Studies on bio-pesticides were the highlights of the two-day national conference on ‘Zoology for Future Education and Research’, organised by the zoology department of Queen Mary’s College for Women on Thursday.
A team of researchers from Presidency College presented a study on the larvicidal efficacy of Lantana camara against the larvae of three mosquito species – the Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi and Culex fasciatus. Hemalatha P, Elumalai D and professor Kaleena P K of Presidency College presented their results on how the extracts of the plant showed potent larvicidal efficacy, and how further studies on developing it into a bio-pesticide showed promise.
S Nagalakshmi, a research scholar of Queen Mary’s College, spoke about the efficiency of vermicompost tea along with synthetic pesticides in controlling mealy bugs that attack fruit trees, including guava and mango. Mixing vermicompost tea reduces the concentration of the synthetic pesticides to sub-lethal levels with good results.
P Balakrishna, chairman, National Biodiversity Authority, Chennai, inaugurated the conference, and spoke about the importance of basic sciences like botany and zoology, which formed the basis for studies on which multi-billion dollar industry depend.
source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai> Presidency College / by M. Ramya, TNN / January 03rd, 2014