International Parthenium Research News [IPRN] Vol. 2 No. 3 & 4 Aug-Sep 1 , 2009

International Parthenium Research News is a free, global monthly newsletter on obnoxious weedParthenium hysterophorus. It is published with the help of International Parthenium Research News Group [IPRNG].   

Thanks to contributors for valuable contributions.

 

<< In this Issue >>

 

Editorial

 

Parthenium Scientist/Activist of the Month

- Dr. S.S.Kolhe

 

Announcement

 

New Publications on Parthenium

 

Interesting Regional Publications on Parthenium

-         Smell of July

 

Parthenium Related News across the Globe

     - Dr. Mahadevappa nominated for 2nd Agriculture Leadership Award 2009. 

     - Govt readies farmers to tackle rodent menace.

     -  Parthenium eradication week begins at CSA

     -  The Parthenium Weed menace

     -  Environmentalists express their serious concern about rise of harmful weed in      Orissa.

      - Weed-haters having a field day at Woocoo.

      - Poisonous alien plant species invades Hualien.

      - On Independence Day, they cleaned the city

      - Parthenium must be managed through campaign like Pulse Polio

 

Parthenium Research Notes

 

Parthenium Pictures

- Parthenium in Maui

- Parthenium in Swedish Museum of Natural History website.

 

Success Story

 

Parthenium Links

-          Are you coming to US for first time?

 

Your Letters

 

<< Editorial >>

 

August-September joint issue of IPRN is now online. Thanks for your Feedbacks.

 

Editor

 

 

<< Parthenium Scientist/Activist of the Month >>

 

Dr.S.S.Kolhe, Prof. and Head,

Department of Agronomy,

Indira Gandhi Agricultural University,

Raipur, India.

 

Some important publications

 

http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=s.s.kolhe&hl=en&btnG=Search

 

 

<< Announcement >>

 

<< New Publications on Parthenium >>

 

Multiple introductions are responsible for the disjunct distributions of invasive Parthenium hysterophorus in China: evidence from nuclear and chloroplast DNA

 

S Q TANG*, F WEI*, L Y ZENG†, X K LI‡, S C TANG‡, Y ZHONG† & Y-P GENG†

 

  *School of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China ,   †Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Center for Evolutionary Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China , and   ‡Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guilin, China

 

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122450569/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

 

 

Role of the allelochemical parthenin in the invasive strategy of the alien plant Parthenium hysterophorus L.

 

C.F. Reinhardt, R.G. Belz and K. Hurle

 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B7XN9-4W0WFVR-35&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=994374134&_rerunOrigin=scholar.google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=f331c287ff0567e88a2c700c37bf6efe

 

Distribution in Australia and Seed Transmission of Tobacco streak virus in Parthenium hysterophorus

 

Murray Sharman, Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries (DPI&F), Plant Pathology Building, 80 Meiers Road, Indooroopilly, Queensland, Australia, and School of Integrative Biology, University of Queensland, St. Lucia Campus, Queensland, Australia; and Denis M. Persley and John E. Thomas, DPI&F, Indooroopilly, Queensland, Australia

 

http://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/abs/10.1094/PDIS-93-7-0708

 

Pharmacognostical, Phytochemical, Biological and Tissue Culture Studies on Parthenium hysterophorus Linn.: A Review.

 

Masood Shah Khan and Shoaib Ahmad

 

http://www.ispub.com/ostia/index.php?xmlFilePath=journals/ijam/vol6n2/linn.xml

 

 

<< Interesting Regional Publications on Parthenium >>

 

Smell of July


Hindi Article by Sanjay Shukla

 

He remembers the past when Cassia tora was in dominance in wasteland but now Parthenium is taking its place.  

 

http://shuklasan.blogspot.com/2009/08/blog-post.html

 

<< Parthenium Related News across the Globe >>

 

Dr. Mahadevappa nominated for 2nd Agriculture Leadership Award 2009. 

Dated: 21 Aug, 2009

Dr. M. Mahadevappa

former VC and Chairman

Agriculture Services Recruitment Board

New Delhi

                                Sub: Agriculture Leadership Awards 2009

 

Dear Dr. Mahadevappa


The Agriculture Leadership Awards Committee, which met on 20th Aug, 09, under the chairmanship of Dr. AR Kidwai, former Governor of Haryana, has decided to confer upon you the Life Time Achievements Award for 2009 for your strong contributions through research, education, extension, HRD and new project initiatives, spanning over four decades, which greatly helped the cause of agriculture in india and positively impacted the lives of millions of farmers.

 

Agriculture Leadership Awards were started in 2008 to recognise the leadership roles played by individuals and institutions, which are positively impacting the lives of farmers and rural masses. The Awards were introduced in the areas of Policy, Research, Farming, Industry, Development and State Leaderships. Two new areas; Environment and Corporate Social Responsibility Awards have been added this year.

 

In 2008, Dr. RS Paroda, Dr. KL Chadha and Dr. V Kurien were conferred upon the Life Time Achievements Awards. 

 

We shall like to have your consent for the same and to recieve the Award on 4 Sept at 7.30 pm at Taj Palace, New Delhi. Kindly also send a copy of your CV. 

 

The recipient for 2008 Leadership Awards in various categories, were as under:

1. Policy Leaderhship             = Dr. MS Swaminathan, MP (RS) Pioneer of Green Revolution
2. Farming Leadership            = Sh. Sharad Joshi, MP (RS), President, Shetkari Sangathan
3. Research leadership            = Dr. VL Chopra, Member - Planning Commission

                                                  Dr. EA Siddiq, eminent Rice Breeder

4. Corporate Leadership        =  Jain Irrigation and Mahyco Monsanto Biotech Ltd.
5. Development Leadership    =  NABARD
6. Best Agriculture State        =  State of Andhra Pradesh
7. Life Time Achievements     =  Dr. KL Chadha, Pioneer of Horticulture Revolution
                                                  Dr. V Kurien, Pioneer of White Revolution
                                                  Dr. RS Paroda, Chairman - TAAS and ex DG - ICAR

  
The Committee will appreciate a line of your confirmation. 

With regards
MJ Khan
9313591749

[Congratulations Dr. Mahadevappa – IPRNG family]

 

Parthenium-awareness evaluation underway to help eradicate weed

23/07/2009 10:21:00 AM

 

Grain growers and beef producers in the Walgett Shire are being asked to assist the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) which wishes to evaluate north-west NSW farmers on their knowledge of the parthenium weed that is harassing our northern border.

Parthenium is regarded as one of the most serious weed threats to agriculture in NSW.

It is a known endemic to central Queensland where it has caused substantial damage to rural production.

A parthenium weed taskforce is in place to tackle this problem.

Phillip Blackmore, convener of the group, said the same situation could arise in NSW if the weed was allowed to become established.

The DPI is resisting all outbreaks of the weed in NSW thanks to early detection and prompt treatment where, so far, all cases have been eradicated or are under control.

http://www.theridgenews.com.au/news/local/news/environment/partheniumawareness-evaluation-underway-to-help-eradicate-weed/1576020.aspx

 

Govt readies farmers to tackle rodent menace.

morungexpress

On the sidelines of a rodent management campaign in Niuland, district agriculture officer, Nguzonyi Wetsa, today advised participants to destroy the poisonous ‘Parthenium’ weed growing around the area. Wetsa said that the plant is very poisonous and can cause several diseases like eczema, asthma and dermatitis. Not only are human beings affected, but the weed has also caused dermatitis in animals like cows and goats. When they eat the weed, their milk becomes bitter and drinking it for long time can cause poisoning.

 

http://www.morungexpress.com/local/28478.html

 

Parthenium eradication week begins at CSA

TNN 7 August 2009, 09:43pm IST

 

KANPUR: The Chandra Shekhar Azad (CSA) University of Agriculture and Technology started with its Parthenium Eradication Week (PEW) on Friday.

Every year, the university observes this week between August 7-11 to create awareness about the harmful grass.

 

In order to create awareness among masses about this deadly grass (parthenium) and its health hazards, an awareness rally was taken out from the agricultural university, which was flagged off by vice-chancellor Prof GC Tewari.

 

On the occasion, Prof Tewari informed about various events to be covered in the week-long awareness programme. "Owing to the harmful chemicals in the leaves of this grass, human beings can develop various diseases like dermititis, allergy

, respiratory problems and fever," he added.

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/kanpur/Parthenium-eradication-week-begins-at-CSA/articleshow/4868894.cms

 

The Parthenium Weed menace

morungexpress

The poisonous Parthenium Hysterophous or Carrot Weed growing along a roadside in Dimapur. The department of Agriculture is taking measures to wipe out Parthenium, which destroys agriculture and livestock.

 

Dimapur| August 7 : A harmless looking weed, Parthenium Hysterophous, has suddenly become a cause of great concern for the Agriculture department. Known to be a very poisonous plant having toxic properties, Parthenium is found in abundance across the state and this is causing great worry.
The Agriculture department has started creating awareness about Parthenium and is asking farmers as well as the public to eradicate the poisonous weed wherever found. The department has already cleared the weed from Purana Bazar along the National Highway up to Piphema. 

 

http://www.morungexpress.com/frontpage/30441.html

 

Environmentalists express their serious concern about rise of harmful weed in Orissa.

 

Friday, August 28, 2009

 

Report by Amarnath Parida; Jagatsinghpur: While the people are living in panic due to epidemic of Swine flu , the rise of harmful weed ‘Parthenium’(Gajar) has become threat to human, animal and crops in costal districts including Jagatsinghpur after super cyclone bringing serious concern among the environmentalists and farmers . Meanwhile so they have urged to destroy it or to give awareness about harmful effect among the general public, other wise the situation will be worsened in future.

After super cyclone, one type grass called Parthnuim weed (parthneuim hysterophorus) popularly known as carrot or congress grass and Gajar in this locality has been developed in different areas of Jagatsinghpur district. Though this grass has been considered as harmful for both human and animal being as well as to pollute environment the concerned department has started awareness in Subranpur, Boudha, Anugul , Dhenkanal and other districts of Orissa about harmful impact but no steps have been taken by either district administration or agriculture department in this district to create public awareness about the this grass. Rise of harmful grass has brought panic among the local people in which people including farmers; environmentalists have urged to destroy it for the safety of human and animal being.

Sources said that this grass was firstly introduced in USA along with wheat seeds in early fifties. This grass has been widely spread in this locality as well as other parts of this state in alarmingly. These harmful weeds have been seen at industrial areas of Paradip town, Cuttack – Paradip, Cuttack- Jagatsinghpur and other road sides, Cuttack – Paradip railway tracks, forest lands, and other waste lands of this district. Environmentalist cum secretary of Sabujima Paribesh Samiti, Balikuda Mr Amarprasad Mohanty has expressed that this harmful weeds has been seen in Balikuda ,Erasama and industrial areas of Paradip town but no steps have been taken to destroy it because it has affected the human being by causing skin diseases and other diseases to animals . He informed that the milk production of cow will be decreased after consuming this poisonous grass. He alleged that many people have complained about the low production of milk while report has come about death of cows after eating it.

It is an annual herbaceous plant, up to one meter height , leaves resembling like that of carrot , irregularly dissected , seeds easily spread by wind , rain and traffic activity . It completes three to four cycles in a year producing large number of seeds (5000 to 8000) per plant. Mr Mohnaty has claimed that this seeds has come to costal district due to heavy wind and rain during last super cyclone. Similarly, project coordinator, Weed Control Project, OUAT, Bhubaneswar Mr Sudhansu Sekhar Mishra has explained that it would affect both human & animal being and also crops. He said that this weed competes with crop plant and adversely affects the germination and growth of the latter. Its pollens shed the flowers of solanaceous vegetables tomato, chili, brinjal and inactivates nitrogen fixing bacteria pulses due to secretion of a chemical substances (sesquiterpene lactones). It pollens float in air and create eczema, asthma, hay fever (kalazar), and dermatitis among human being. It is poisonous, allergic and aggressive and has become threat to environment & bio -diversity. Besides this, it also affects animal beings so cows and goats will affect dermatitis by consuming it. Their milk becomes bitter and longer feeding to bring death to them. – Mr Mishra warned.

http://www.orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=14121

 

Weed-haters having a field day at Woocoo.

20th August 2009

 

Identifying and controlling parthenium weed, rubbervine and hymenachne will be tackled at a free field day on Thursday, August 27, to be held at the Woocoo Hall, 5km west of Maryborough.

Morning tea and a light lunch will be provided, so RSVP is essential to Bernie Shore on 4131 5800, email bernie.shore@deedi.qld.gov.au or Fraser Coast Regional Council Land Protection Officer Col Zemek on 4190 5874, 0427 125 338 or email colin.zemek@frasercoast.qld.gov.au.

The field day will start at 9am and finish at 1pm. Topics include identification, how to control weeds with chemical, fire, bio-control or grazing management.

http://www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/story/2009/08/20/weed-haters-having-a-field-day-at-woocoo/

Poisonous alien plant species invades Hualien.

 

Saturday, Aug 08, 2009,Page 13

 

Parthenium, a poisonous alien plant species, is quietly spreading through Hualien. There have already been several cases of the plant — which looks like the non-poisonous species Gypsohilia — being picked and taken home by unsuspecting nature lovers.

The Agriculture Division of the Ji’an Township Office has asked local residents and tourists to be wary of the plant’s poisonous cilia — hairlike protuberances on the plant — which can cause inflammation of the nose and even serious liver lesions.

Parthenium, listed by the Council of Agriculture’s Endemic Species Research Institute as one of the 20 alien species most damaging to Taiwan’s ecology, is thought to have invaded Taiwan when it was mixed with imported grain, just like Mikania micrantha, another alien plant.

Until recently, Parthenium had only been spotted in Kaohsiung and Pingtung, but now it looks like its territory has spread. Over the past two months, it has been spotted in Hualien’s Ji’an, Shoufeng, and Sinchen Townships.

Ji’an’s Agriculture Division says that the plant is highly adaptable, growing in native species’ traditional territory such as farmlands, paddy fields, and low altitude hillsides. It has also invaded residents’ backyards and can be found on both sides of the township’s cycling path, posing a threat to local residents and tourists.

Township Chief Tien Chih-shuan says that to prevent the plant from spreading further, cleaners are being sent to eliminate it at each township. If the public see it, they should report it to the local authorities, to prevent people from touching it. Township Representative Huang Cheng-fu suggested that the Environmental Protection Bureau of the Hualien County Government mobilize its “community beautifiers” to launch an investigation to make the cleanup operation more efficient.

Originally from the tropics of Central and South America, Parthenium is a member of the Asteraceae family. It grows to between 30cm and 150cm, and has short soft hair on the edges of its leaves, making it easy to confuse with Gypsophila, a common flower in floral art.

Parthenium blossoms throughout the year and branches every 5cm. In addition to being an “eco-killer,” the poisonous species is dangerous to touch. It has claimed the lives of sheep and oxen in Australia, India and elsewhere.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2009/08/08/2003450621

 

On Independence Day, they cleaned the city

 

19 Aug 2009, Citizen Matters

 

A group of 12 people, in their mid-twenties to early-thirties cleared garbage in several localities in south Bengaluru as part of the citizen-launched “Clean Bengaluru campaign” on August 15th. Thousands of individuals from around the city had signed up in the preceding weeks on the website cleanbengaluru.com, and some NGOs joined the cause as well.

 

http://bangalore.citizenmatters.in/articles/view/1285-clean-bengaluru-drive-

 

 

Parthenium must be managed through campaign like Pulse Polio

 

Hindi News

 

पल्स पोलियो की तर्ज पर हो गाजर घास का उन्मूलन

Jul 22, 10:45 pm

उत्तरकाशी। गाजर घास पहाड़ की पारिस्थितिकी को गंभीर नुकसान पहुंचा रही है। इसके अलावा यह आम आदमी के लिए भी अस्वास्थ्यकर है। ऐसे में गाजर घास के उन्मूलन को विशेष अभियान चलाया जाना चाहिए। सरकार को इसके लिए पल्स पोलियो अभियान की तर्ज पर मासिक कार्यक्रम सुनिश्चित करना चाहिए। उत्तरकाशी में पौधरोपण कार्यक्रम में शिरकत करते हुए पद्मश्री चंद्रप्रभा ऐतवाल ने यह बात कही।

बुधवार को उमा हिमालय शोध संस्थान व चन्द्रासांग फाउंडेशन के संयुक्त तत्वावधान में पर्यावरण संरक्षण कार्यक्रम के तहत गणेशपुर में गाजर घास उन्मूलन किया गया। गाजर घास हटाने के बाद संस्था से जुड़े कार्यकर्ताओं ने यहां पौधरोपण भी किया। करीब एक हजार विभिन्न जंगली प्रजातियों के पौधे यहां लगाए गए। संस्था पिछले चार साल से पौधे लगा रही है। इस दौरान बतौर मुख्य अतिथि पद्मश्री चंद्रप्रभा एतवाल ने कहा कि पर्यावरण संरक्षण को खास पहल की जरूरत है। उन्होंने कहा कि इस कार्य के लिए विशेष जनजागरुकता अभियान चलाया जाना चाहिए। उन्होंने कहा कि आम आदमी को इस मुहिम से जोड़ने व अभियान के सफल संचालन के लिए सरकार को पल्स पोलियो की तर्ज पर कार्यक्रम बनाना चाहिए, ताकि महीने के एक निश्चित दिन लोग स्वप्रेरणा से गाजर घास उन्मूलन व पौधरोपण का काम कर सकें। वृक्षारोपण में विवेकानंद फाउंडेशन के छात्रों के छात्रों के साथ ही डा. किशोर चौहान, डा. वंदना, कुमारी राधा, विशाल कलूड़ा समेत अन्य ने भागेदारी निभाई।

http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/local/uttranchal/4_5_5644892.html

 

 

<< Parthenium Research Notes >>

 

Contributions are welcomed.

.

 

<< Parthenium Pictures >>

(Links to pictures)

 

Parthenium in Maui

 

 http://www.hear.org/starr/plants/images/image/?q=060527-9512

 

Parthenium in Swedish Museum of Natural History website

 

http://www.nrm.se/en/menu/researchandcollections/departments/phanerogamicbotany/botanicalhistory/hendrikvanrijgersma/plantscollectedbyvanrijgersma/partheniumhysterophorusl.558_en.html

 

<< Success Story >>

 

Contributions are welcomed.

 

 

<< Parthenium Links >>

 

Are you coming to US for first time?

 

Remember, US department of agriculture does not allow anyone to bring the seeds, fruits, plants, insects, animals, birds etc. This is to protect American farmers from some unknown weed or fruit or tree, destroying their farms. (You must have seen Parthenium( also known as Congress!!) weed  in India, that is spreading on every acre on land, killing grass. That came to India from abroad. And US does not want such things to happen to them).

 

 http://www.dharwad.com/nimmaputa/Tips.htm

 

 

<<Your Letters>>

 

Dear All,

 

This is to inform you that we are returning to India as per itinerary below;

 

Leave SFO; Aug 31-  21.30 hrs (late evening)

 

Arrive Bangalore Sep 02 at 01.00 hrs (early morning)

 

M Mahadevappa

 

Dr. M. Mahadevappa

Director, JSS Rural Dev. Foundation. Mysore - 570 004
Ex-Chairman, ASRB, Ex-Vice Chancellor UAS, Dharwad
# 1576, 1st Cross, Chandra Layout

Bangalore - 560 040 , Karnataka, INDIA

Phone: (080) 23216040
Email: mahadevrice@yahoo.com

 

 

Join Parthenium discussion group at yahoogroups

 

http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/IPRNG/

 

You can send request at

IPRNG-subscribe@yahoogroups.co.in

+++++++++++++

 

 

Address for correspondence: Pankaj Oudhia, Editor, IPRN, SOPAM, 28-A, Geeta Nagar, Raipur, India.

Phone- +91-771-2253243

Mobile : +91-9827115642

E-mail: pankajoudhia@gmail.com

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