Response of coffee (Coffea arabica L.) varieties to heat stress at seedling stage

Abstract

Pesticides have been found a proven tool for the effective protection and improvement of the quality and quantity of food commodities. The extensive and indiscriminate use of these chemical compounds has created soil and plant health problems as well as water pollution problems which is unlikely to decrease in near future. Although, there is growing awareness among the consumers, farmers and scientific fraternity to the long lasting ill effects of these chemicals. Therefore, scientists are trying to develop the naturally benign chemicals which are eco-friendly and economically viable for plant protection. A practical solution of several approaches is to dissipate these chemicals from the environment through microbial decomposition. Micro-organisms in natural systems such as agricultural soils, water bodies and other environmental compartments are the important agents for degradation of pesticides. Results indicated that Bacteria and fungi are main the microbes involved in the degradation of different pesticides in soils. Specific group of bacteria and fungi are degrading specific group of pesticides. Soil properties (pH, temperature, water content & texture) affect the microbial degradation of different pesticides.