^{Global Summit on} Agriculture, Food Science and Technology October 26-27, 2018 Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Biography:

Shirin Ghatrehsamani is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Florida, her doctoral dissertation is focused on the needs of Florida’s citrus industry due to the spread of the citrus greening disease (HLB) that has sparked concern for the continuity of the citrus industry in Florida.

She has developed an integrated model to simulate and analyze heat distribution throughout the tree canopy and improve a supplementary heat thermotherapy system to generate a uniform temperature and treat HLB-infected trees. She has helped to develop a smart automated smart thermotherapy system for this purpose.

Abstract:

The citrus industry in Florida and several other citrus producing areas in Brazil and China is suffering from the citrus greening disease (known as HLB) and there is no known cure. HLB-infected trees have low production, low fruit quality and could die within about three to four years. This disease has been a fatal disease for the citrus industry in Florida since 2005. Heat treatment (Thermotherapy) is one of the non-chemical methods and it is based on the idea that heating a plant at a specific temperature and for a pre-determined time can kill pathogen microorganisms, while minimizing host devastation.

In this study, heat treatment system has been developed for sustaining productivity of HLB-infected trees. Using steam to treat HLB-infected citrus trees under field conditions requires an enclosure to cover the tree canopy and hold the steam for a certain amount of time. We evaluate a mobile heat thermotherapy system for the appropriate temperature and time combination. The heat distribution inside the canopy cover was monitored and simulated by mathematical model and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) method to develop and improve the supplementary heat thermotherapy system to generate a uniform temperature. The theoretical predictions are in good agreement with the experimental measurements, which can possibly be described/predicted satisfactorily by the model developed in the present study.

Biography:

Nithish Mathai  has completed his commercial management and hospitality management at the age of 21 years from Bournemouth England  and currently doing MBA from Ariston business school.

Abstract:

In the past ten years, India has left no stone unturned to ensure the growth of the Food Processing Industry in India. It has been primarily due to the significance the industry holds as it employs around 19% of the total population with its vital linkages in the key sectors which are agriculture and manufacturing and contributes to around9%oftheGDP. 

And while the new global economy ushers in a rapid expansion of the worldwide distribution of agricultural products, my concern now is not only to produce food in sufficient quantity, but also to enhance the competitiveness of the Indian agricultural industry in the world market by developing value-added foods based on higher quality standards and improved processing techniques. The development and promotion of high-quality and value-added agro-products are vital in response to the changing market and consumer preferences amid recent trends in economic development and globalization, as well as the expanding population

Biography:

A Crop Scientist (MSc) with specialisation in the field of agronomy, crop production and; seed science and technology, currently a PhD candidate at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Have four already published work and one already accepted. A board Member of a Non-Profit Organization (EDA) supporting growing farmers. Have worked as a Lecturing and Laboratory Assistant (current), Research Assistant,  Field Demonstrator, Tutor and Business Support Officer (Agri). Have presented in three local and one international conference and havd one poster presentation locally. A member of South African Society of Crop Production (SASCP) and a Golden Key member.

Abstract:

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of seed priming with moringa leaf extract (MLE) on bambara groundnut landrace seeds characterised into Cream, Light brown and Brown seed coats. Priming with distilled water (control) was compared with priming with MLE solutions of 3% (M3), 10% (M10) and 15% (M15) (w/v). Germination vigour index (GVI), mean germination time (MGT), final germination percentage (FGP), seedling vigour index (SVI), emergence, plant height, leaf number, leaf area index (LAI), chlorophyll content index (CCI), canopy diameter, chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthetic performance index (Pi). Correlations between germination vigour, seedling vigour and plant performance qualities were also assessed using Pearson’s correlation co-efficient. Seed priming treatments, seed coat colour and their interaction thereof significantly influenced all the measured parameters, except for the influence of priming on CCI and the interactive effect of seed coat colour and priming on emergence. Brown seeds produced superior germination and seedling vigour performance with the exception of CCI and LAI. Priming with M3 significantly improved GVI, MGT, FGP, SVI, plant height, leaf number, LAI, CCI and canopy diameter. Seedling emergence was improved by M10, while M15 improved chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic performance index (Pi). Therefore, priming bambara groundnut seeds with M3 was the best priming treatment. FGP, chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthetic performance index showed strongest correlations with other measured parameters. These vigour and quality indicators may be used as reliable predictive factors of other seed and plant performance indices in seed and plant improvement programmes as selection standards. Priming seeds, particularly brown seeds with M3 resulted in consistent improvement across all germination vigour, seedling vigour and plant performance indices. Therefore, Bambara groundnut seed users can use seed priming M3 while favouring brown seeds as the best selection in order to enhance the germination vigour, seedling vigour and plant performance

Biography:

Miss Amna has completed her MSc (Hons) in Plant Pathology from College of Agriculture, Sargodha University (Pakistan) and now pursuing here PhD from the same institution. She has blended two subjects and established good expertise both in plant diseases and utilizing insect pathogens against their vector. She has generated good data on these aspects and soon number of reputed publications will be on her credit.

Abstract:

Citrus is one of the major fruit crops and second largest fruit-processing industry in the world. It offers great nutritional values and do have an important role in our lives. Citrus leaf miner Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Gracillariidae: Lepidoptera) (CLM) is a drastic pest and a potential carrier of canker disease (pathogen Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri) in citrus plants. We assessed the effect of pathogen inoculum on citrus seedlings at concentrations (1×10², 1×10⁴ and 1×10⁶ cfu ml^-1) with 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 days interval. Seven discrete treatments i.e. intact leaves, mechanically wounded leaves and CLM injured leaves (egg, first instar larvae, second instar larvae, third instar larvae and pupal stage) were compared. Injuries caused by 3^rd instar larvae and pupae resulted in maximum disease incidence than other treatments. While, assessing the effect of entomopathogenic fungi against CLM, four treatments were prepared (fungus treated CLM on healthy seedlings, fungus treated CLM on infected seedlings, untreated CLM on healthy seedlings and untreated CLM on infected seedlings). Results revealed that fungus treated CLM on infected leaves exhibited maximum mortality (100%) with minimum number of galleries (5.67/plant), adult emergence (2.33) and maximum mycosis percentage (93%), while highest disease incidence (84.62%) occurred when untreated CLM were released on infected seedlings. Based on these findings, it might be concluded that microbial control of CLM is a promising strategy not only to manage the pest infestation but also reduce the disease incidence level in citrus cropping system