<div>Background: French bean or kidney bean is a rich source of protein, fibers and minerals in diet and is used by poor people in several Asian countries as a cheap source of protein and mineral vegetable/seed grain. Thus, the study on micronutrient variations in French bean local genotypes was undertaken to screen for Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn content in comparison to developed varieties.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Selected twenty local genotypes/accessions and four released varieties of French bean were grown in the field. The morphological characterization was carried out as per crop descriptors. The micronutrient analysis for Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu content was carried out using AAS. Further, accessions were screened using fourteen SSR markers linked to Fe and Zn content. 
 
Result: The results revealed that accession IC342273 exhibited significantly higher dry pod (58.94 g) and seed yield (809.74 g) per plot. The accession IC538420 (177.31 ppm) exhibited significantly higher mean Fe content and was on par with Arka Suvidha (176 ppm). Accession EC500226 showed significantly higher Zn (26.91 ppm), Mn (15.31 ppm) and Cu (8.55 ppm) content over other accessions and varieties. Among fourteen SSR primers amplified, two genomic SSR markers (BM154 and BM211) exhibited higher polymorphism among the accessions. The SSR markers classified the accessions and varieties into two clusters, which can be used in crop improvement programmes on French bean for micronutrients bio-fortification studies.</div>

<div>Screening of Bush Type French Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Accessions for Micronutrient Variations and Characterization of Selected Genotypes using Micronutrient Content Linked Markers</div>

<div>Background: Micronutrient formulation is a liquid mixture of micronutrients which can be used as a fertilizer. It is a mixture of two solutions viz., solution A and solution B. Solution A is a mixture of zinc sulphate (50 gL-1), boric acid (10 gL-1), copper sulphate (20 gL-1), manganous sulphate (0.5 gL-1), ferrous sulphate (10 gL-1) and ammonium molybdate (0.5 gL-1) whereas solution B is an organic acid which act as a chelate. The mixture can be diluted to specific concentrations for application. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of micronutrient formulation as seed treatment and foliar nutrition.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The study was conducted at College of Agriculture, Padannakkad, Kerala Agricultural University and Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pilicode during 2018&ndash;19. The investigation was carried out in three parts: (i) standardization of micronutrient formulation for cowpea (ii) seed treatment study (iii) field experiment. The proportion of mixing micronutrient formulation and the duration for seed treatment was standardized in experiment I. In experiment II, a seed treatment study was carried out in a completely randomised design with seven treatments and three replications which included seed treatment with micronutrient formulation @ 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1, 1.5 and 2 percent as T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 respectively. T7 (seed treatment with water) was the control. Three, a field experiment was carried out in randomized block design (factorial) with twelve treatments and three replications. The treatment consisting of combination of four levels of seed treatment - factor A [no seed treatment (S1), seed treatment with rhizobium (S2), seed treatment with best concentration from experiment 1 (S3) and second best seed treatment from experiment 1 (S4)]&nbsp;and three levels of foliar application of micronutrient - factor B [no foliar application (F1), one foliar application at 15 DAS (F2) and two foliar applications at 15 and 30 DAS (F3)]. 
 
Result: Through lab experiments, solution B was standardized and the formulation was developed by mixing solution A and solution B in the ratio 1:2. Duration for seed treatment was also standardized as 6 hours. Thus micronutrient formulation was standardized. In seed treatment study, seeds treated with 2% micronutrient formulation (T6) showed highest plant height at three leaf stage (24.23 cm) and seedling vigour index (2423). In the field experiment seed treatment with 2% micronutrient formulation (S3), foliar spray at 15 and 30 days after sowing (F3) and their interaction (S3F3) was found to be highly effective to the crop in terms of plant height, stem diameter, number of pods per plant, pod weight per plant, grain yield and nutrient content in grain. These results clearly indicate the role of micronutrient formulation in enhancing the growth, yield and nutrient content of cowpea.</div>

Evaluation of Micronutrient Mixture as Seed Treatment and Foliar Nutrition in Grain Cowpea

A health food was developed by blending ragi malt (finger millet malt) with oats flour to avail complementary health benefits. Micronutrients are essential for growth and development of children below five years, for proper functioning of every system in the body and are vital for good health. Finger millet is rich source of calcium, iron and dietary fiber, while oats are dense with dietary fiber, proteins, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. Ragi malt was blended with oats flour at different levels 10%, 20% and 30% respectively. The incorporated products were subjected to sensory analysis by a panel of 30 members using 5 point Hedonic scale. Formula 1 (10% oats flour formulation) was rated superior to control sample. The superior sample was analyzed and results were compared with FSSAI standards for Malt Based Foods. Shelf life of the product was about 90 days under ambient environment when packed and stored in metallized polyester.

Complementary health food rich in micronutrients

Micronutrients are essential for plant growth, but plants require relatively in smaller quantity. They include iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), boron (B), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo) chlorine (Cl). In oilseeds these micronutrients play a major role in translocation of photosynthates, increasing seed setting percentage, essential for translocation of sugar, germination of pollen grains, stigma receptivity, amino acid and protein synthesis which ultimately increase the productivity of oilseed crops. &nbsp;

Micronutrients and productivity of oilseed crops - A review

<div>Micronutrients play an important role in increasing yield of pulses and oilseed legumes through their effects on the plant itself and on the nitrogen fixing symbiotic process. Indian soils have become deficient not only in major plant nutrients like (NPK) but also scarce in some micronutrients like zinc, iron, molybdenum and boron. These situations suggest the need of application of micronutrients along with biofertilizers under intensive cultivation of legumes as it is directly involved in biological nitrogen fixation through nitrogenase enzyme activity. In the present research investigation, different micronutrients iron, molybdenum and their combination in the form of ferrous sulphate, ammonium molybdate and ferrous sulphate+ammonium molybdate @2.0, 2.0 and 2.5 kg/h are added into micronutrient deficient soil for plant growth promotion of mungbean under pot house condition. Among various treatments, ammonium molybdate application (@2.0kg/h along with rhizobial isolate HSR1 and PSB increases nodulation(28.6%), plant biomass (18.5%), seed yield (41%) as compared to sole application of biofertilizer.</div>

<div>Evaluation of combined effect of micronutrients and rhizobial inoculation on mungbean productivity</div>

<div>Background: Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp] is one of the primary grain legume crops grown in India for its high quality vegetable protein, animal feed and fodder. It is affected by various fungal and viral diseases. Among these, leaf blight caused by Alternaria alternata is one of the most destructive diseases and recently the disease of minor importance becomes major one in Tamil Nadu. Use of resistant cultivar is the most effective, economically viable and eco-friendly tool for combating the plant diseases. The micronutrients play a key role in many physiological and biochemical functions of the plants which influences plant pathogenic interaction. The micronutrients viz., Zn.Mn,Cu and Fe found to have greater impact on reducing the plant disease severity. Developing integrated disease management strategy involving disease resistant variety, micronutrient and fungicide application would be the best sustainable method for controlling the pigeonpea leaf blight. 
 
Methods: Twenty four pigeonpea genotypes along with two local varieties viz., CO5 and CO6 were evaluated in the field for their resistance against Alternaria alternata leaf blight disease, consecutively for three years from 2015-16 to 2017-18 using the disease resistance scale ranging from 0 to 9. Field experiments were also conducted for three consecutive Kharif season from 2015 to 2018 to evaluate the efficacy of the foliar application of different micronutrients and combination fungicide viz., carbendazim 12% + mancozeb 63% on the incidence of leaf blight disease.&nbsp; 
 
Result: A total of 24 pigeonpea genotypes were screened for their resistance against leaf blight under field condition. Among these, four genotypes viz., BDN2, IPA 8F, IPA 15F and MA6 were found resistance and nine genotypes were moderately resistant and remaining 11 genotypes showed susceptible reaction to leaf blight. The results of the field experiment on micronutrient and fungicide application revealed that foliar spraying of MnSO 4 @0.2% on 30 days after sowing and carbendazim 12%+ mancozeb 63%@ 1g / lit on 45 days after sowing recorded the lowest leaf blight incidence of 8.1 PDI (Per cent Disease Index) with the highest disease reduction of 76.9% as against 35 PDI in the untreated control plot. The above treatments also recorded the highest grain yield of 905 kg/ ha as against 703 kg/ in the untreated control.</div>

<div>Management of Alternaria Leaf Blight in Pigeonpea through Host Plant Resistance and Micronutrient Application</div>

Background: The article presents the results of field experiments on the use of micro fertilizers on sunflower. The object of the study was a hybrid of sunflower Fausto from the company &ldquo;Strube DandS GMBH&rdquo;. Field experiments were carried out with micro fertilizers of the German company &ldquo;Lebozol&rdquo;, the Russian &ldquo;Polydon Agro&rdquo; and the Lithuanian &ldquo;Acoustic Biotechnologies (brand Humic Land&rdquo;). 
 
Methods: Foliar application with micronutrients and their treatment of sunflower seeds and their combination were studied. As studies have shown, the variant with the use of micronutrients for seed dressing against the background of foliar application showed the greatest effectiveness. Foliar application without treating seeds with trace elements did not significantly increase the yield and oil yield. Also, the oil content of the seeds according to the variants in the years of research did not differ significantly. In general, the condition of sunflower plants during the years of research before harvesting was satisfactory. At the same time, it should be noted that in 2022 abnormal precipitation affected the quality of sunflower seeds. 
 
Result: The analysis of the obtained results indicates the need for further search for optimal ways of using micronutrients to increase the yield of sunflower and its quality. It should also be taken into account the fact that according to economic calculations, the costs of applying micro fertilizers during seed treatment will not exceed 10 rubles/ha and with &agrave;oliar application they will amount to 1300-2300 rubles/ha. accordingly.

Sunflower Yield Depending on the Application of Micronutrients

<div>Background: Groundnut were mainly cultivated under rain fed condition, lack of initial seedling quality due to lower moisture conditions, it causes reduced crop yield and in sometimes it leads to crop failure. In order to overcome this problems, effective seed enhancement techniques as seed coating plays major role in maintaining the seed quality.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The controlled release of bioactive molecules namely hormones gibberellic acid (GA3) as a smart delivery system can be achieved through seed coating in groundnut by exploiting advanced nanotechnology. Infusion of active ingredients as hormones (GA3) through the seed coating formulation by nano formulation methods. At nano level it influences the effects at higher level and gives best results through controlled release of hormones without any loss.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Due to nano formulation coating in groundnut, seeds had an effective results in all the parameters viz., imbibition rate (48%), speed of germination (5.5), germination percentage (87%), seedling length (24.7 cm), vigour index (2142), hydrolysing enzymes (&alpha;-amylase14.83 and lipase 1.481), which significantly differs from untreated seeds. Hence, it was concluded that the GA3 infused nano formulation coating at 15 ml per kilogram of seed can be used for seed quality improvement in groundnut for better seedling establishment.</div>

<div>Influence of Nano Formulation on Augmenting the Seed Quality in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)</div>

Background: The cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is damaged by various insect pests of which cowpea aphid (Aphis craccivora) causes heavy damage to the tender leaves of the plant and reduces its yield. Two plant based formulation (prepared in the Chemistry Laboratory) viz. Polygonum hydropiper floral parts and Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) leaf, were used for safe management. 
 
Methods: The studies were done during 2019-2020 in BCKV, Kalyani, West Bengal, India for controlling of cowpea aphid by using plant based formulation. For preparing wettable powder formulation from Polygonum hydropiper floral parts and tobacco leaf the different ingredients are required viz. china clay, silica gel, wetting agent, dispersing agent etc. Physico-chemical analysis was done for preparation of accurate Wettable Powder formulation. 
 
Result: Cowpea aphid causes damage the tender leaves of the plant. It was revealed that imidacloprid (Confidor 17.8 SL) @ 1.0 ml/3L was found the most effective treatment against aphids giving more than 80% control followed by tobacco leaf (50 WP) @ 8 g/L of water (more than 70% control), fipronil (Regent 5% SC) @ 2.5 ml/L of water and Polygonum floral parts (50 WP) @ 8 g/L of water (more than 65% control both). The quality parameters of WP (50%) formulation was satisfactory as per the FAO specifications in terms of wet sieved test, wettability, foaming and suspensibility performed on the 0-day and also after 15th day at room temperature, at 65&deg;C and at freezing temperature conditions.

Bio-efficacy of Plants based Formulations for the Management of Cowpea Aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch.)

<div>Background: Scientific research will continue to search for the best methods to control the insect pests and at the same time reduce insecticide concentrations used. Using of nanoinsecticide formulations may be resolving this problem.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: In this work two types of formulations were used; nanoformulations and their conventional formulations. Three common insecticides were used against the silver whitefly, Bemisia tabaci; indoxacarb, spirotetramat and thiacloprid in tomato fields. The nanoparticle sizes were ranged between 210 and 290 nm. The loading capacities were 70.6, 71.2 and 69.1% for indoxacarb, spirotetramat and thiacloprid, respectively. The recommended field concentration for each insecticide was used. The concentrations of nanoformulations were one-fifth of conventional one.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The obtained results showed that indoxacarb was the most effective insecticide against the B. tabaci in tomato field with the both formulations (nano and conventional) followed by thiacloprid and spirotetramat. By using of nanoformulations, the percent of reduction after the third application were 97.7, 38.2 and 44.8%, for indoxacarb, spirotetramat and thiacloprid, respectively. While, the corresponding results with the conventional formulation were 97, 39.8 and 49.2%, respectively. The obtained results also, showed that there were no difference between the nano and conventional formulations. The per cent of B. tabaci reduction after the third application were 97.7 and 97.0; and 38.2 and 39.8; and 44.8 and 49.2% for nano and conventional indoxacarb, spirotetramat and thiacloprid, respectively. These results may be throw some light in the advantages of using nanoformulations compared with the conventional formulations.</div>

Role of Some Nanoformulations in Suppression of Silver Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Population in Compared with Their Conventional Formulations in Tomato Fields