| Full name of the author’s
institutional affiliation :
Subhas Chandra Datta, Ph.D.
Department of Zoology,Visva-Bharati
University, Santiniketan-731235, and Life Science Unit, Ajodhya
High School, Bankati, Burdwan-713148,
West Bengal, India.
Rupa
Datta(Nag),
M.Sc.
Department of Zoology,Visva-Bharati
University, Santiniketan-731235, and Burdwan Model School, Dewandighi,
Katwa Road, Burdwan-713101, West Bengal,
India.
Keywords :
Potentized
Artemisia nilagirica Extract
(Cina); mulberry; root-knot; Silk; Effective rate of
rearing; field trial.
Running head :
“Potentized
Artemisia nilagirica Extract
increase…..”.
Correspondence by conventional mail : Dr. Subhas Chandra Datta, Researcher & Assistant teacher., C/O- Rajendranath Nag, Bajeprotappur
(Katwa Road), Burdwan-713101,West Bengal, India.
Phone No.
: 0342-2622097(Res) & 0343-2643225(Off).
Cell No. : 09832267610 & 09832192464. Fax No. :
0091-342-2624263.
E-mail :
dattasubhas@rediffmail.com
Abstract.
Objectives : Here, we show the effects of Potentized
Artemisia nilagirica Extract (Cina)
soaked globules on root-knot disease caused by Meloidogyne
incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood of mulberry (Morus alba L. , Cv. ‘S1’) in the naturally infected field condition,
and also to examine the growth of healthy and infected plants treated
with Cina, and lastly examine the
effects of leaves of Cina-treated
healthy and infected-plants on the leaf consumption and growth
of silkworm larvae (Bombyx
mori L.) and effective rate of rearing
(ERR%).
Design : In this field trial, sucrose globules, soaked
with CinaMT, Cina
200C and Cina 1000C respectively,
were mixed with distilled water @ 7.2 mg/ml and applied by foliar
spray @ 10ml/plant on healthy and M. incognita infected mulberry
plants once daily for 15 days.
Results : All
Potentized Artemisia nilagirica
Extract (Cina) treated
healthy and infected plants showed improved growth in terms of number
and surface area of leaves, and protein content (%) of leaf and
root. Healthy plants treated with Cina
200C shows the greatest positive growth. All nematode infected
plants treated with Cina had
significantly reduced root-knot disease in terms of root gall number
and nematode population in root and soil. No toxic residues in leaves
were traced by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) one day after the
last treatment. Silkworm larvae feeding on the leaves of Cina-treated plants showed improved growth,
increased silk gland weight, shell weight, shell ratio (SR%) and
effective rate of rearing (ERR %), fewer feeding and number of feeding
days, shorter starting time of spinning day and span of spinning,
shortermoulting time to cocoon formation,
and zero mortality rate.
Conclusion :In this field trial,
silk worms reared commercially increased silk production and effective
rate of rearing (ERR%) by reducing root-knot disease of mulberry
without disturbing the biosphere.
Keywords : Potentized
Artemisia nilagirica Extract
(Cina); mulberry; root-knot; Silk;Effective
rate of rearing; field trial
Text.
Introduction
Plant
parasitic nematodes are among the most devastating pathogen of food,
cash and fiber crop, causing an estimated 77 billion dollar crop
loses annually and the majority of the losses is caused by root-knot
nematodes1,2,3. Root- knot disease reduced plant growth leaf
yield and leaf protein content significantly and the use of effective
chemical pesticides cause the problem of residual toxicity in the
treated plants which results in reduced palatability of the leaves
to the feeding silkworm larvae, reduction in growth of the larvae
and also in silk production. A number of effective chemical pesticides
have been extensively used by the farmers4,5,6,7. Indiscriminate use of plant resources for
nematode control has also created problem for bio-diversity conservation8.
To overcome this situation, it has been observed in the previous
pot experiments, that the use of Cina
on mulberry reduced root-knot disease and enriched sericulture industry7,9. The crude 90% ethanolic
extract of the flowering meristems of
A. nilagirica (1mg/ml concentration) and its potency are
marketed by homeopathic pharmacists as Cina7,9.
Here, in this field trial and silkworm rearing, we confirm the effects
of Cina soaked globules
on root-knot disease caused by Meloidogyne
incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood of mulberry in the naturally infected field condition,
and also to find out the growth of healthy and infected plants treated
with Cina, and lastly to find out
the effects of leaves of Cina-treated
healthy and infected-plants on the leaf consumption, growth of silkworm
larvae (Bombyx mori L.) and
effective rate of rearing (ERR%) which directly increases silk production
for commercial purpose.
Materials and Methods.
Site of the experimental plots
The field experiment was carried out at the Sriniketan
Sericultural Composite Unit, Government
of West Bengal, India where temperature was 28 + 5°C and relativehumidity was 75 + 5%.
Estimation
of the nematode population
Soil
and root samples10,11,12,13 were taken at random
from a high bushy mulberry plantation spreading over an area of
5.6 acre of land with a view to determining the extent and intensity
of Meloidogyne incognita
(Kofoid & White) Chitwood infestation. Later, two separate areas (in the same
locality and climatic condition); one concrete soil-filled
land and other naturally root-knot infected land, each measuring
0.02 ha, were demarcated in the mulberry field where there were
no soil differences as well as environmental factor.
Preparation
of healthy area
The
concrete 0.02 ha area (18889.76 x 1066.80 x 45.72 cm3
) was filled with a mixture of sandy soil, collected from very less
root-knot infected soil of the same sericulture land, and yard manure
( 2 : 1 vol / vol
). The soil-filled concrete area was then denematized by continuous flow of boiling water throughout
the day for 25 days and never water leached out the soil. Every
day, at least 40 random sampling of moist-soil ( 200g of soil i.e.,
each sample collected by making a hole of 1.8 cm wide and 6 cm deep
) were done in the concrete soil-filled area for 30 days and were
assessed for M. incognita population to confirm denematization
of soil 3,11,12. This was a very troublesome process
for preparing M. incognita-free soil and there was no scope to
replicate this healthy nematode free soil-filled area for field
trial.
Preparation
of naturally infected area
The
other 0.02ha naturally M. incognita infected sandy soil field
was prepared by mixing yard manure ( 2 : 1 vol / vol ), removing weeds, irrigating
water and interchanging among the soil for uniform distribution
of manure and nematodes in the naturally infected field which was
estimated by regular soil sampling like a same process of healthy
soil-filled area3,11,12. This naturally
infected soil-filled area was replicated thrice.
Plantation of mulberry cutting
Mature three years old mulberry cuttings,
Morus alba L. , Cv.‘S1’(average 25cm length
and 20g fresh weight) collected from the same sericulture field,
were planted with a gap of 45cm throughout the experimental fields
where there were no soil differences and climatic conditions. The
planted mulberry cuttings were allowed to grow for a period of three
months. Regular rhizospheric soil and root sampling (at random)
were done for estimation of nematode population during this three
month growth period of mulberry in all fields3,11,12,15.
Atleast 80 random rhizospheric soil samplings (200g
in each sample) were collected from rhizospheric root-soil area
of root (10-15cm X 10-15cm) and at least 40 random root samplings
(2g fresh root in each sample) were collected from newly formed
roots ( or gall roots ) for determining the intensity or presence
of nematodes in all the experimental fields.
Division of groups and plots
After
three months growth of mulberry, M. incognita population
were estimated in the rhizospheric soil11,12 as
well as roots5,11,12,13 (at least 40 at random
sampling in each area ) of mulberry plants in each areas of mulberry
field. A total area of 0.04 ha was divided into two main fields
separately; one was a healthy mulberry plant's field (
concrete soil-filled area) and the other was a naturally
infected mulberry plants field, each measuring 0.02 ha. The healthy
and M. incognita infected mulberry plants achieved growth
of 50-60 cm in height. The healthy and infected mulberry plants
were divided into 16 plots, each measuring the area of 472.44cm
X 533.4cm X 45.72cm. The mulberry plants divided into 8-plant groups
(4groups from each healthy plants and another 4
groups from infected plants) and each group has two plots
(20 plants/plot). The plant groups were: 1. Healthy (Control),
2. Healthy CinaMT treated,
3. Healthy Cina 200C treated, 4. Healthy Cina 1000C treated, 5. Infected (Control), 6.
Infected CinaMT treated, 7. Infected
Cina 200C treated and 8. Infected
Cina 1000C treated.
At first all the plants were pruned, manured
with NPK and irrigated every 7 days. Rhizospheric soil was interchanged
among the plants to keep the nematode infestation as uniform as
possible in the naturally infected field. After pruning, the
plants were allowed to grow for a period of 104 days when their
root-knot disease was assessed. The field trial was replicated three
times, except for the healthy plant group.
Root-knot
disease
Rhizospheric
soil and root sample were taken at random from all the 8 infected
plots. Meloidogyne incognita populations (10
samples / plot in each plant group) were estimated in the rhizospheric
soil11,12 as well as roots5,11,12,13,15
of infected mulberry plants. Total number and surface area of
leaves of all plant groups were counted7,9.
Total number of root-galls/plant were counted in the infected roots
of mulberry plants12,15.
The total protein content of the leaf and root samples (10
at random sampling / plot) from each of the 16 plots were determined13,14,15.
All the data from experiments were counted for statistical analysis
by t-test. In this field trial, sacrifices of mulberry plants were
not done due to well reported pathological characters from our previous
experiments 4to 7,9,10.
Preparation
of crude extract
Air-dried and powdered flowering meristems
of Artemisia nilagirica (Clarke)
Pamp were extracted with 90% ethanol at room temperature (25
+ 2°C) for 15 days and were filtered for collecting extract.
Later, the ethanol from the extract was removed by evaporation at
room temperature (25 + 2°C). The residue was dried in a dessicator
over anhydrous calcium chloride. The crude residue was dissolved
in 90% ethanol at 1mg/ml concentration and was formed crude ethanolic
extract of A. nilagirica called
CinaMT (Mother tincture or original solution)7,9.
Preparation
of potentized drug
The crude ethanolic
extract of A. nilagirica, (CinaMT)
was diluted with 90% ethanol (1:100) in the proportion in a
round vial. The vial was filled up to two-thirds of its space, tightly
crocked and then was given 10 powerful downward strokes of the arm.
This process of mechanical agitation is called succussion. This
is the 1st centesimal potency marketed by the Homeopathic
pharmacist under the name of Cina
1C. All the subsequent potencies were prepared by further diluting
each potency with 90% ethanol in the same proportion (1:100) and
the given mixture was given 10 powerful down word strokes7,9,16,17
. In this way potencies up to Cina 200C and Cina
1000C are prepared.
Preparation
of medicated Cina globules
Cina homeopathic potencies in liquid form can be kept in
globules. A vial is filled up to two-third of its empty space with
sucrose globules of a particular size. A few drops of a liquid potency
of Cina are poured into the vial to just moisten all the
globules. The vial is crocked and then shaken so that all globules
are uniformly moistened. The cork is loosened and the vial is turned
upside down to allow excess liquid drain out. After keeping the
vial in the inverted position for nine to ten hours, the vial is
turned upright, well corked and kept in
a cool dry place away from light. The dry globules were then kept
in a vial and such medicated globules are known to retain their
properties for many years10,16,17 . In this process the drug soaked
globules; Cina MT, Cina
200C and Cina 1000C
were prepared. The control medicated globules were similarly prepared
with sucrose globules soaked in 90% ethanol10,17.
Preparation
of test solutions
The drug soaked globules of Cina MT,Cina 200C and Cina
1000C were then mixed with sterile distilled water in the proportion
of 7.2 mg globules/ml of water. The control solution was similarly
prepared10,17.
Mortality
test
Four sets of cavity block with 1ml distilled
water containing 50 larvae (J2) of M. incognita were
taken; one set was treated as control and the other three were treated
as treatment set. To assess the direct effect of Cina-
test solution, the water was removed by pipette and in all the treatment
sets, immediately replaced by 1ml of test solutions: CinaMT,
Cina 200C and Cina
1000C (7.2 mg globules/ml concentration) were added respectively.
The control set received 1 ml of control solution and observed at
30 minute intervals for a period of 12 hours exposure period at
room temperature (25±2°C)9,18. This mortality
test was replicated five times.
Treatment
Forty five days after pruning of mulberry
plants, all the treatment were done by foliar spray @ 10ml/plant
(7.2mg/ml concentration) once daily for 15 days with Cina-
test solutions ( Cina MT,
Cina 200C & Cina
1000C ) and control solution respectively. Treatments were
given in such a way that all the leaves of the plants were completely
drenched with solutions. During spraying, the soil surface underneath
each plant was covered with polyethylene sheet. All the CinaMT, Cina 200C and
Cina 1000C treated groups
received 10ml/plant test solutions (7.2 mg Cina
globules/ml concentration) respectively and other healthy and infected-
plant groups similarly received 10ml/plant control solutions (7.2mg-
90% ethanol soaked globules/ml concentration) respectively7,9,10.
We told about healthy ( control) and infected
( control ). These controls were only treated with the solutions
made from sugar globules in the alcohol medium (i.e. without medicine
Cina ). At forty four days after the last treatment all the parameters
of growth and nematode infection were recorded for each group. All
the data were used for statistical analysis.
Analysis of
residue
Mulberry leaves, collected one day after
the last treatment were homogenized in a blender and extracted with
ethanol. The residue run in thin layer
chromatography plate (TLC) with the standard from the Cina test substances. The test substances were Cina MT,Cina200C and Cina
1000C7,9.
Rearing of
silkworms
The eggs of a mother moth of the multivoltine
‘Nistari’ race(Bombyx
mori L.), after hatching ( 91 % hatching
rate ) and brushing 1st stage silk worm larvae in the
rearing tray, the larvae were divided into 8 batches ( 80number
/ batch ) and reared 4,6,7,19. The larvae of batch
1 were fed with the leaves of healthy (control) plants, those of
batch 2 with the leaves of healthy Cina
MT treated plants, those of batch 3 with the leaves of healthy
Cina 200C treated plants, those of batch 4 with
the leaves of healthy Cina 1000C treated
plants, those of batch 5 with the leaves of infected (control)
plants, those of batch 6 with the leaves of infected CinaMT
treated plants, those of batch 7 with the leaves of infected, Cina
200C treated plants and those of batch 8 with the leaves of
infected Cina 1000C treated
plants. Fresh leaves were given to the larvae 4 times daily. Mulberry
leaves were used for feeding one day after the last treatment with
Cina. The larvae were kept inside the rearing chamber
at 27±2°C and 70 + 15% RH. The fresh weight of the larvae
and that of the leaves served were recorded daily for each batch
until the larvae started spinning. The consumption of fresh leaves
[ ( Fresh leaves served – Dry leaves residues - Fresh leaves initially
consumed ) X Moisture loss ], number of feeding and number of feeding day to cocoon formation, number
of escaping feeding during molting, molting span days and mortality
rate were recorded. The fresh silk gland weight ( before start spinning
), starting time to spinning, span of spinning, fresh cocoon weight,
fresh shell weight, silk layer ratio (Shell weight / Cocoon weight
X 100 ) i.e. SR% and effective rate of rearing ( Number of cocoon
harvested / Number of silk worm hatched X 100 ) i.e. ERR% were determined
6,7,19. For statistical analysis by t- test,
ten mature 5th instar larvae for fresh silk gland weight and ten cocoons
for fresh shell weight were dissected out in each treatment batches
including replica of all treatment batches6,7,19.
All the data from rearing trials were used for statistical analysis
( t- test ).
Results.
Table1 shows the effects of Cina
on healthy and Meloidogyne incognita
infected mulberry plants in a field trial (P<0.01 by
‘t’- test). All healthy and infected plants treated with
Cina showed increased number
and surface area of leaves, and higher protein content in leaves
and root than infected (control) plants. It is also noted that number,
surface area, leaf and root- protein content was significantly higher
in all healthy Cina treated
plants than healthy (control) plants. In all infected Cina
treated plants, the population of root-knot nematodes decreased
significantly more in rhizospheric soil as well as in roots than
in infected (control) plants. The number of root galls also decreased
significantly after Cina treatment. It is observed that Cina had no direct toxic effects on nematodes mortality
within the exposure period of 12 hours and it left no toxic residues
of Cina in the treated plants7,9. It is interesting that treatment effects were
the most pronounced with Cina 200C.
Table 2 shows the effects of Cina
on the healthy and M. incognita infected mulberry
plants in a field trial on the feeding, growth and mortality of
silkworms (P<0.05 by ‘t’-test). The average consumption of leaves
by the 5th instars, average number of feeding to cocoon
formation, average number of feeding day to cocoon formation, average
number of escaping– feeding during molting and average molting span
days were less for Cina treated
plants than for healthy and infected (control) ones. The average
mortality rate was nil with all Cina
treated plants and 8% with healthy (control) and 30% with infected (control
) ones. However, the average fresh weight of the 5th
instars larvae were higher with Cina
treated and healthy plants than with infected (control) one.
Table 3 shows the commercially increased
silk production by effective treatment with Cina
on the feeding of healthy and M. incognita infected mulberry
leaves in a field trial (P<0.05 by ‘t’-test). The average fresh
silk gland weight, average fresh cocoon weight, average fresh shell
weight and average shell ratio ( Shell weight / Cocoon weight X
100) were higher with healthy and Cina-
treated plants than with infected (control) one. It is interesting
that the shell ratios were higher in healthy plants treated with
Cina than with the infected
Cina treated ones. It is also notable
that average starting time to spinning day and average span of spinning
day ( i.e. duration of span ) were fewer with the healthy and Cina treated plants than with infected ( control
) ones. Average effective rate of rearing ( ERR%)
were higher with all Cina treated
groups.
Click
here to see the full result tables.
Discussion
The homeopathic drug Cina
once again confirms that the cost effective Cina
not only reduced root-knot disease but also improved the nutritive
value of the treated leaves of infected plants7,9,10.
From this field trial, we once again confirm that Cina
also improved the nutritive value of the healthy treated leaves7,9,10
which directly influences the consumption of leaves,
number of feeding and number of feeding day to cocoon formation,
and indirectly affects molting stage in the all Cina treated groups from this trial. And due to ill
development of healthy and infected (control)
batches larvae took more time to molt which is proved from the number
of escaping feeding during molting. Higher nutritive value of treated
plants contributed to higher growth of silkworm larvae, silk gland
weight, cocoon weight and shell weight which
increased silk production significantly7
for commercial purpose. The improved health of the larvae, cocoon
weight, silk gland and shell weight from the Cina
treated groups of healthy and infected- plants might have resulted
in the shortened starting time to spinning and span of spinning
day and the total elimination of the mortality rate. However,
Cina is too dilute to contain drug
molecules10. Naturally, the drug might not have
affected the nematode directly7,9,10
and for this reason, no mortality occurs. The effective rate
of rearing ( ERR% ) is very high in all Cina
treated treatment batches which enriches the sericulture industry
in many ways, especially for commercial purpose. The mulberry leaves
did not contain any toxic residues of the Cina
test substances by the thin layer chromatography (TLC). It is
reported that Cina at ultra high
dilution has physical basis in the form of charge transfer interaction
and altered rate of tumbling in the specific part of the molecules
of the diluent's medium9,10,17.
Rather, the drug Cina might
have induced natural defense response in the test plants against
nematode parasites and has conferred defense response on growing
larvae5 to 7,9,10,20.
In fact, it is surprising that all infected
Cina treated plants not only are less affected by nematodes,
but also have a better growth than healthy (control) plants. It
is further confirmed by the Cina
treated effects on healthy plants in order to confirm the more positive
effect on growth than in healthy (control)
groups7,9,10 . The positive effects of growth
may be responsible for defense resistance against pathogens. Cina
might have induced synthesis of many new proteins which have stimulated
increase photosynthesis rate, stomatal
activity and water retention capacity of healthy and Cina
treated plants. The positive effects of growth on infected Cina
treated plants might not only be responsible for defense resistance
to the nematodes pathogen, but also improved growth of silkworm
larvae and silk gland weight, cocoon weight, shell weight and effective
rate of rearing (ERR%) which increase silk production for commercial
purpose. It is proved from the result that silk production is higher
in all the healthy Cina
treated group than infected Cina treated groups.
Conclusions.
These results suggest that plant diseases
might be effectively controlled by the potentized and cost effective
homeopathic medicine Cina, at an extremely low dose. It
commercially increases silk production which directly enriches the
sericulture industry as well as the agriculture sector. Further,
it is not only easily available, but also non-phytotoxic and non-pollutant
and also conserves our biodiversity.
Acknowledgements.
The work described here has been supported
by Rtd. Prof. N.C.Sukul, Dept. of Zoology,
Visva-Bharati and Joint Director, Sriniketan Sericultural Composite
Unit, Sriniketan, Govt. of West Bengal
and Mr. Achintya Mondal, Secretary, Unit
of Oriental Association for Education and Research (BIMS, BMS,BIMLS
& OIST),West Bengal, India. Lastly, for help in statically analysis
we are immensely indebted to Mr.Ashis
Mondal, Asst. teacher of Ajodhya
High School.
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-----------------------------------------
Dr. Subhas
Chandra Datta, Researcher & Assistant teacher, C/O- Rajendranath Nag, Bajeprotappur
(Katwa Road), Burdwan- 713101,West Bengal, India.
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