Plant-based bioherbicides could be an effective alternative to current chemical herbicides for sustainable agriculture. Therefore, this research evaluated the weed control efficacy and crop-weed selectivity of the new plant-derived bioherbicide WeedLock compared to commercial herbicides in glasshouse and field conditions. In the glasshouse, the herbicides applied were WeedLock (672.75, 1345.50, 2691.00 L ha⁻¹), glyphosate isopropyl-amine, and glufosinate-ammonium (1, 2, 4 L ha⁻¹), over the untreated (control) on six weeds and four crops. In the field trial, typical weeds were allowed to grow at a uniform density across plots (2.5 × 2.5 m), and WeedLock (1345.50, 2691.00 L ha⁻¹), glyphosate isopropyl-amine, and glufosinate-ammonium (2, 4 L ha⁻¹) were applied along with untreated plot (control). A randomized complete block design was set with four replications for glasshouse and field experiments. WeedLock at 1345.50 L ha⁻¹ showed efficacy similar to glyphosate isopropyl-amine and glufosinate-ammonium at 2 L ha⁻¹ for Ageratum conyzoides L. in the glasshouse. Applied herbicides killed all tested crops except Zea mays L. at 1345.50 L ha⁻¹ (WeedLock). WeedLock showed more than 50% efficacy at 35 days after spray, while 65% was produced by glyphosate isopropyl-amine and glufosinate-ammonium compared to the untreated plot (control). WeedLock has excellent potential to control weeds in both glasshouse and field conditions and showed a non-selective character.

Weeds may act as inoculum reservoirs for fungal pathogens that could affect other economically important crops (Karimi et al. 2019). In February 2019, leaves of the ubiquitous invasive weed, Parthenium hysterophorus L. (parthenium weed) exhibiting symptom of blight were observed at Ladang Infoternak Sg. Siput (U), a state-owned livestock center in Perak, Malaysia. Symptoms appeared as irregularly shaped, brown-to-black necrotic lesions across the entire leaf visible from both surfaces, and frequently on the older leaves. The disease incidence was approximately 30% of 1,000 plants. Twenty symptomatic parthenium weed leaves were collected from several infested livestock feeding plots for pathogen isolation. The infected tissues were sectioned and surface-sterilized with 70% ethyl alcohol for 1 min, rinsed three times with sterile distilled water, transferred onto potato dextrose agar, and incubated at 25°C under continuous dark for 7 days. Microscopic observation revealed fungal colonies with similar characteristics. Mycelium was initially white and gradually changed to pale orange on the back of the plate but later turned black as sporulation began. Conidia were spherical or sub-spherical, single-celled, smooth-walled, 12 to 21 μm diameter (mean = 15.56 ± 0.42 μm, n= 30) and were borne on a hyaline vesicle. Based on morphological features, the fungus was preliminarily identified as Nigrospora sphaerica (Sacc) E. W. Mason (Wang et al. 2017). To confirm identity, molecular identification was conducted using isolate 1SS which was selected as a representative isolate from the 20 isolates obtained. Genomic DNA was extracted from mycelia using a SDS-based extraction method (Xia et al. 2019). Amplification of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was conducted with universal primer ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990; Úrbez-Torres et al. 2008). The amplicon served as a template for Sanger sequencing conducted at a commercial service provider (Apical Scientific, Malaysia). The generated sequence trace data was analyzed with BioEdit v7.2. From BLASTn analysis, the ITS sequence (GenBank accession number. MN339998) had at least 99% nucleotide identity to that of N. sphaerica (GenBank accession number. MK108917). Pathogenicity was confirmed by spraying the leaf surfaces of 12 healthy parthenium weed plants (2-months-old) with a conidial suspension (106 conidia per ml) collected from a 7 day-old culture. Another 12 plants served as a control treatment and received only sterile distilled water. Inoculation was done 2 h before sunset and the inoculated plants were covered with plastic bags for 24 h to promote conidial germination. All plants were maintained in a glasshouse (24 to 35°C) for the development of the disease. After 7 days, typical leaf blight symptoms developed on the inoculated plants consistent with the symptoms observed in the field. The pathogen was re-isolated from the diseased leaves and morphological identification revealed the same characteristics as the original isolate with 100% re-isolation frequency, thus, fulfilling Koch's postulates. All leaves of the control plants remained symptomless and the experiment was repeated twice. In Malaysia, the incidence of N. sphaerica as a plant pathogen has been recorded on several important crops such as watermelon and dragon fruit (Kee et al. 2019; Ismail and Abd Razak 2021). To our knowledge, this is the first report of leaf blight on P. hysterophorus caused by N. sphaerica from this country. This report justifies the significant potential of P. hysterophorus as an alternative weed host for the distribution of N. sphaerica. Acknowledgement This research was funded by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM/GP-IPB/2017/9523402). References Ismail, S. I., and Abd Razak, N. F. 2021. Plant Dis. 105:488. Karimi, K., et al. 2019. Front Microbiol. 10:19. Kee, Y. J., et al. 2019. Crop Prot. 122:165. Úrbez-Torres, J. R., et al. 2008. Plant Dis. 92:519. Wang, M., et al. 2017. Persoonia 39:118. White, T. J. et al. 1990. Page 315 in: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. Academic Press, San Diego, CA. Xia, Y., et al. 2019. Biosci Rep. 39:BSR20182271.

Rice is cultivated across diverse agro-ecosystems worldwide, rich in calories and nutrients. Ensuring rice security is fundamental to achieving overall food security. Rice leaffolder (RLF) is one of the significant and major migratory pests, can causes substantial yield losses, particularly during the reproductive stage. RLF undergoes four distinct stages of life cycle; egg-larva-pupa, and adult. Larvae being most destructive, fold rice leaves and feed on chlorophyll-rich tissues, leading to reduced photosynthesis, stunted plant growth, and ultimately lower yields. Year round abundance but peak infestation in September-October coinciding with panicle initiation to heading stage in tropical and sub-tropical region. Prevalence is influence by climate variability and cultural practices, such as excessive nitrogen fertilization and continuous cropping. Its exhibits strong flight capabilities and thrives in environments with high humidity and optimal temperatures from 25-31 °C. Effective-ecologically sound management practices is crucial for RLF management. Cultural management, like balanced fertilization, timely planting, and field sanitation reduce pest habitat suitability. Avoiding early-season insecticide use and conserving natural enemies through ecological-engineering; planting nectar-rich flowering plants along bunds where it can promote populations of predators and parasitoids, which are most active during the vegetative phase. Additionally, sex pheromone traps, botanicals (neem-based products: neem oil; Lantana camera, Azadirachtin) and biopesticides (Bacillus thuringiensis, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae) have shown efficacy in suppressing the populations. Based on economic threshold levels, diamides (flubendiamide, chlorantraniliprole), Oxadiazine (indoxacarb), nereistoxin (cartap-hydrochloride,) avermectins (emamectin-benzoate) can be judicially used as chemical control. An integrated approach that combines monitoring, forecasting, cultural, ecological, biological, and chemical methods provides an effective and sustainable framework for managing RLF, thereby safeguarding rice production.

The global demand for sustainable and ethical food sources has intensified the exploration of alternative proteins, including insect-based products, as a solution to environmental degradation and food insecurity. Within this context, Islamic jurisprudence offers a unique framework to evaluate the permissibility and ethical implications of such dietary practices. This paper explores the Islamic perspective on insect-based proteins through the lens of Halal principles and maqasid al-shariah (the higher objectives of Islamic law), with a particular focus on environmental sustainability and ethical food consumption. By examining classical Islamic scholarship and contemporary fatwas, the study investigates the permissibility of insect consumption, addressing divergent interpretations of insects as khabith (impure) and their implications for modern dietary practices. The research highlights a spectrum of scholarly opinions, ranging from prohibition to conditional permissibility, with some contemporary fatwas endorsing insect consumption. The study identifies a critical intersection between Islamic jurisprudence and global sustainability challenges, emphasizing the potential of insect-based proteins as a viable solution to food security and ecological conservation. However, the research acknowledges limitations in the availability of region-specific fatwas and contemporary scholarly discourse on the subject, reflecting the diverse interpretations across the Islamic world. The findings have significant implications for the development of Halal certification standards for insect-based proteins, offering a framework for integrating sustainable practices within the food industry. By situating insect-based protein consumption within the broader objectives of maqasid al-shariah , this paper contributes to the evolving discourse on ethical and sustainable food choices, fostering environmental consciousness among Muslim communities.