Background: Nematodes belonging to Genus Hemicriconemoides, commonly known as sheathoid nematodes, damaged many fruits, vegetables and cash crops, worldwide. A survey has been conducted in the agricultural fields of Bulandshahr district to find out the plant-parasitic nematodes load. Results: A total of 85 soil samples were collected from mustard fields of Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh and processed for the presence of plant-parasitic nematodes and they were isolated by ‘Cobb sieving method’. Among all the collected soil samples, one soil sample found to be positive for the genus Hemicriconemoides and docketed as HCN. The earliest identification based on morphology revealed the species to be Hemicriconemoides rosae which was recovered from the mustard field for the first time. The morphology was found to be more consistent with rose population as compared to sugarcane population of the Hemicriconemoides rosae. Further, the Hemicriconemoides rosae was identified on the basis of molecular and phylogenetic analysis based on the concatenated matrix. In addition, correlation analysis of the Hemicriconemoides rosae based on morphometric parameters was done. The results revealed the importance of body length and its relation with other morphometric parameters, and they were found significant. Besides this, de Manian index a showed highest correlation with the body length in adult females. In all the studied ratios, a is very important for the evaluation of the females of a specific species of genus Hemicriconemoides. The data from the principal component analysis (PCA) revealed the high intraspecific and interspecific variations between the species of genus Hemicriconemoides. However, less intraspecific variations were present between the rose population and mustard population of H. rosae. Conclusions: The study revealed the new host, i.e. mustard crops, for H. rosae showing dissimilarity in morphology with the sugarcane population.

The insect parasitoid nematodes are a means boon to agronomy and serve as important bio-pesticides for controlling crop damaging insect pests. These nematodes inhabit moist soils and have been to exist in all the continents excluding Polar Regions. These nematodes have 3rd larval stage infective which is the only free living stage existing outside the host. These infective stages are mutually associated with bacteria which reside in their alimentary canal and duo are responsible for mortality of the insect host. These nematodes are currently given great attention by scientific community because of their insect killing properties and can be used to replace hazardous pesticides. These nematodes include various species belonging to genus Heterorhabditis and Steinernema, and members of insectivorous group of genus Oscheius. Before their use as bio-control agents, these nematodes need to be properly identified. Currently, these nematodes are characterized by using morphological and morphometrical parameters and advanced molecular tools including cross hybridization and scanning electron microscope studies. Their associated bacterial partners are studied through advanced molecular and biochemical techniques. The properly characterized nematodes having more entomopathogenic properties can be easily mass produced through in vitro and in vivo methods. They can be formulated in various carrier materials and supplied to farmers for effective control of damaging insect pests. Several countries have formulated various useful products of entomopathogenic nematodes which are available in markets for use by the farmer community and some have given very effective results. India is still at the early stage in the use of these nematodes for bio-control of insects in agronomy. More research in this field needs to be carried, especially in India to produce effective indigenous nematode products which may prove a boon for agriculture.

Plant parasitic nematodes are major pests of the agricultural industry in developing countries. This group is associated with different parts viz., flower, leaves, buds, roots, trunk etc., of approximately all crucial crops of agronomy due to their omnipresent nature. They are categorized as endo, ecto and semi-endoparasite based on the feeding habits. PPNs possess remarkable characteristics especially, parasitic adaptations which help in combating adverse conditions. Furthermore, they interact with other microorganisms (pathogens) forming complex diseases in crops. For effective management of the PPNs through biological control, it is essential to understand their parasitic mechanism, adaptation of J2 stages, feeding mechanism, host-nematode relationship and identification of associated microbiota. This review focuses on the basic biology of PPN, feeding habits, parasitic potential, molecular insights for understanding host-nematode relationship and their management by exploiting the inherent abilities of biocontrol agents.

Optimal shunt capacitor placement and sizing or optimal capacitor configuration for distribution system has received considerable attention for researchers from last three decades. In this paper, loss reduction in system using genetic algorithm and particle swarm optimization(PSO) for capacitor placement and sizing are presented. While studying the optimal capacitor configuration problem there is a need to consider a single phase as well as three phase loads with voltage, power factor and harmonic constraints. Distribution system reliability indices in distribution system network is also improved and results of reliability indices are presented. Proposed method for optimal capacitor placement using particle swarm optimization (OCP-PSO) is discussed in this paper. It is observed that losses are reduced in both GA and PSO method.