Background: The present study has made an attempt to estimate the sources of growth and instability of apple production in various districts of Himachal Pradesh using Hazell&rsquo;s decomposition model as our state has shown tremendous growth in area as well as production in last decades.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: For analysis, secondary data on area, production and yield has been used and the study period for CAGR, instability indices and decomposition analysis had divided into two triennium periods i.e. Period-I (1974-77 to 1996-99) and Period-II (1999-02 to 2020-23). 
 
Result: it was revealed that during the overall period, Sirmaur had the highest value of CAGR (27.70%) in apple production followed by Spiti (10.30%) and Mandi and main reason for this increasing trend was the increase of the apple area and climatically adaptable varieties as apple required chilling hours which were fulfilling in these districts. In Shimla, which had the highest area and production of apple in the state, there was a decline in the CAGR of apple production during the overall period (-3.70%).&nbsp;

Growth, Instability and Hazell&rsquo;s Decomposition Analysis of Apple: A District-wise Study of Himachal Pradesh

Background: A recent occurrence of fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) a new invasive pest in Africa attained epidemic form in 2016.&nbsp; Consequently, researchers probed various ecofriendly methods to manage the pest. The effect of intercropping cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] with fodder maize (Zea mays L.) on the incidence of FAW was investigated.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The maize fodder was protected against FAW by intercropping with cowpea along with a biorational product, Brahamastra and compared with the recommended&nbsp; insecticide used to manage the insect by conducting field experiments during kharif 2020, 2021 and 2022 comprising the eight treatments viz. T1: Maize + Cowpea 1:1 ratio (unsprayed); T2: Maize + Cowpea 1:1 ratio (coragen @ 100 ml ha-1); T3: Maize + Cowpea 1:1 ratio (brahamastra @ 12.5 litre ha-1 sprayed); T4: Maize sole (brahamastra @ 7.5 litre ha-1 sprayed); T5: Maize sole (brahamastra @ 10.0 litre ha-1 sprayed); T6: Maize sole (Brahamastra @ 12.5 litre ha-1 sprayed); T7: Maize sole (coragen 18.5 SC @ 100 ml ha-1 sprayed as standard check) and T8: Maize sole (Unsprayed). The plot size for each treatment was 500 m2, demarcating 5 x 4 m2 for sampling with three replications in a completely randomized design (CRBD). 
 
Result: The treatments, Maize + Cowpea (1:1 row) (Coragen @ 100 ml ha-1 sprayed) and Maize sole (Coragen @ 100 ml ha-1 sprayed) though had significantly the&nbsp; lowest pooled pest incidence and the highest per cent reduction over control (PROC), the bio-rational applied on maize + Cowpea (1:1 row) (brahamastra @ 12.5 litre ha-1 sprayed) encounted the&nbsp; lowest pest incidence, the highest PROC combined with the highest fodder yield and economic returns without any statistical singnificant difference with&nbsp; Maize + Cowpea (1:1 row) (unsprayed).

Impact of Cowpea-maize Intercropping and Bio-rational Product on Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) in Fodder Maize

Background: Fall army worm is an invasive insect pest in India during year 2018 which caused severe damage to the crop and economic loss to the farmers. So, the main objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of seed treatment, biological and insecticidal applications for the management of fall army worm in maize.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The study was conducted Kharif, 2018 and 2019 at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Chintapalle, Visakhapatnam during. It was evaluated with eleven treatments, after seed treatment with Cyantraniliprole 19.8% + Thiamethoxam 19.8 FS 5 ml per kg seed in 03 windows of application at 20, 35 and 50 DAS with battery operated sprayer. Data was collected on number of larva per plant (20 DAS), per cent plant infestation and % cob infestation, yield (q/ha) and cost benefit ratio. 
 
Result: Among three windows of applications, third window application with different insecticides was found most significant, followed by second window application (poison bait with Thiodicarb 75WP) in comparison to control (20.96). In 3rd window treatments application, spinetoram 11.7SC @ 0.5ml (T3 with 0.74 and T8 with 1.14 %) and spinosad 45SC @ 0.3 ml (T4 with 1.35 and T9 with 1.39 %), were found most significant, followed by&nbsp; &nbsp;Chlorantraniliprole 18.5SC (T2 with 1.76 and T7 with 1.25 %) in the management of fall army worm. Least Cob damage per cent (T3 with 7.23 and T8 with 8.00 %) and maximum yield (T3 with 72.55 and T8 with 73.00 q/ha) was recorded in Spinetoram 11.7 SC. Thus Spinetoram 11.7SC followed by Spinosad 45SC and Chlorantraniliprole 18.5SC found effective against S. frugiperda in Maize.

Management of the Fall Army Worm, Spodoptera&nbsp; frugiperda (J.E. Smith) in Maize

<div>Background: Maize is one of the predominant millets cultivated in an area of 6500 ha both under drip and open irrigation systems in Dharmapuri district. The infestation of invasive insect pest Spodoptera frugiperda poses major threat to maize cultivation and increased the cost towards plant protection since 2018. In the integrated pest management strategies, the benefits of growing border and inter crop has been studied in detail but least emphasis was given to the crops grown in adjacent fields to the main crop. The cropping pattern in Dharmapuri district is highly diversified and the farmers prefer to grow more number of crops across the seasons compared to other maize growing areas. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: The present survey envisages the influence of adjacent and border crops on the incidence of fall armyworm in maize. The field incidence of fall armyworm in maize crop surrounded by other crops such as tapioca, nerium, cotton and maize fields with blackgram, cowpea and sesame as border crops were studied during kharif season of 2018 and 2019.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The maize fields surrounded by tapioca and nerium crop recorded lower fall armyworm incidence (3.00 - 10.00%) followed by field surrounded by tapioca on either side of maize (4.50 - 14.50%) during 15 to 60 days after emergence. Growing of border crops such as blackgram, sesame and cowpea recorded 24.50, 23.50 and 16.50% incidence at 60 DAE, respectively. With regard to grain yield, no marked variation was observed in different crop combination. The higher return (Rs. 86040/ha) and benefit cost ratio (2.65) was observed in maize crop adjacent to tapioca and nerium crop. The lower net return (Rs. 75360/ha) and benefit cost ratio (2.36) was realized in maize crop adjacent to maize crop. In most of the management strategies pulses have been inducted either border or intercrop to attract natural enemies and thwart the host insects. In the present survey, tapioca and nerium crop combination reduces the fall armyworm incidence. Hence tapioca and nerium crop combinations can be tried as border crop to push the fall armyworm away from the maize crop. The days required for advanced planting and crop combinations should be studied in detail to devise effective fall armyworm management strategies. &nbsp;</div>

<div>Influence of Adjacent and Border Crops on the Incidence of Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Maize</div>

Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) genotypes along with two parents were studied to assess the magnitude of genotypic variability, heritability and selection indices among the yield components and their direct and indirect effects on grain yield. On the basis of genetic variability, all the traits exhibited high heritability estimates coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean (h2&sup3; 60%, GAM&sup3;20 %) except 100 grain weight (h2 = 0.51, GAM= 8.0 %), indicating the preponderance of additive gene action. Biological yield/plant and harvest index had the most positive direct effects (1.448, 1.144, respectively) on grain yield/plant, indicating these traits synergistically affect photosyntates. Based on Smith-Hazel &nbsp;indices the highest genetic advance (17.56%) in grain yield/plant obtained on linear combination of traits such as days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, pod length, grains/pod and biological yield/plant (X2X3X4X7X8X10) accomplished through a completely new selection-index in which economic weight of each traits were equally distributed, suggesting that these parameters may be considered as prime traits during the course of selection to realize higher yield potential in green gram.

Genetic study and selection indices for grain yield of mungbean

<div>Background: Notable advancements in the selection indices have led to the development of exceptional breeding strategies, which have eventually led to the selection of elite dairy animals. The comparison of trends is facilitated by their estimation which permit the assessment of progress in a particular trait. The purpose of this study was to investigate genetic trends in economic traits of Murrah buffaloes, which is predominantly present as a high milk producer using the regression method. The study was designed to estimate the phenotypic, genetic and environmental trends, which represent the changes accrued over time and hence, determines the efficiency of breeding programme. 
 
Methods: The present study was conducted on 659 Murrah buffaloes, sired by 188 bulls, over a period of 27 years (1991-2017). The economic traits studied were first lactation milk yield (FLMY), first lactation length (FLL), age at first calving (AFC), first calving interval (FCI), first service period (FSP) and first dry period (FDP). The phenotypic trends were obtained as regression of population performance on year and the genetic trends were obtained by Smith method I and II. 
 
Result: The results revealed that the phenotypic trends obtained were significant and desirable for all the traits except for first lactation length, which was non-significant. The standard errors obtained by Smith method-I were higher than those obtained from method-II. As the Smith method-II avoids year to year fluctuations in the environment and those of contemporaries, it gives more realistic estimate as compared to the first method with lower standard error.</div>

<div>Estimation of Phenotypic and Genetic Trends in Economic Traits of Murrah Buffaloes</div>

<div>Background: Bumble bees play a crucial role in pollination of North West Himalayas. Bumble bees successfully thrive in the harsh environmental conditions of Himalayas. The present study aimed at taxonomic and zoogeographic studies of Bumble bees belonging to genus Bombus along with altitudinal variation of one species leading to its new record.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The collections surveys were conducted from the year 2017 to 2019 from altitude of 1000 to 3500 meters above sea level in North-West Himalaya. A total of 43 specimens belonging to three species were collected. These specimens were preserved as per standard techniques in Hymenoptera and identified following keys of eminent workers. 
 
Result: The detailed taxonomy of three species of Bumble bees from North West Himalaya i.e., Bombus trifasciatus Smith, Bombus tunicatus Smith and Bombus simillimus Smith has been studied. The important taxonomic characters of different castes of these bee species have been elaborated and illustrations of morphological characters (including genitalia and sterna of male) of different castes i.e. queen, worker and male for each species are provided. The general foraging behaviour and altitudinal distribution along with floral preferences has been discussed in all the three species. The list of nectar food plants is provided under each species. B. trifasciatus has been recorded for the first time from Phey in cold desert in UT of Ladakh, which is being reported as new record in the Trans Himalayan region.</div>

Taxonomic and Bio-geographical Studies of Three Bombus Species (Hymenoptera: Bombus) from North-West Himalaya with New Record from Trans Himalaya

Background: A mid-May 2018 outbreak of fall armyworm (FAW) was witnessed in Karnataka and it then spread rapidly across the country, causing extensive damage to maize crop. It is ideally adapted to tropical and subtropical environments around the world. Temperature has a major role in synchronizing its invasion and life cycle since it does not go into diapause. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: An investigation was conducted, to examine the life-history parameters of fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda Smith fed with maize foliage at five different temperatures viz.,18, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40&plusmn;1&deg;C, under 14 hr light and 10 hr dark cycle maintained inside a BOD incubator. 
&nbsp; 
Result: Results revealed an inverse relation between developmental stages of eggs, larvae and pupae and growing temperatures, wherein the fastest growth occurred at 35&deg;C and no development was observed at 40&deg;C. Maximum percentage hatchability was noticed at 25&deg;C (94.2%), while it decreased both at higher and lower temperatures. The larval developmental duration decreased from 34.08 days at 18&deg;C to 10.06 days at 35&deg;C. The duration of pupal development was also minimum at 35&deg;C, taking 7.22 days. Adult longevity decreased linearly with an increase in temperature where females outlived males at all temperatures except at 18&deg;C. The thermal constants for development were estimated at 45.92 (egg), 245.34 (larvae), 169.64 (pupae) and 466.06 degree days (total).

Temperature-dependent Life History Traits of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda

Background: Lentil (Lens culinaris medikus.) is one of the most important nutritious rabi pulse crops in. The fungal pathogen Stemphylium botryosum, which causes stemphylium blight, has gained attention recently and is responsible for 62% of crop loss in many countries, including India. This current study was conducted to assess the lentil germplasm in preparation for a future breeding project, taking into account the crop&rsquo;s relevance in relation to the disease&rsquo;s severity as well as a number of other desired variables like yield and quality attributes. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: The study was undertaken in the Instructional farm of UBKV, Pundibari during the rabi season of 2019-20 and 2020-21 with forty lentil germplasm to select distinguished high yielding genotype for resistance against Stemphylium blight. The field experiment was conducted by following by alpha lattice design with three replications. Statistical analysis was carried out using PB Tools v. 1.3 software. 
&nbsp; 
Result: Principle component analysis based selection indexing were performed considering 20% selection intensity and all the 18 traits under study were considered to compute selection indices, viz., days to 50% flowering, plant height, days to 90% maturity, primary branches plant-1, secondary branches plant-1, pods plant-1, seeds pod-1, pod weight plant-1, 100 seed weight, yield plant-1, harvest index, area under disease progress curve, change in phenol, change in OD phenol, polyphenol oxidase, seed iron, seed zinc and seed protein content in matured seeds. The genotype IC241061 was identified with the highest smith index score which could be used in future for resistance breeding.

Selection for High Yielding and Stemphylium Blight Resistant Lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) Genotype based on Principle Component and Selection Indices

<div style="text-align: justify;">The growth rate and instability of mango production is studied for the period 1992-93 to 2013-14. For studying the growth rate, linear and compound models are fitted with and without spline. Spline model is fitted to take care of abrupt jumps in the data and evaluate the change in the trend of time series data.The entire period of study is divided into two sub-periods, 1992-93 to 2002-03 as sub period-I and 2003-04 to 2013-14 as sub-period-II as there is maximum percentage change in area, production and yield of mango in the year 2002-03. The best fitted model is selected by considering the model evaluation criteria, such as, Adj. R2 and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). The compound model without spline, compound model with spline and linear model with spline was found to be best fit forarea, production and yield respectively. The growth rate in area, production and yield is found by using the best fit model. &nbsp;The growth rate for area is found to be positive and significant but for yield it is found to be significantly negative for each sub period and for the entire period of study. For this, though the production shows positive growth rate but it is insignificant for sub-period-Iand also for the whole period. The instability in mango production is studied with the help of coefficient of variation.As coefficient of variation is affected by long term trend, it is computed after eliminating trend from the data.From study of instability, it is found that area under mango in India shows lesser instability than production and yield. Though there is increase in production of &nbsp;mango but the increase is mainly due to the positive growth in area under mango. The yield of mango is declining at a significant rate. Decomposition analysis carried out by hazel&rsquo;s decomposition technique reveals that change in mean area made a great positive contribution towards the change in mean production, whereas, change in mean yield and change in area &ndash; yield interaction both made negative contribution towards change in mean productionfrom sub-period I to II.</div>

Growth, Instability and Hazell’s Decomposition Analysis of Apple: A District-wise Study of Himachal Pradesh

Impact of Cowpea-maize Intercropping and Bio-rational Product on Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) in Fodder Maize

Management of the Fall Army Worm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) in Maize

Influence of Adjacent and Border Crops on the Incidence of Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Maize

Genetic study and selection indices for grain yield of mungbean

Estimation of Phenotypic and Genetic Trends in Economic Traits of Murrah Buffaloes

Taxonomic and Bio-geographical Studies of Three Bombus Species (Hymenoptera: Bombus) from North-West Himalaya with New Record from Trans Himalaya

Temperature-dependent Life History Traits of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda

Selection for High Yielding and Stemphylium Blight Resistant Lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) Genotype based on Principle Component and Selection Indices

Fitting of appropriate model to study growth rate and instability of mango production in India