood that infectious diseases can be impacted by climate change. The majority of research on the connections between disease and climate change has been on particular infections, modes of transmission, or the results of a single form of extreme weather. The environmental effects of climate change are becoming increasingly clear. All life forms are affected by the range and survivability of extreme weather events, rising average global temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and increasing frequency of such events. Each disease may react differently to changes in CO2 concentrations, temperature, and water availability, which can have positive, neutral, or adverse effects on disease development. Temperature and humidity have an impact on the virulence mechanisms of pathogens, including the generation of toxins and virulence proteins, as well as pathogen reproduction and survival. Plant diseases can adapt to climate change by taking advantage of the current phenotypic plasticity, migrating to regions with favorable climates, or evolving new traits. Research is underway to develop indicators and predictive methods for locating disease outbreaks in the future. The populations of pathogens exhibit a wide range of genetic characteristics that have been a topic of interest among researchers in the origins and evolution of infectious disease. It is impossible to forecast how climate change will affect plant pathogens, but given that they have a greater range of adaptive mechanisms than their hosts and faster generation rates, they will likely have more opportunities to adapt and evolve. Due to the complex and interacting nature of these events, it can be challenging to identify the key point(s) that triggered the onset of a disease, which may have occurred millions of years ago during the coevolution of the host with its pathogen. Therefore, it is not unexpected that the molecular processes leading to the genesis of any disease have largely remained undiscovered. Therefore, in this manuscript, we are attempting to summarize recent research on the evolution of pathogens, the link between pathogens and climate change, the molecular basis of evolution, and the mechanisms underlying pathogenicity. © 2025 by Apple Academic Press, Inc.