Efficiency of Botanical and Chemical Pesticides on the Control of Field Insect Pests under Cowpea Production

The pulse cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] holds a significant agricultural position in Uganda, ranking fourth among legume crops, following common beans, groundnuts, and soybeans. Known for its versatility, cowpeas are consumable at various developmental stages, from early seedling to maturity. However, the crop faces persistent pest challenges at each stage, leading to substantial yield losses. In Uganda, chemical insecticides are the primary pest control means, but their increased and excessive use raises environmental, health, and economic concerns. This has prompted a quest for alternative and sustainable solutions, prompting an exploration of botanical insecticides. This study, conducted at Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute (MUARIK), aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of three selected botanical insecticides versus four established chemical insecticides for managing cowpea insect pests under field conditions. The treatments included: Carbofuran, Cypermethrin 10% EC, Dimethoate, Pestwin, Pyrethrum ewc , Pyrethrum 5ew, Profenofos 40% Cypermethrin 4% EC mix, and Untreated, arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The significant pests studied were aphids, thrips, pod-sucking bugs, and legume pod borer. Results indicated substantial impacts of the treatments on pest infestation, with Profenofos 40% Cypermethrin 4% EC being the most effective against most pests. The plant parameter, plant height, was significantly affected by treatments in 2016B, while the number of pods was impacted in 2017A. Pestwin, a botanical insecticide blend (containing Azadirachtin indica, Pongamia pinnata, and Ricinus communis extracts) demonstrated superior efficacy against cowpea aphids. Moreover, it positively influenced plant height, number of pods, and pod biomass, surpassing many chemical insecticides. Pestwin’s environmental friendliness positions it as a potential contributor to reducing environmental pollution, making it a promising candidate for inclusion in IPM programs. Overall, the study underscores the importance of exploring botanical alternatives to chemical insecticides for sustainable pest management in cowpea cultivation.

Primary Results of Ipomoea nil (L.) Roth. of Introduction Conditions in Tashkent Botanical Garden

The article is devoted to the study of bioecological features of Ipomoea nil in the conditions of the Tashkent Botanical Garden. Seeds were sown 8 - 10 cm deep in the first decade of April. Seed germination averaged 85% - 90%. The beginning of vegetation and leaf regrowth in Tashkent is observed in the second decade of April. The flowering phase was observed in the first decade of August and fruiting was noted in the first decade of September. Biometric indicators of the plant during the generative phase were revealed as follows: plant height 2.95 ± 0.22 m, generative shoot length 2.62 ± 0.24 m, number of leaves 46.5 ± 3.59 pcs., leaf length 10.11 ± 0.49 cm, root length 19.85 ± 0.88 cm, number of flowers 42.8 ± 2.37 pcs., flower diameter 4.82 ± 0.28 cm. Potential seed productivity (PSP) of the plant was noted 13.5 ± 0.5 pcs., real seed productivity (RSP) was 10.8 ± 0.44 pcs. And in turn, the seed productivity coefficient (SPC) amounted to 80.0% ± 1.31%. The primary results prove, according to the success of Ipomoea nil introduction, the noted indicators in Tashkent conditions.

Supplementation of vitamin E or a botanical extract as antioxidants to improve growth performance and health of growing pigs housed under thermoneutral or heat-stressed conditions

Background Heat stress has severe negative consequences on performance and health of pigs,leading to significant economic losses.The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of supplemental vitamin E and a botanical extract in feed or drinking water on growth performance,intestinal health,and oxidative and immune status in grow-ing pigs housed under heat stress conditions.Methods Duplicate experiments were conducted,each using 64 crossbred pigs with an initial body weight of 50.7±3.8 and 43.9±3.6 kg and age of 13-week and 12-week,respectively.Pigs(n=128)were housed individually and assigned within weight blocks and sex to a 2×4 factorial arrangement consisting of 2 environments(thermo-neutral(21.2℃)or heat-stressed(30.9℃))and 4 supplementation treatments(control diet;control+100 IU/L of D-α-tocopherol in water;control+200 IU/kg of DL-α-tocopheryl-acetate in feed;or control+400 mg/kg of a botanical extract in feed).Results Heat stress for 28 d reduced(P≤0.001)final body weight,average daily gain,and average daily feed intake(-7.4 kg,-26.7%,and-25.4%,respectively)but no effects of supplementation were detected(P>0.05).Serum vitamin E increased(P<0.001)with vitamin E supplementation in water and in feed(1.64 vs.3.59 and 1.64 vs.3.24),but not for the botanical extract(1.64 vs.1.67 mg/kg)and was greater when supplemented in water vs.feed(P=0.002).Liver vitamin E increased(P<0.001)with vitamin E supplementations in water(3.9 vs.31.8)and feed(3.9 vs.18.0),but not with the botanical extract(3.9 vs.4.9 mg/kg).Serum malondialdehyde was reduced with heat stress on d 2,but increased on d 28(interaction,P<0.001),and was greater(P<0.05)for antioxidant supplementation compared to control.Cellular proliferation was reduced(P=0.037)in the jejunum under heat stress,but increased in the ileum when vitamin E was supplemented in feed and water under heat stress(interaction,P=0.04).Tumor necrosis factor-αin jejunum and ileum mucosa decreased by heat stress(P<0.05)and was reduced by vitamin E sup-plementations under heat stress(interaction,P<0.001).Conclusions The addition of the antioxidants in feed or in drinking water did not alleviate the negative impact of heat stress on feed intake and growth rate of growing pigs.

Ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants from the Dragon Boat Festival herbal markets of Qianxinan, southwestern Guizhou, China

Dragon Boat Festival herbal markets in the Qianxinan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture of southwestern Guizhou have a long well-conserved history.These markets,which are a feature of Buyi and Miao traditional medicines,contain a rich diversity of medicinal plants and traditional medical knowledge.Today,people in southwestern Guizhou still believe that using herbs during the Dragon Boat Festival prevents and can treat disease.In this study,we identified the fresh herbal plants sold at the herbal markets of Xingren City and Zhenfeng County in Qianxinan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture and quantified their importance.We identified 141 plant species(belonging to 114 genera and 61 families).The plant family with the most species was Asteraceae(14 species).Informants reported that most medicinal plants are herbaceous,with 95.7%of plants used for decoction and 30.5%used for medicinal baths.Medicinal plants are most commonly used to treat rheumatism,injury,and abdominal diseases.The utilization frequency index and relative importance values indicated that Artemisia argyi and Acorus calamus are the most important plants sold at herbal markets during the Dragon Boat Festival.The price of medicinal materials sold in the market may serve as an indicator of the conservation status of species in the region.These findings indicate that the Dragon Boat Festival herbal markets in the Qianxinan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture fully embodies the characteristics of indigenous ethnomedicine and culture,and also exhibits the diversity of plant resources.We recommend that rare and endangered plants in this region be domesticated and protected.

Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants traded in herbal markets of Kahramanmaras¸

Most people in the world still use medicinal plants to treat and prevent disease.In Anatolia,studies have shown that people have used plants for centuries to treat many diseases.Herbal markets play an important role in the supply of medicinal plants and the transmission of cultural heritage.In this study,we investigated the traditional uses of medicinal plants traded in Kahramanmaras¸herbal markets.We also analyzed the threats that may arise from the use of medicinal plants and the measures that can be taken to protect these plants.For these purposes,ethnomedicinal data were collected using semistructured and open-ended questionnaires of herbalists and local people.Ethnobotanical indices(e.g.,Relative Frequency of Citation,Use Value,Relative Importance,and Informant Consensus Factor)were used to quantify the use and cultural importance of medicinal plants sold at Kahramanmaras¸herbal markets.We identified 62 taxa(11 imported)of plants that are used in traditional folk medicines.The top three plant taxa sold per year by herbalists at Kahramanmaras¸herbal markets are Licorice(Glycyrrhiza glabra;140 kg),Thyme(Thymus sp.;109 kg),and Carob(Ceratonia siliqua;106.5 kg).The plant parts and mode of utilization used most are leaves(28 reports)and infusion(36 reports),respectively.The highest ICF value was detected for endocrine system ailments(0.78),and the next highest two values were lymphatic system(0.75)and respiratory system ailments(0.72).We determined that Urtica dioica,G.glabra,Thymus sp.,Mentha x piperita have widely traditional uses,with high ethnobotanical index values and use reports.In addition,according to IUCN criteria,26 of 62 taxa identified in the research are under threat to various degrees on a global scale.

Plant Conservation in National Botanical Gardens of South Africa

The destruction of forests has led to plant diversity and species being lost at an unprecedented rate and a decrease in ecosystem services. Plant conservation strategies are important to support the development of livelihoods based on the sustainable uses of plants and promote the understanding and sharing of the benefits and functions of plants. Botanical gardens allocate most of their resources to plant conservation and the development of educational activities such as making plant species diversity known to the public. These gardens can also play an essential role in human well-being and provide in human needs. In this article, we review the history of the development of Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and the development of other national botanical gardens in South Africa. We will discuss conservation through cultivation, discovering and documenting diversity of plants, indigenous plants, threatened plants, medicinal plants, extinctions and rediscoveries, environmental education, conservation science, citizen science, horticulture, research and creating a haven for biodiversity. Future challenges and responsibilities of botanical gardens will be discussed including in situ and ex situ cultivation, promoting awareness, creating partnerships, increasing capacity building and training activities, sharing information and making gardens sustainable.

The Evolution of Botanical and Herbal Medicine in Islamic Civilization

Botanical science and medicinal plants are shaped by the translation movement in Islamic civilization and in the fifth century (AH), through the development of specialized media and the commencement of scientific and research trips, its foundations are strengthened. In the sixth and seventh centuries (AH), the development of the first botanical encyclopedias, the introduction of objective observations and practical experiences on theoretical issues, the prosperity of this science was provided by writing comprehensive books on medicinal plants and in the eighth century (AH). Like other intellectual and transcendental sciences, the loss of the past lost due to the decline of the writings and led to a recession. The Muslims played a role in preserving and building the body of knowledge of the Greek, Roman times. In fact, they gained this science from the distant paths. In the history of medicine, Islamic medicine is the science of medicine developed in the Islamic Golden Age, and written in Arabic, the lingua franca of Islamic civilization. In this article, we try to investigate the effect of Islamic scholars on the dynamics of medicinal herbs and the continuation of Muslim researches and innovations in the field of botany and medicinal herbs.

Recognition and quality mapping of traditional herbal drugs:way forward towards artificial intelligence

The use of traditional herbal drugs derived from natural sources is on the rise due to their minimal side effects and numerous health benefits.However,a major limitation is the lack of standardized knowledge for identifying and mapping the quality of these herbal medicines.This article aims to provide practical insights into the application of artificial intelligence for quality-based commercialization of raw herbal drugs.It focuses on feature extraction methods,image processing techniques,and the preparation of herbal images for compatibility with machine learning models.The article discusses commonly used image processing tools such as normalization,slicing,cropping,and augmentation to prepare images for artificial intelligence-based models.It also provides an overview of global herbal image databases and the models employed for herbal plant/drug identification.Readers will gain a comprehensive understanding of the potential application of various machine learning models,including artificial neural networks and convolutional neural networks.The article delves into suitable validation parameters like true positive rates,accuracy,precision,and more for the development of artificial intelligence-based identification and authentication techniques for herbal drugs.This article offers valuable insights and a conclusive platform for the further exploration of artificial intelligence in the field of herbal drugs,paving the way for smarter identification and authentication methods.

Harnessing multi-omics approaches to elucidate the role of Chinese herbal compounds in chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal damage

In this editorial,we discuss the findings reported by Wang et al in the latest issue of the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology.Various research methodologies,including microbiome analysis,assert that the Tzu-Chi Cancer-Antagonizing and Life-Protecting II Decoction of Chinese herbal compounds mitigates inflammatory responses by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway.This action helps maintain the dynamic equilibrium of the intestinal microecology and lessens chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal damage.The efficacy of these compounds is intimately linked to the composition of intestinal microbes.These compounds regulate intestinal microecology by virtue of their specific compatibility and effectiveness,thereby enhancing the overall therapeutic outcomes of cancer chemotherapy.Nonetheless,the exact mechanisms underlying these effects warrant further investigation.Multi-omics technologies offer a systematic approach to elucidate the mechanisms and effectiveness of Chinese herbal compounds in vivo.This manuscript reviews the application of multi-omics technologies to Chinese herbal compounds and explores their potential role in modulating the gastrointestinal microenvironment following cancer chemotherapy,thus providing a theoretical foundation for their continued use in adjunct cancer treatment.

Control Effect of Botanical Pesticides against Ectropis oblique hmpulina and Empoasca pirisuga in Tea Plantation

[ Objective ] The paper was to study the effects of several botanical pesticides against two pests in tea plantation. [ Method] Using randomized block de- sign, different concentrations of botanical pesticides were sprayed during the young larvae periods of Ectropis oblique hmpulina Wehrli and peak periods of Empoasca pirisuga, the reduction rate of population and control effects were investigated after spraying for 1,3,7 and 10 d. [ Result] 5% rotenone EC 800 times had the best control effect against E. oblique hmpulina, and 0.5% veratridine soluble liquid 800 times had the best control effect against E. pirisuga. 0. 5% veratridine soluble liquid, 0.2% celangulin EC, 0.3% matrine water agent and 7.5% rotenone EC could be selected as the pesticides for the control of E. oblique hmpulina; 0. 5% veratridine soluble liquid, 0. 2% celangulin EC, 0.3% azadirachtin EC, 0.3% matrine water agent and 7.5% rotenone EC could be selected as the pesticides for the control of E. pirisuga, of which 0. 3% azadiraehtin EC 600 times showed the best durable effect against E. pirisuga with control effect of 100% after spraying for 7 d. [ Conclusion] The results provided basis for application of botanical pesticides in pests control in tea plantation.

Analysis on the Main Botanical Characters of 41 Cucurbita moschata Varieties

In order to scientifically evaluate the values of Cucurbita moschata cultivars, main botanical characters including the initial flowering date, the first fruiting node, fruit length, fruit stem length, stem diameter, internode length, the transverse and longitudinal diameters of the largest leaf, single fruit weight, flesh thickness and soluble solid content of 41 cultivars were measured for conducting diversity, correlation and cluster analysis. The results revealed that the pumpkin cultivars showed large variations in fruit stem length, single fruit weight, fruit length and flesh thickness, but small variations in initial flowering date. Significant, even highly significant correlations were found among the tested traits. Cluster analysis demonstrated that the 41 old Cucurbita moschata cultivars were divided into three groups, of which multiple traits of Group 1 were better than those in the other two groups. High similarities existed in three groups and the cultivars in each group. This research provided basis for selecting excellent traits and parents for the breeding of hybrids.

Fifty Years of Botanical Gardens in China

The development, distribution and features of one hundred and forty botanical gardens (BGs) in China are reported and their functions on research, conservation, display and utilization of biodiversity are summarized in this paper. The contributions to the social and economic development in the early stage of Chinese BGs with the researches of economic plant (tobacco), medicinal plant (yam) and wild fruit tree resources are evaluated. The theoretical and applied achievements in recent years in seed science, plant conservation, economic plant introduction, acclimatization and breeding are also described. A general scope of living plant collections in Chinese BGs is presented and the outstanding ones, including Magnoliaceae, Zingiberaceae, Cycadaceae, medicinal plants, Actinidia and Rhododendron are particularly mentioned. With special reference to Chinese penjing art garden and silicified wood garden, the development of scientific popularization and tourism in BGs is reviewed.

Antifungal Activity of Botanical Extracts against Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria solani

[Objective] The antifungal activity of the extracts from,Atractylodes macracephal Koidz and Pulsatilla chinensis Bunge Regel,against Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria solani were studied under the condition of laboratory,in order to develop and utilize these two plants.[Method] The mycelium growth rate test was applied to measure the antifungal activities of extracts against fungi.[Result] the extracts of all the two plants showed strong antifungal activity against the target pathogenic fungi,especially the antifungal activity of the extract from Pulsatilla chinensis Bunge Regel was stronger and more stable.The inhibition rate to the mycelium growth of Botrytis cinerea was 80.25%.At the same concentration,the extract from Atractylodes macracephal Koidz showed little inhibition to Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria solani.The petrolelum ether extract of Atractylodes macracephal Koidz showed stronger antifungal activities and the EC50 was 5.31 mg/ml,and the n-butanol extract of Pulsatilla chinensis Bunge Regel showed stronger antifungal activities and the EC50 was 2.93 mg/ml.[Conclusion] The extracts from Pulsatilla chinensis Bunge Regel showed the stronger antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria solani.

Control Efficacy of Botanical Pesticides Against Apolygus lucorum(Meyer-Dür.) and Erythroneura apicalis(Nawa) for Grape

Apolygus lucorum（Meyer-Dür.） and Erythroneura apicalis（Nawa） are important pests that affect the quality and the yield of grapevine and cause huge economic losses. This paper focuses on the selection of effective botanical pesticides to control A. lucorum and E. apicalis. This experiment explores the effect of several botanical pesticides for A. lucorum and E. apicalis, including the 0.5% veratrine, the0.6% Oxygen·Lactone agent, the 5% natural pyrethrin, the composite neem pesticide, the rotenone and the composite nicotine. The 0.5% veratrine shows a stable control efficacy, which is higher than 60% in Chengdu, while the composite nicotine shows the highest efficacy against A. lucorum, which is above 70%. In Yinchuan,the 0.5% veratrine shows the highest efficacy, against the first generation adults and the second generation larvae of E. apicalis, while the 5% natural pyrethrin shows 100% control efficacy against E. apicalis in Nanjiang. The 0.5% veratrine and the composite neem could be used as effective pesticides to control A. lucorum and the 5% natural pyrethrin can be used to control E. apicalis. They could be widely used in the production of pollution-free grapes.

Extraction Technology of Eight Botanical Pesticides and Their Antifungal Activities on Fungus

[ Objective] The optimum extraction technology of antifungal ingredients from eight medicinal plants such as coptis root and clove, etc. and their antifungal effects on two species of plant pathogens were studied. [ Method] The effective ingredients of medicinal plants were extracted by water, ethanol and acetone. The minimum inhibitory concentration （MIC） and antifungal rate of extracts from medicinal plants were determined using plate diluting method. [Resets] The optimum medicinal plants and the extraction methods inhibited two plant pathogens were as follows： clove extracted by ethanol and acetone, and cinnamon extracted by ethanol could be adopted to inhibit Fusarium oxysporum Schl., MIC at that mo- ment reached 4 mg/ml. Clove extracted by ethanol and acetone, and cinnamon extracted by ethanol could be adopted to inhibit the pathogen of Cistanche deserticola, MIC at that moment reached 4 mg/ml. [ Conclusion] The antifungal effects of ethanol and acetone extracts on tested patho- gens were obviously superior than that of aqueous extracts.

Research and Application of Botanical Pesticides in Control of Tobacco Pest

The characteristics,research and application situation of botanical pesticides are briefly introduced. The research and application of botanical insecticides in control of tobacco pests are reviewed,and the existing problems,prospect in development and utilization of botanical insecticides are also discussed.

Butterfly Species Diversity and Abundance in University of Ibadan Botanical Garden, Nigeria

Understanding the significance of butterflies in an ecosystem as an environmental healthy indicator and pollination of flowering plants is crucial to achieving sustainability and conservation of floral diversity. The aim of the study was to investigate the butterfly species diversity and abundance and compare the relationship between physical factor and butterfly species. Line transect were used to survey three habitats around botanical garden with scooped-net between June and July, 2010. Diversity varied from habitat to habitat. A checklist was made comprising a total of 57 butterfly species that were surveyed belonging to 9 families. There was a relationship between temperature and butterfly species diversity and abundance. There was no correlation between physical factors (relative humidity and temperature) and the total number of species and families. Moreover, butterfly numbers were not related to relative humidity in any species and family. However, temperature was significantly correlated with species. Therefore, understanding of the factors that affect butterfly species diversity and abundance in University of Ibadan Botanical Garden is important for conservation.

Botanicals and plant strengtheners for potato and tomato cultivation in Africa

This review provides a summary of botanicals and plant strengtheners that have potential uses for disease and pest management in potato and tomato cultivation in African.We discuss their possible use to prevent major diseases and pests which infest potato and tomato,such as early and late blight,bacterial wilt,potato tuber moth,and tomato leafminer.There are several examples of the successful uses of botanicals for pathogen and pest control relevant for different African climatic conditions;however,most of these studies have been conducted in vitro and often lack field verification.Plant strengtheners(substances that induce and improve crop resistance,yield,and quality)are little studied and used in Africa in comparison to North America and Europe.The possible benefits of using botanicals and plant strengtheners instead of conventional pesticides are discussed here in relation to human health and the environment as well as their modes of action and accessibility to farmers.Lack of knowledge of the composition and active ingredients of extracts,environmental concerns,uncertainties regarding stability and formulation,lack of legislation and limited support from governments,hamper the development of botanicals and plant strengtheners for use in sustainable African agriculture.

Study on Safety Analysis of Botanical Pesticides

Aiming at the safety problems of botanical pesticides currently ignored, the paper analyzes the unsafe factors existing in botanical pesticides from the three aspects of active ingredients, inactive ingredients and unregistered active ingredients, in order to provide a scientific reference for the safe use and effective su- pervision of botanical pesticides.

New botanical drug, HL tablet, reduces hepatic fat as measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A placebo-controlled, randomized, phase Ⅱ trial

AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of HL tablet extracted from magnolia officinalis for treating patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).METHODS Seventy-four patients with NAFLD diagnosed by ultrasonography were randomly assigned to 3 groups given high dose(400 mg) HL tablet, low dose(133.4 mg) HL tablet and placebo, respectively, daily for 12 wk. The primary endpoint was post-treatment change of hepatic fat content(HFC) measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Secondary endpoints included changes of serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase(ALT), cholesterol, triglyceride, free fatty acid, homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance, and body mass index(BMI).RESULTS The mean HFC of the high dose HL group, but not of the low dose group, declined significantly after 12 wk of treatment(high dose vs placebo, P = 0.033; low dose vs placebo, P = 0.386). The mean changes of HFC from baseline at week 12 were-1.7% ± 3.1% in the high dose group(P = 0.018),-1.21% ± 4.97% in the low dose group(P = 0.254) and 0.61% ± 3.87% in the placebo group(relative changes compared to baseline, high dose were:-12.1% ± 23.5%, low dose:-3.2% ± 32.0%, and placebo: 7.6% ± 44.0%). Serum ALT levels also tended to decrease in the groups receiving HL tablet while other factors were unaffected. There were no moderate or severe treatment-related safety issues during the study.CONCLUSION HL tablet is effective in reducing HFC without any negative lipid profiles, BMI changes and adverse effects.