---

Entrepreneurship is vital for driving innovation, economic development, and sustainability in the agricultural sector, empowering farmers, and ensuring food security. Successful promotion of agri-entrepreneurship demands a nuanced approach that considers both the personal traits of entrepreneurs and the institutional factors. This study employed linear regression analysis and principal component analysis to examine the determinants of entrepreneurial success and identify factors contributing to effective interventions across three distinct entrepreneurial categories i.e., farm-based, off-farm based, and service/tech entrepreneurs. Data was gathered through structured interviews involving two hundred agri-entrepreneurs in Rajasthan and Telangana states. The regression analysis revealed that diverse psycho-personal and socioeconomic variables like marital status, income levels, and achievement motivation were of significant influence. The principal component analysis provided valuable insights into the institutional factors underpinning effective entrepreneurship promotion interventions. Technical factors like tailored project support, financial enablers including government funding and tax incentives, and robust implementation mechanisms involving stakeholder collaboration were highlighted. Operational elements such as; training institute-industry-market-entrepreneur linkages, administrative commitments, and policy consistency, collectively shaped intervention effectiveness across the entrepreneurial ecosystems. This comprehensive examination of individual and institutional determinants offered a holistic perspective on fostering successful agri-enterprises, emphasizing the need for contextualized approaches that align personal attributes with tailored institutional interventions.

---

Effects of part replacement (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100%) of whole wheat flour by composite flour (based on foxtail millet, proso millet and buckwheat flours in equal proportions) on physical, nutritional, sensory and antioxidant properties of multi-millet cookies were investigated. Increase in the ratio of composite flour in the blend and formulated cookies resulted in increase in ash, fiber, fat and protein and decrease in moisture and carbohydrate contents. Increase in supplementation levels of composite flour added to the TPC, DPPH, reducing power and FRAP and decrease in metal chelating activity of cookies. Maximum gain in thickness and weight as well as loss in diameter, spread ratio and bake loss were observed with the highest composite flour substitution. Color values such as a* was found to be enhanced whereas L* and b* were found to be weakened, simultaneously NEB values got increased upon substitution. A 60% blend of composite flour with whole wheat flour was selected best used in the cookie’s formulation on the basis of sensory evaluation. Overall, this study demonstrates that millet based composite flour can effectively improve the functional values of formulated cookies, in addition to an option for the development of gluten free products for celiac patients. 

---

Evapotranspiration is one of the most important components of the hydrological cycle which is directly influenced by atmospheric conditions. This study investigated annual and seasonal trends in reference evapotranspiration (ET₀) and its key influencing climatic variables during 1966-2005 at 10 stations in southern Iran (with centrality of Fars province). First, multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify the major meteorological variables affecting ET₀. Second, annual and seasonal trends in climatic variables as well as ET₀ were assessed using the Mann-Kendall test, Spearman's rho, the Pearson correlation and linear regression to evaluate their contribution to the temporal trend in ET₀. Results suggested that the more effective variables for ET₀ were wind speed (U₂), relative humidity (RH) and sunshine hours (n). Also, the majority of trends in seasonal and annual ET₀ were non-significant and after that decreasing and increasing trends had higher frequencies. In addition, distributions of relative frequencies of trend types at all considered time-scales were similar for both parametric and non-parametric techniques. Hence, the disagreement between parametric and non-parametric trend results did not depend on the degree of normality in the annual and seasonal ET₀ distributions in the study area.

---

Diaphanes lutescens was originally described by Walker, 1858, using specimens from Sri Lanka. The systematics and biology of this species has been unexplored since it was first described in the early eighteenth century. This paper provides a detailed description of systematics and biology of the identified male, female and larvae of D. lutescens with their areas of incidence and habitat types in Sri Lanka. Females and larvae were identified when they were associating with males in the same habitat. Remarks of their flashing patterns and flying behaviour are addressed.

---

View on Scopus
During 2018–2020, several field surveys have been conducted to collect thrips in different parts of India. Five thrips species: Dolichothrips reuteri (Karny), Hydatothrips haschemi Girault, Litotetothrips pasaniae Kurosawa, Mesothrips annamensis Priesner, and Stenchaetothrips bambusicola Mound have been identified as new to Indian subcontinent.

---

View on Scopus
The Chinese species, Lophoptera trigonoprocessa Qi & Xue, 2011 is reported for the first time from India. Apart from this, L. squammigera Guenée, 1852 and L. illucida (Walker, 1865) are illustrated from the Indian region. Images of the adults and genitalia are provided. A checklist of all the known species of the genus from India is also provided.

---

Centranthera tranquebarica (Spreng.) Merr. (Orobranchaceae) and Mallotus repandus (Rottler) Müll. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) are reported as new host plants of Junonia orithya (Linnaeus, 1758) (Nymphalidae) and Rapala manea (Hewitson, 1863) (Lycaenidae) butterflies from Paschim Bardhaman district of West Bengal, India. Schleichera oleosa (Sapindaceae), a deciduous tree, is reported as new host plant of Coladenia indrani (Moore, [1866]) (Hesperiidae) from Bankura district of West Bengal, India. Defensive mechanism of Junonia orithya larva by rolling itself into a tight spiral is also observed.

---

Luciola nicollieri Bugnion, 1922 is one of the sixteen originally described Luciolinae from Sri Lanka. Specimens of L. nicollieri have been re-discovered in 2022 almost after 100 years of its first description, and their identity was confirmed by comparison with the original description, photos of their type specimen and based on expert’s views. Flightless female is associated and described for the first time, males re-described, with details of external morphology, genitalia pattern, flashing behavior and habitat ecology. After examining the types and the generic features of their genetalia, L. nicollieri is placed herein to the category of Luciola Laporte s. str. transferring from Luciola sensu lato. Also a key to the species of Luciola recorded from Sri Lanka is provided.

---

The fungus feeding genus Preeriella Hood is reported first time based on Preeriella armigera Okajima, collected on leaf litter from West Bengal, India. Another phlaeothripid species Hoplandrothrips ochraceus Okajima & Urushihara is recorded from India for the first time. Specimens of H. ochraceus were collected on Curcuma species (rhizomatous annual or perennial herb) belonging to family Zingiberaceae. Notes on the material examined, distribution, diagnostic characters and illustration for the new records are presented.

---

This paper reports a new addition to the national bumblebee fauna of the Indian Himalayas. The newly recorded species viz., Bombus cryptarum (Fabricius, 1775) (Hymenoptera, Apidae) is fully described from the Gurez Valley (Jammu and Kashmir) and Panamik (Ladakh) in the Western Himalayan range. Males of the B. cryptarum have thoracic dorsum and T2 lemon yellow without black hairs. Gonostylus with the anterior apical process with long hairs and penis valve greatly broadened and flared outwards. With the addition of a new record, the Indian Himalayan region is now represented by 57 species of bumblebees. The species diagnosis, current distributional range, and host plants of this species are also provided.

---

The goblin spider Orchestina manicata Simon, 1893 (Araneae: Oonopidae) has remained taxonomically unrevised and has not been phylogenetically placed until now. In this study, O. manicata is redescribed based on newly collected specimens from Sri Lanka. The habitus and genital morphology of both males and females are illustrated and described, with photographs provided for the first time. Orchestina manicata is recognised by the embolus which has a triangular bifid tip and a swollen palpal tibia. The abdomen in males and females is rounded. Through a phylogenetic analysis of 51 morphological characters, combined with molecular data from two target genes (28S, 18S), we present the first hypothesis regarding the phylogenetic placement of this species within the genus.

---

The adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy by farmers of Bathinda cotton belt of Punjab, India resulted in reduction of insecticidal applications. There was 3-4 times reduction in insecticidal applications in IPM villages (4.86-5.33) over the non-IPM villages (15.16-18.12). A general trend of reduced insecticidal applications of both conventional as well as new insecticides, in IPM villages as compared to non-IPM ones, was observed. However, the use of endosulfan was significantly more in IPM villages (1.07 and 0.85 applications) over non-IPM ones (0.49 and 0.32 applications) in 2002 and 2003, respectively. The use of the remaining insecticides was significantly less in IPM than in non-IPM villages. There was no application of non-recommended insecticides and mixtures in IPM villages while it was observed in non-IPM ones only. Further, farmers in IPM villages showed increased preference for relatively new insecticides (imidacloprid, acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, indoxacarb and spinosad) over the conventional group of chemicals. The adoption of IPM strategies resulted in significantly reduced pest incidence (32-75%), reduced plant protection and total input costs (17-34 and 15-21%, respectively) and an increase in net profit (54-88%) in addition to conservation of natural enemies (0.8-1.0 natural enemies/ plant in IPM over 0.4-0.7/ plant in non-IPM villages).

---

In the present study an attempt has been made to use a non-parametric method Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) for assessing source-wise and operation-wise the Technical Efficiency (TE) and Return-to-Scale (RTS) for paddy production in four zones of the state of Punjab, India. The results were then compared to corresponding ones already obtained from a parametric method (Cobb-Douglas production function). The data from farmers growing rice in four zones including labor-h, machine-h, power source, horse power and hours used, kind of machinery used, physical inputs such as seed, fertilizers and pesticides (as inputs) and the yield (as output) were transformed into energy terms (MJ ha-1). The results revealed that farmers in zone 2 with a source-wise TE of 0.91, have consumed energy from more efficient sources, followed by zone 4 (0.90) and then zones 3 and 5 (0.85). No significant correlation could be established between the parametric and non-parametric TE for source-wise energy inputs. According to the DEA results, it was observed that 55.6% and 64.1% of inefficient farmers had an increasing RTS for operation-wise and source-wise energy inputs, respectively. However, a constant RTS had been reported by the parametric frontier function.

---

Investigating learners' motivational factors from Basic Psychological Needs (BPN) has been prevalent in a foreign/second language domain, but there is a dearth of well-documented research on ESP instruction. This study addressed the void by scrutinizing ESP learners' BPN of relatedness, competence, and autonomy using a validated and reliable BPN instrument to assess online ESP practices and challenges within unideal EFL situations. A total of 617 ESP students and 94 ESP lecturers from 14 universities across provincial areas of Indonesia participated in the study. A mixed-method design administering questionnaire and interview was applied to draw ESP students' BPN from the perspective of lecturers and students. The results revealed significant differences between lecturers' and learners' perceptions regarding several indicators of relatedness, competence, and autonomy categories. While the lecturers' questionnaire and interviews reported that the ESP students had an acceptable level of engagement with wider ESP communities, the students mentioned their low engagement with content lecturers, stakeholders/experts, and communities. These differences are then utilized as a stepping stone to design a more 'ideal' ESP program using a specific BPN framework to enhance ESP lecturers' and students' specific English and content knowledge under the online learning platforms. The study implies that to help ESP students learn English, online ESP programs should be collaboratively designed by involving English lecturers, content lecturers, ESP stakeholders from relevant fields, and technology-related materials that meet English and specific content knowledge needs.
 

---

Molecular characterization of 19 Jatropha accessions that included 15 accessions of J.curcas and 4 different species was carried out using 3 different markers systems. Highest polymorphism (96.67%) was recorded by RAPD followed by DAMD (91.02%) and ISSR (90%). Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) was higher for DAMD (0.873) and almost equal for RAPD (0.863) and ISSR (0.862) markers, whereas Resolving Power (Rp) was found to be higher for RAPD as compared to the other two marker systems. Marker Index (MI) values varied greatly with highest (19.07) in RAPD. Shannon index (i), observed number of alleles (na), effective number of alleles (ne) and Nei’s genetic diversity (h) values were found to be significantly higher for ISSR as compared to RAPD and DAMD markers. Thus, all the markers proved to be equally efficient for diversity studies in Jatropha. Several alleles in all the markers indicated J. gossypiifolia as one of the parents of J. tanjorensis. Dendrograms and PCA plots generated based on RAPD showed three major clusters with J. integerrima and J. podagrica falling in group I, fifteen J. curcas accessions in group II, and J. gossypiifolia as an outlier in group III. DAMD markers also showed similar clustering pattern whereas ISSR showed last cluster of J. gossypiifolia and J. tanjorensis. These results may provide a future base for conservation and characterization of available Jatropha genetic resources.

---

Effect of different CO₂ concentrations on sucrose metabolizing enzymes and on carbohydrate metabolism was studied for eight blackgram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) genotypes grown in open top chambers under ambient (380 µmol mol^-1) vs. elevated CO₂ (550 and 700 µmol mol^-1) levels. The higher acid invertase activity over neutral invertase indicated the major role of acid invertase in sucrose breakdown. Higher acid invertase activity over Sucrose Synthase (SuSy) suggested the major role of invertase in sucrose breakdown and sucrolysis. Sucrose Phosphate Synthase (SPS) activity did not match with sucrose pool sizes in mature leaves and rather varied among genotypes. Plants exposed to higher CO₂ concentrations showed higher starch and sucrose contents as compared with those exposed to ambient CO₂. Leaf starch content being found several-folds higher than sucrose throughout the study indicated its major role in regulating assimilate partitioning. Increase in glucose vs. fructose concentrations for genotypes grown under elevated CO₂ conditions ranged from 20 to 90% and from 10 to 140%, respectively. The hexoses/sucrose ratio for elevated CO₂ concentration was approximately 0.8-1.6, however for ambient CO₂ content it approximately amounted to unity. Genotypes IC436720, IC519805, IC343952, and IC282009 with low hexose/sucrose ratio representing high CO₂ assimilation along with high sucrose formation indicated better tolerance to elevated CO₂ for carbon partitioning and carbohydrate metabolism. The up-regulation of leaf carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes of low hexose/sucrose as well as low sucrose/starch ratios for the genotype IC436720 (as compared with other genotypes) improved its photosynthetic capability which coupled with its better efficiency of carbon partitioning (indicative of better acclimation to elevated CO₂) could prove beneficial to its growth and productivity in the future change of climatic conditions.

---

Raphanus sativus L. (radish) plants were grown in waste water irrigated area of Dinapur, a suburban area in the north east of Varanasi, India. Soil and plant characteristics were compared between fertilized (farmyard manure (FYM), NPK, and FYM+N) and non-amended control treatments. Compared to the control, plants grown in FYM and FYM+N amended soil showed a decrease in concentrations of heavy metals by 14 to 32% and 14 to 17%, respectively, with corresponding yield increments of 60 and 49%. Plants grown under NPK amendment showed high availability of the heavy metals, which, consequently, induced the activities of antioxidant enzymes and reduced photosynthetic rate, growth, and yield of the plants. Therefore, application of a particular dose of FYM alone and in combination with N at regular intervals may be recommended as a cheap technique for reducing the availability of heavy metals in metal contaminated fields.

---

 A consortium of biofertilizers (Azotobacter chroococcum and Bacillus subtilis) was applied in conventional as well as organic matrix entrapped granular forms as sole nutrient source in two different doses for cultivation of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. PBW-343). A double dose of conventional biofertilizers increased the growth of wheat plants as measured on 30, 60, 90, and 120 Days After Sowing (DAS) in terms of root and shoot length, number of roots and leaves, as well as fresh and dry weight of roots and leaves over the recommended dose (0.6 kg ha^-1) of the same biofertilizers. The entrapment of biofertilizers in an organic matrix further increased the efficacy of these biofertilizers over the non-entrapped conventional forms. An increase in the plant growth of wheat by application of higher dose of biofertilizers and entrapped biofertilizers was correlated to the availability of NO₃^-, NO₂^- and NH₄⁺ in the plant’s rhizosphere (0-15 cm) and its transport from soil to the plant leaves as well as productivity and yield of wheat in these experimental fields. The increase of 63.47 and 32.17% in wheat yield was recorded in 120-days old plants by the application of organic matrix entrapped biofertilizers in double dose over no fertilizers and un-entrapped biofertilizers in single dose. The results indicate that efficacy of biofertilizers can be enhanced by increasing the dose of biofertilizers and by providing suitable carriers to replace chemical fertilizers load for wheat cultivation with eco-friendly and organic nutrient technologies.

---

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate spring wheat recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of diverse origin by estimating genetic parameters viz., variability, character association, cluster analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA) for spot blotch resistance and yield components at BHU Agricultural Research Farm during 2010-2011. Grain yield per plot was significantly and positively associated with biomass, 1,000-grain weight, harvest index, chlorophyll content, and grains per spike at genotypic level. The line 65 exhibited lowest mean of AUDPC value (632) indicating its potential as resistant parent. Cluster analysis grouped all the 324 spring wheat lines into 19 clusters using Ward’s method. Extreme divergence was observed among clusters. By using D²-statistics, the highest inter cluster distance (584.72) was found between Clusters VIII and XIX. Cluster VIII recorded highest mean values for chlorophyll content, peduncle length, bio-mass, grains per spike, 1000-grain weight and grain yield. The major contributing trait towards genetic divergence was found to be AUDPC (60.36%). First 5 principal components (PC1, PC2, PC3, PC4 and PC5) accounted for proportionate values of 20.66, 17.96, 15.07, 8.28, and 7.38%, respectively, contributing 69.35% of the total variability. The second PCs had high positive PC value for plant height, biomass, and 1,000-grain weight. The breeding objectives of the present experiment was to identify genetically diverse wheat spot blotch resistant RILs for developing high yielding spot blotch resistant cultivars especially adopted to south Asia in future breeding programs.

---

Phytic acid is a major storage form of phosphorous in cereals that acts as food inhibitor by chelating micronutrients and prevents it to be bioavailabe for monogastric animals, including humans. Ninety three wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) germplasms, including cultivars from India, were characterized for phytic acid and Fe contents. Phytic acid contents ranged from 0.59 (IITR 92) to 2.08% (IITR 25). The Fe contents of all wheat germplasms ranged from 9.97 (IITR 25) to 45.77 mg kg⁻¹ (IBW 1133) while historical cultivars from India contain an average of 21.7 mg kg⁻¹ Fe. This initial screening facilitated the identification of diversity in germplasms for this trait that can be exploited for genetic improvement in wheat. Forty eight F₂ wheat lines from (WL711×IITR 19) were also evaluated, which demonstrated considerable variation in phytic acid content. Phytic acid contents ranged from 0.58 to 2.01% in F₂ lineswith an average of 1.52%. The genotypes showed significant differences in phytic acid and Fe contents. F₂ lines of WL711×IITR19 also illustrated variation in phytic acid content that were significant. The progenies having lower phytic acid content compared to parents are useful for further crop improvement. A relatively high broad sense heritability (93.4%) and genetic advance (32.3%) of phytic acid showed that progenies of this cross would be useful for reducing phytic acid.