Effect of partially UV-blocking films on the growth, yield, pigmentation and insect and

diseases control of some horticultural crops of Bangladesh

Abstract

The effect of partially UV-blocking films was investigated on the promotion of growth and
insect control as well as the herbivores-predators balance in the tunnels of some horticultural
crops of Bangladesh. The experiments were comprised with six treatments, viz., outdoor, UV-
transmitting, partially UV-blocking (UVs shorter than 340, 350, 360 and 400 nm respectively,
were blocked) with three replications. A tunnel covered with UV-transmitting polyolefin film
was also prepared, and the results were compared with the seedlings that were grown in the
outdoors. In turnip, plant height, leaf number, and leaf area of increased by UV-blocking, while
broccoli was not affected. Insects invaded into the tunnels were trapped using blue and yellow
adhesive films, and seven different insects, viz. aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae), brown plant
hopper (Nilparvata lugens), short horn grass hopper (Melanoplus femurrubrum), white backed
plant hopper (Sogatella furcifera), dipteran fly, mirid bug (Heteroptera: Miridae), and
mosquitoes were captured up to 35 days after planting. Aphid was found as the most
predominant insect followed by mosquito, dipteran fly, and white baked plant hopper. The ratio
of the herbivores and predators was also influenced by the films and it was remarkable in both
broccoli (35-65%) and turnip (25-75%) seedlings, respectively. Hence, the partially UV-blocking
films can be an effective component for the IPM system rather than fully UV-blocking films.
Along with this, the values of red amaranth plant height, stem cell length, leaf area, and fresh
weight were higher in the plants grown under higher UV-blocking conditions, while the plant dry
weight was greater under lower UV-blocking conditions due to the lower dry matter percentage
under higher UV-blocking conditions. The red color of the upper leaves became lighter as the
UV-blocking rate increased, while there was no such distinct difference in either the lower leaves
or stem. Anthocyanin concentrations of both the stem and leaves of the plant apex were
significantly lower under UV-blockings than under UV-transmitting conditions and outdoors, but
there was almost no significant difference among different UV-blocking rates. Yellow and blue
sticky traps were also suspended at the center of the tunnels, and twelve insects were trapped
during the experimental period. Partially UV-blocking conditions significantly reduced invasion
by insects and feeding damage of the seedlings compared to outdoors and under UV-transmitting
conditions, but there was no significant difference among different UV-blocking rates. The
number of herbivores tended to decrease as the UV-blocking rate increased, while that of
predators was little affected by the UV-blocking rate. Another experiment was conducted to
testify the hypothesis that partially UV-blocking film has the ability to suppress the development
of canker disease of citrus. The lowest incidence (66.7%) was recorded in outdoors and highest
incidence (100%) was recorded under <400 nm at 45 days after inoculation. Similarly, lowest
severity (10%) was recorded in outdoors, and the highest severity (43.3%) was recorded under
<400 nm at 45 days after inoculation. Disease incidence and severity gradually decreased as the
UV blocking rates decreased. Solar radiation with contains combination of different UV light
may be detrimental for multiplication of the bacteria Xanthomonas axonopoides pv citri.
Dr Abul hasnat M Solaiman, Associate Professor, Dept of Horticulture, Sher-e-
Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh completed his Ph.D. from
Iwate University with the international cooperation with Yamagata University,
Japan in the FY 2015 under the supervision of Professor Dr Takashi Nishizawa. He
completed his Ph.D. degree with a JSPS RONPAKU fellowship and his title of the
thesis was studies on the effect of partially ultra-violet blocking film on the growth
pigmentation disease and insect control of some horticultural crop of Bangladesh.
The research was done on horticulture farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural
University, Dhaka with collaboration with Yamagata University, Japan. In his
research he showed with the use of partially blocked specific wavelengthed
polyolefin film can reduce the attack of insect up to 80%. This can reduce the use
of maximum use of chemical pesticide in crops field of Bangladesh. The main
challenge is to reduce the price of the environment friendly plastic film. He has
been working as safe farming specialist and next generation agricultural farming in
the country. He has been training the farmers how and when to use the safe inputs
from soil purification to harvestings for the environment friendly and safe farming
strategies. He is also engaged with different urban farming organizations andhe
worked with different medicinal plants with the collaboration of BCSIR, Dhaka.
He is also suggesting farmers to use different colored sticky traps in crop field. At
present he is working with World Bank establsihing FAB LAB in Sher-e-Bangla
Agril. Univ. for innovative agriculture initiative in Bangladesh under HEQEP,
UGCBangladesh. He is a son of the soil of Comilla and residing permanently in
Eskaton Dhaka. He has three daughters with twins in his family life.