From: G.K.AWADHIYA, INDIA  <gkawadhiya@123india.com>
Received:  Wed, 28 Jun 2000 13:19:52 +0530 (IST)

Dear Pankaj,
Congratulations for Parthenium website which make availability of information  about all aspects of Parthenium weed. I am also working on the same weed on management aspects with the use of micro-organisms.One project is also submitted to I.C.A.R.(INDIA) for financial support on management of Parthenium weed with the use of micro-organisms.The fungus Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. was recorded as potential mycoherbicide for Parthenium management during my Ph.D. work.Exhaustive survey is in progress and I have recorded new viral diseases which has enough potential to suppress the population of this notorius weed.
 I have some queries
1. Have you got any information regarding use of viruses for management of Parthenium.
2. Are there any reports regarding translocation of Parthenium toxins in other host during allelopathic studies.
3. There are some reports about use of Parthenium extract for disease management and were found effective against few
    pathogens but crop became stunted .Is this due to Parthenium toxins? If so then how long toxin retain in crop plants?

Thanking you,
Dr.G.K.Awadhiya, Asst.Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur-492001 India.

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From: Dr. V.K. DUBEY, INDIA  <dubeyvk@hotmail.com>
Received:  Tue, 27 Jun 2000 12:18:16 +0530 (IST)

Dear Mr.Oudhia,
First of all accept warm and cordial congratulation for working and establishing world's first information website on the most obnoxious weed parthenium. Moreover, the management aspect is also being covered for which I, hope this website will bring closer and together the different workers at one plateform and the joint effort made by them will find a worthy solution. I will be happy to participate in the discussion. I heartly congrates and welcome  the website of International Parthenium  Research News Group in cyber era.

Dr.V.K.Dubey, Asst.Professor, Department of Entomology, Indira Gandhi Agriculture University, Raipur-492001, India.

 

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From: R.A.BALIKAI, INDIA <dr_balikai@usa.net>
Received:    Sat, 10 Jun 2000 15:45:57 +0530 (IST)

Dear Dr.P.Oudhia,
First of all I congratulate you for having taken up bold step in the direction of declaring a War Against Parthenium .In response to your  letter dated 20-05-2000. I am here with sending my two publications on Parthenium for inclusion in the International Parthenium Research News Group(IPRNG). Balikai,R.A.(2000). Insect pests of Parthenium hysterophorus Linn. Insect Environment 5(4):179-180. Hiremath,I.G, Lingappa,S., Balikai,R.A. and Yelshetty,S.(1990). New host plants of Grape Mealy Bug. Proceedings of the National Symposium on Behavioural Sciences & XIX Annual Meeting of Ethological Society of India Held at Post Graduate Department of Zoology, The American College, Madurai- 625 002 from 27 to 28th December, 1990:42

Please let me know whether you  are taking up any publication work on recent advances in Parthenium Management Research. If so please send details. Kindly let me know your activities in this direction.

Dr. R. A. Balikai, Professor of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Bijapur - 586101 India.

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From: M.P.THAKUR,INDIA <mpthakur@123india.com>
Received:   Wed, 7 Jun 2000 17:52:30 +0530 (IST)

Hello Networkers,
I am Dr.M.P.Thakur,Sr. Scientist (Mushroom) and I/c Mushroom Research Project at Indira Gandhi Agricultural University,Raipur(India).I congratulate Mr. P.Oudhia for opening a new website entitled'International Parthenium Research News Group(IPRNG)' whereby the scientists,researchers,progressive farmers and others whosoever is interested in Parthenium Management all over the world may get an oppurtunity to discuss about the dreaded weed Parthenium hysterophorus and its management. I am happy to inform you all that this dreaded weed after harvesting and proper drying can be used for cultivation of oyster mushroom(Pleurotus florida),a highly nutritious food for human consumption.We have evaluated nine locally available substrates including Parthenium for their effect on growth and yield of this mushroom.The numbers of days required for colonization of substrate by P.florida was though less in other substrate including Parthenium that of sugarcane baggasse.The fresh yield of mushroom in other substrate was highest(202gms).However, it was moderate (156gms) on Parthenium with a biological efficiency of 31.2%. When we picked up the first produce then it became a problem for us whether to use the produce for consumption or not.Several scientists,biochemists and chemists were consulted who can guide us regarding consumption of the produce raised from Parthenium substrate.But,still it is a big question mark before us whether to consume the produce or not.Your valuable suggestions are welcome to resolve this issue. It is likely that the alkaloids may be transmitting to the fresh produce which may be hazardous to human consumption. When the fresh produce of Parthenium substrate came to us,we mixed up it with the fresh produce derived from the standard substrate in the ratio of 1:5 and asked the consumer to use it for vegetable making.The information on taste and texture from the test persons after consumption were collected.It was told that there was no change in taste and texture of oyster mushroom raised on Parthenium.This way, we utilized the produce but still the confirmation regarding translocation of alkaloids from Parthenium to fresh oyster mushroom is unanswered and we are hesitating to recommend the produce for human consumption.We welcome your views in this regard. Thus, it can be said that the Parthenium may be a good substrate for cultivation of oyster mushroom provided its toxic substance may not be translocating to the fresh produce.It can be a good step towards its eradication and management.

Dr. M. P. Thakur, Senior Scientist, Department of Plant Pathology,
Indira Gandhi Agriculture University, Raipur-492012 India

 

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From: Prasad, Raj" <rprasad@PFC.Forestry.CA>
Received:  Tue, 6 Jun 2000 23:37:33 +0530 (IST)

Pankaj,
i read your concern abour this weed thru our WSSA Bio Control Comm. Can you send me a reprint of its biology, ecology, control etc. Here in Canada we have a series of papers on Bilogy of Canadian Weeds published in Can J Plant Science. I have 2 papers on forest weeds-- scotchbroom and gorse, if interested i can mail you-- whats your address?. i know Dr. S. Malik and Samunder Singh of Haryana doing some research. Do you find it in Canada too, i thought it occurs in warmer climates? Sorry for my ignorance?
Raj.

Dr.Raj Prasad,Scientist,Pacific Foresty Centre,506 West Burnside Road,Victoria,B.C., Canada V8Z1M5

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From: BILL PALMER, AUSTRALIA <Bill.PALMER@dnr.qld.gov.au>
Received:  Sat, 3 Jun 2000 10:56:54 +0530 (IST)


Dear Dr. Oudhia,
Please add my name to your network.  Although I am not now working on this weed our Centre has a vigorous research programme on biological control under the leadership of Dr. Rachel McFadyen.  I have supervisory responsibilities for the all the Centre's biocontrol work.  Some years ago I conducted exploration for agents in North America.  Sincerely,

Dr. Bill Palmer, Principal Entomologist, Alan Fletcher Research Station
PO Box 36, Sherwood, Qld 4075, Australia. Ph. (07) 3375 0748  Fax (07) 3379 6815

 

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