Archieves
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Trichoderma Coir Pith Cake(TCPC) The new, simple and low cost technology developed, thus, contains cheap coir pith, a waste from coconut industry converted into value added and environment friendly commercial organic product for management of plant diseases. Biological control of pests and diseases is an alternative to noxious chemical pesticides to curtail the hazards of intensive use of toxic chemicals. This approach is self sustaining, efficient and eco-friendly with long term action. For large scale production of biocontrol agents inexpensive agricultural wastes would be of great relevance.
The processing technology for production of TCPC dry formulation, a very useful biocontrol agent, with long shelf life of 12 months as well as to increase the population by a simple activation process is thus invented and reported for the first time in the world. Applied for Patent and already published in Patent Journal. Technology transfer fees: Rs. 5,000/- A safety attachment to Paddle type Coconut Climbing Device
Only skilled persons can climb tall coconut trees. Of late, skilled coconut climbers have become scarce and hence, coconut growers are finding it difficult not only to harvest the nuts but also to clean the crown, application of insecticides etc. A timely intervention by the Coconut Development Board (CDB) to train 5000 local youths to climb coconut tree using a paddle type device developed by a farmer, Late Sri. Chamberi Joseph in 1970s has relieved this problem to certain extent. It is a simple paddle or standing type device and with few days operational training, boys and girls could easily climb tall trees. During this training period it was felt that this device requires a safety belt for the safety and comfort of the climbers. With the above feedback received from the trainees, the institute developed a safety attachment to the climbing device with the consent of the original inventor. The only modification required in the climbing device is providing two metal loops at the bottom of the handle of the right leg unit of the climbing device. The attachment is a 6 mm steel rope with hooks provided at both the ends. The wire rope is passed through the loops around the palm to make it a noose and the free end is connected to a commercially available body harness. The wire rope moves up and down along with the climbing machine during operation. In case of any eventuality, failure of the machine or accidental falling of the climber from the machine, the wire rope noose gets tightened to the coconut trunk and prevents the climber from further falling. In case if there is a fall, the climber can lock the machine and step back to it and continue climbing.
The safety attachment is independent of the climbing machine and gives fool proof safety to the climber from falling. This could provide much needed confidence, especially for beginners to attempt climbing coconut using the Paddle type climbing machine. Horned Coconut A novel Coconut accession is reported which produces multiple ovaries resulting in formation of horn like structures over the mature fruits.Though it has been reported as a freak type,the conservation and evaluation at National coconut Gene Bank at CPCRI has revealed that the trait is inherited to the next generation.Originally the accession which was then named as "Horned Cocos" was collected from natural indigenous coconut populations of the country during 1999 and the progenies from the four horned type palms were planted in 2002.The palms flowered between 2008 and 2010 i.e, 6 to 8 years after planting.Over 60% of open pollinated progenies exhibited this trait.In the fruit bunches of these coconut palms,one of the ovaries located in the centre develops in to a complete fruit with husk,shell,endosperm and embryo surrounded with multiple rudimentary ovarian structures.The unique heritable trait could be useful in studying the segregation pattern in coconut using it as a marker trait.The horned coconut type could be a progenitor of primitive coconut types with rare genes.
Horned Coconut accession conserved at NCGB Management of Stem Canker Disease of Cocoa caused by Phytophthora Palmivora Stem canker disease of cocoa can be controlled by following integrated disease management practices such as frequent removal and destruction of phytophthora infected pods,proper pruning of coca plants including removal of phytophthora infected chuppons and twigs and treatment of canker lesions with either phosphorous acid or trichoderma coir pith cake(TCPC).Application of TCPC in the soil around the base of the plant will help in reducing the inoculum.Trichoderma treatment will be cheaper than phosphorous acid treatment such as build up of Trichoderma population in the garden which in turn is expected too reduce the incidence of all Phytophthora diseases and also helps in the long term management of the disease.
Trichoderma treatment against stem canker of Cocoa |
