Bulletin on integrated management of Parthenium released
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 17 2018:
Administrator of Manipur University Jarnail Singh released an "Extension bulletin on Biological Based Integrated Management of Parthenium (English and Manipuri version)" at the conference hall of Vice Chancellor, MU today.
The bulletins were prepared by Professor N Irabanta Singh, Principal Investigator Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, Twining Project for Parthenium Management in North-East India.
Parthenium hysterophorus (carrot weed, white top or Congress grass) is a herbaceous, erect and annual plant belonging to family Asteraceae (Compositae).
Parthenium is a poisonous pernicious, problematic, allergic and aggressive weed posing a serious threat to human beings and livestock, said the bulletin of Professor N Irabanta Singh.
In India, this weed is considered one of the main source of dermatitis, asthma, nasal dermal and nasal-bronchial types of diseases.
It invades crops plantation and forests and severely reduces crop productivity besides loss to bio-diversity and environment.
Parthenium can be managed by its natural enemies like insects, fungi, competitive plants.
Host specific Mexican beetles proves beneficial in countering parthenium.
Biological control - Introducing Cassia tora (Thounam macha) can also reduce parthenium by 28% to 30%, said the bulletin.
Administrator MU Jarnail Singh and Professor GA Shantibala Devi, Dean School of Life Sciences attended the event as chief guest and president respectively, said a statement of Professor N Irabanta Singh.