Department Of Plant Pathology Research Articles

Optimizing Tomato Health: Holistic Approach to Early Blight Disease Management

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of fungicide (mancozeb) and botanicals against early blight of tomato caused by Alternaria solani at the experimental field and glasshouse of Plant Pathology department, College of Agriculture, Pune, Maharashtra, during Kharif season (2019-2020). Six treatments including control with four replications were taken up using Randomized Block Design RBD. Growth inhibition of fungus Alternaria solani causing early leaf blight of tomato was studied in vivo for determining the efficacy of one fungicide and eight botanicals. Exploring possibility of managing A. solani by use of botanicals revealed that the clove extract of garlic was the best followed by neem leaf and ginger rhizome extract showing highest growth inhibition of the fungus. Among the plant leaf extracts, garlic clove extract @10% was found effective to inhibit the growth of pathogen i.e. 64.60% Per cent disease control PDC (glasshouse trial) and 51.85% PDC (open Field trial). The contact fungicide Mancozeb@0.25% showed disease control of 75.52% (Glasshouse trial) and PDC of 70.34% (Field trial) in in vivo condition. Presently many farmers are using chemicals for control of early blight of tomato however, they cause health hazards. Therefore, this investigation provides valuable insights for farmers in selecting suitable plant extracts to control early blight of tomatoes.

Comparative Evaluation of Different Biocontrol Agents against Anthracnose of Nendran Banana Caused by Colletotrichum musae

India is the largest producer of banana in the world. Nendran, a French plantain, is the most important banana cultivar in Kerala. It is mainly affected by many diseases both in the field and after harvest. Being a freshly consumed fruit crop there are a lot of limitations in using chemicals for its disease control. Keeping this view, a study was conducted at the Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, to control anthracnose, a serious post harvest disease under tropical conditions. In this study comparative evaluation of three fungal biocontrol agents namely [Trichoderma sp. (KAU), Trichoderma sp. (TRPN-3), Trichoderma sp. (TRKR-2)] and bacterial biocontrol agents [Pseudomonas fluorescens (PN026), Bacillus sp. (B15), Bacillus sp. (B17)] were tested against Colletotrichum musae. Among the fungal biocontrol agents maximum mycelial growth inhibition was recorded with Trichoderma sp. (KAU) (77.44%) followed by Trichoderma sp. (TRKR-2) (77.11%). Minimum mycelial growth inhibition was recorded in P.fluorescens (PN026) (55.33%). Based on the results reveals that Trichoderma sp. (KAU) is a highly promising biocontrol agent for managing anthracnose of banana.

Assessing the Effectiveness of Neem oil and Microalgae in the Management of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) Leaf Spot Caused by Alternaria spp.

The current study aimed to assess the effectiveness of neem oil and microalgae in controlling leaf spot caused by Alternaria spp. in cowpea (Vigna unguiculataL.). The research was conducted during the Zaid season of 2022 at the Central Research Field of the Department of Plant Pathology, SHUATS, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, using a Randomized Block Design with three replications and seven treatments. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was utilized to draw conclusions from the data. Leaf spot disease caused by Alternaria spp poses a significant threat to cowpea crops, resulting in yield losses and decreased plant vigor. An in vivo study was carried out to evaluate the impact of different concentrations of microalgae combined with neem oil at 1% on plant growth parameters and Disease Intensity (%). The application of microalgae @540 grams in various splits and neem oil @1% was done. Among all the treatments, T4 (Microalgae 48gms @5 DAS 96gms@15,45 DAS + Neem oil @1% showed promising results. Notably, the T4 treatment significantly increased plant height (84.63 cm) and the number of branches(10.83) at60DAS. Moreover, an increased numberof nodules per plant (21.44) was observed at 75 DAS, indicating improved root health and nitrogen fixation. Additionally, the treatment led to longer pod length (34.44 cm) in three pickings, suggesting enhanced yield potential. Furthermore, the combined application of microalgae and neem oil resulted in a significant reduction in disease intensity, with a notable decrease of 24.47% compared to untreated plants and those treated with chemicals (Bavistin). This indicates that the use of microalgae and neem oil together effectively suppressed leaf spot disease caused by Alternaria spp. in cowpea, thereby improving plant health and productivity. In conclusion, these findings underscore the potential use of eco-friendly alternatives like microalgae and neem oil for managing leaf spot disease in cowpea cultivation. Further research in this area is recommended for sustainable agricultural practices.

Cultural, Morphological and Pathogenic Variability in the Colletotrichum capsici Isolates, Inciting Anthracnose and Fruit rot of Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) in different Agro-Climatic Zones of Kerala, India

Aims: To study the cultural, morphological and pathogenic variability existing among the pathogen isolates of Colletotrichum capsici, inciting anthracnose and fruit rot of chilli in Kerala. Study Design: Completely randomized design (CRD). Place and Duration of Study: Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture (Kerala Agricultural University), Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram during 2018-2019. Methodology: A survey was conducted in the five agro-climatic zones (ACZs) of Kerala viz., Northern zone, Central zone, Special problem zone, High range zone and Southern zone to assess the incidence and severity of anthracnose disease. The various symptoms in the surveyed locations were also noted. Pathogen isolates were grown in PDA medium in the laboratory and colony characters (colour and mycelial growth rate of pathogen colonies) were observed. Also, the morphological characters viz., mycelial width, shape and size of conidia, acervular diameter, number and size of setae, appressorial size were recorded. Results: Maximum anthracnose incidence of 90 per cent and severity of 52.60 per cent were noticed at Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Pilicode (Northern zone). Characteristic leaf spot, fruit rot and die-back symptoms were observed in the survey locations. Pathogen colonies showed different shades of white, off-white to grey turning brown or black with regular or irregular margins and concentric rings of black acervuli in the potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. The diameter of growth of C. capsici isolates ranged from 7.20 to 8.60 cm at 7 days after incubation. All the C. capsici isolates initiated hyaline mycelium having a width of 1.73 - 2.36 µm and produced numerous sickle shaped conidia with a size range of 19.42 - 20.46 µm × 2.16 - 3.09 µm. Black coloured, circular or ellipsoidal acervuli (122.14 - 189.08 µm dia.) had 20 – 46 setae of length 74.13 to 107.30 µm. Also, brown or black appressoria of size 8.64 - 12.64 µm × 5.54 - 7.84 µm were formed in slide culture. Cc3 from College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara was obtained as the most virulent isolate producing a lesion size of 1.13 cm and PDI of 45.33 in the artificially inoculated chilli fruits (var. Vellayani Athulya) at 5 days after inoculation. Conclusion: All the nine C. capsici isolates exhibited variability in their cultural, morphological and pathogenic characteristics. Variability in phytopathogenic fungi helps in identifying novel and sustainable control methods to tackle the diseases incited by them. Understanding pathogen variability provides new insights for developing effective disease management methods. This will help in promoting sustainable agriculture and preventing severe crop losses.

Assessment of Various Substrates for Shiitake Mushroom (Lentinula edodes) Cultivation in the Agro-Climatic Conditions of West Bengal

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different substrates on various stages of shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes) cultivation to optimize growth and yield. Study Design: A Completely Randomized Design with three replications for each treatment was employed to ensure statistical reliability. Duncan's multiple range tests were utilized at a significance level of 5% to evaluate differences between treatments. Place and Duration of Study: The research was conducted at the Mushroom Research Laboratory, Department of Plant Pathology, Palli Siksha Bhavana (Institute of Agriculture), located in Sriniketan, Birbhum district, West Bengal, throughout the year 2023. Methodology: Different substrates including lentil husks, rice straw, wheat straw, sawdust, and mustard pods were evaluated for their impact on spawn run completion, mycelial bump formation, and sporocarp formation durations. Each substrate's performance was assessed in terms of sporocarp production and biological efficiency. Results: Across the three strains (LE-01, LE-02, and LE-03), lentil husks consistently exhibited the shortest spawn run duration, averaging 34.59 to 37.00 days. Following closely, wheat straw displayed favorable performance with durations ranging from 39.20 to 41.23 days. Sawdust also proved efficient, albeit slightly longer than lentil husks and wheat straw. Conversely, maize cobs and sugarcane bagasse exhibited longer spawn run durations, averaging from 57.80 to 64.90 days. For mycelial bump formation, lentil husks again showed the shortest duration, averaging 42.67 to 45.77 days across the strains. Wheat straw followed suit with durations ranging from 48.93 to 50.20 days, while sawdust demonstrated favorable times albeit slightly longer. Conversely, maize cobs and sugarcane bagasse exhibited longer mycelial bump formation times, ranging from 68.11 to 74.40 days. For sporocarp formation, lentil husks and sawdust emerged as top performers with the shortest durations, averaging 76.66 to 81.52 days. Conversely, maize cobs exhibited the longest sporocarp formation time, averaging 97.43 days. In terms of sporocarp yield, rice straw yielded the highest, averaging 27.67 sporocarps per bag, followed by wheat straw with 24.33 sporocarps per bag. Lentil husks, while efficient in other aspects, produced an average of 21.78 sporocarps per bag, trailing slightly behind rice straw and wheat straw. Regarding yield and biological efficiency, sawdust displayed superior performance, yielding an average of 384.57 grams per 750 grams of substrate with a biological efficiency of 51.18%. Lentil husks and rice straw exhibited comparable performance in yield and biological efficiency, with lentil husks yielding 367.81 grams and rice straw yielding 333.09 grams per 750 grams of substrate, both with biological efficiencies around 47-48%. Conversely, mustard pods exhibited the lowest yield and biological efficiency, averaging 269.02 grams per 750 grams of substrate with a biological efficiency of 35.91%. Conclusion: The study underscores the importance of substrate selection in optimizing various stages of L. edodes cultivation. Lentil husks emerged as a promising substrate choice for rapid mycelial growth, but its sporocarp production lagged behind other substrates. Sawdust proved to be the top-performing substrate in terms of yield and biological efficiency, indicating its efficacy in supporting robust mushroom growth.

In vitro Evaluation of Botanical Extracts against Mycelial Growth of Alternaria solani

An experiment was conducted at the laboratory of the Department of Plant Pathology, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. To test the efficacy of different treatments viz., Neem (Azadirachta indica), Onion (Allium cepa), Garlic (Allium sativum), Castor (Ricinus communis), Amaltas (Cassia fistula), Henna (lawsonia inermis), Madar (Calotropis gigantea) against Alternaria solani under in vitro condition. Botanicals were tested through the poisoned food technique at 5% and 10 % concentrations and 168 hours of incubation. The Minimum radial growth of observed in Neem (Azadirachta indica) seed kernel extract @ 5% (14.8mm) followed by Henna (lawsonia inermis) leaf extract @ 10% (43.36mm), Amaltas (Cassia fistula) leaf extract @ 10% (67.13mm), Castor (Ricinus communis) leaf extract @ 10% (67.6mm), Madar (Calotropis gigantea) leaf extract @ 10% (69.6mm), Onion (Allium cepa) extract @ 10 % (70.8mm), Garlic (Allium sativum) extract @ 10 % (72.2mm) as compared to Control (89.4mm) untreated check.

Comprehensive Disease Management Strategy for Cercospora Leaf Spot in Mungbean: Assessment of Botanicals, Fungicides, and Bio-agents In vivo

Aim: Worldwide mungbean farming is seriously threatened by the fungal disease Cercospora canescens, which causes Cercospora leaf spot and severe yield losses. This study evaluated the effectiveness of fungicides, botanicals, and bioagents in vivo with the goal of developing an efficient management approach for Cercospora leaf spot.
 Study Design: Randomized block design with ten treatments and three replications.
 Place and Duration of Study: Department of Plant Pathology, ANDUA&T Kumarganj, Ayodhya (U.P.) India located at latitude 26.47 0N, longitude 82.12 0E and altitude 113m above the sea level during kharif season, 2019.
 Methodology: The antifungal capabilities of botanical extracts were studied, the pathogen-growth-inhibiting capacity of fungicides was tested, and the potential for bio-agents to suppress the course of disease was analyzed. The effectiveness of plant extracts, including Neem leaf extract, Onion, Garlic clove extract, Tulsi, and Ginger was assessed at a concentration of 10%, against Cercospora canescens.
 Results: Ten per cent concentration was found most effective in vitro was further tested in vivo at 30 days and 45 days after sowing. Neem leaf extract, Onion, Garlic clove extract, Tulsi, and Ginger @ 10% against Cercospora canescens
 Conclusion: It is very clear from the present studies that the plant extracts which were better in inhibiting the radial growth In vitro also showed reduction in disease incidence and per cent disease control was also higher In vivo condition.

Bacterial Leaf Spot of Cucurbits

This publication is intended to provide information on the disease bacterial leaf spot of cucurbits, its epidemiology, and management to cucurbit growers in the southeastern United States. Written by Kiersten Fullem, Mathews L. Paret, and Jeffrey B. Jones, and published by the UF/IFAS Plant Pathology Department, March 2024.

Screening of Lentil Genotypes Against Wilt of Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik L.) Caused by Fusarium oxysporum F. SP. Lentis in Glasshouse Condition

Wilt of lentil is most damaging disease of lentil caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lentis. It causes severe crop damage from vegetative to reproducing stage which results in yield reduction. Fol isolates shows high variability and aggressiveness according to the climatic condition. So to overcome from this disease there are many ways of management like by cultural, mechanical, biological and chemical practices. Resistant variety selection is one of the best ecofriendly cultural management of the disease. So for this purpose one hundred genotypes were taken and screened through pot screening technique under glasshouse was carried out at the Student Instructional Farm (SIF), in the department of Plant Pathology, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya, which is situated in the IndoGangatic plains of eastern Uttar Pradesh at a latitude of 26.470 and an altitude of 113 meters above sea level during Rabi 2020-21. One hundred genotypes of lentil were obtained from the Department of Genetics and Plant breeding, N.D. University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya and IIPR, Kalyanpur, Kanpur (U.P.).Out of 100 genotypes, 41 genotypes were found highly resistant, 30 genotypes resistant, 8 genotypes moderately resistant, 10 genotypes susceptible and 11 genotypes highly susceptible to Fusarium wilt.

Screening of Germplasms for Disease Resistance Against Anthracnose of Chilli Caused by Colletotrichum capsici

Chilli (Capsicum annuum Linn.) is an important extensively grown spice crop. It belongs to the family Solanaceae. Approximately 20-27 species of chilli are found, out of which five are domesticated viz., C. annuum, C. baccatum, C. chinense, C. frutescens, and C. pubescens in different parts of the world. Chilli crop suffers from various diseases in which anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum capsici is a very serious one, causes huge yield losses in India. Severely infected fruits look straw colour and bear numerous acervuli in concentric rings. Around 27℃ temperature, 80% relative humidity and soil pH 5-6 promote infection and disease progress. The average disease incidence level ranges between 66 and 84% which results in yield loss upto 12-50% This investigation was carried out at the Main Experiment Station Vegetable Science and Department of Plant Pathology, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology Kumarganj, Ayodhya (U.P) during the year 2021 -2022. Twenty genotypes of chilli were screened and none one genotypes are found resistant, nine genotypes namely, Mahycojalna, Arkalohit, Phulemukta, Arkaharita, Madhurima, Classica 152, Arkameghna, Sonakshi 44 and Divyajyoti were found moderately resistant and rest of the genotype were susceptible and highly susceptible.

Effect of Fungicides on Mycelium Growth of Rhizoctonia solani of Rice under In-vitro

Sheath blight of rice caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn is emerging as very destructive disease causing heavy yield losses. This experiment was conducted at Department of plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Rewa (M.P.) during 2018-19. This experiment was carried out in a complete randomized design (CRD) with eight treatments including untreated control. Seven fungicides viz., Flusilazole12.5%+carbendazim 25% SC, Azoxystrobin 18.2% w/w+difenoconazole 11.4 w/w SC, Azoxystrobin 11%+Tebuconazole 18.3% w/w SC, Tricyclazole 18%+ mancozeb 62%WP, Zineb 68% + hexaconazole 4% WP, Trifloxystrobin 25%+Tebuconazole 50%WG, Mancozeb 50%+carbendazim 25%WS, were evaluate against R. solani of rice at different concentrations under in-vitro by poisoned food technique. The present study, among the tested fungicides Azoxystrobin 11%+Tebuconazole 18.3% w/w SC at 200 ppm and 100 ppm was found significantly superior in inhibiting the mycelial growth of R. solani over untreated check at 96 hrs. after incubation.

Evaluation of Pigeonpea Genotypes against Sterility Mosaic Disease

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) belonging to family Leguminosae is an important leguminous pulse crop of semi-arid tropic and subtropic regions (Asia and Africa). It is also known as red gram, arhar, tur dal. The crop is affected by several phytopathogens, of which, pigeonpea sterility mosaic disease/virus, and transmissible by eriophyid mites (Aceria cajani) has been a major bottleneck. Yield losses up to 95 per cent or even 100 per cent in severe Sterility Mosaic Disease incidence were reported. Therefore, present investigation on screening of pigeon pea genotypes against the sterility mosaic disease was carried out during Kharif, 2018 at the Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Latur. In present study, about 27 entries of pigeonpea were screened under natural epiphytotic against pigeonpea sterility mosaic disease. Of these GRG-152, ICP-2376, BRG-5, BRG-4, ICPL-15048, BSMR853, BSMR-736, BRG-1and BRG-3 were resistant; MPV-106, RVSA-16-1, IPA-16-8 and BRG-2 were moderately resistant, whereas, PUSA-2017-01, TDRG-58, ICP-8863, PUSA-2018, PUSA-2018-1, PUSA-2018-2, PUSA-2018-3 ,PUSA-2018-5, AKTE-12-04, KRG-244, PADT-16, RKPV-912, JKM-189 and TJT-501 were susceptible to Sterility Mosaic disease.

In vitro Antifungal Efficacy of Silver Nanoparticles against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Lycopersici in Tomato

Present investigation on Mycosynthesis of silver nanoparticles and antifungal activity of silver nanoparticles against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici in tomato was carried out at department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Latur to find out antifungal activity of silver nanoparticles against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici in tomato. Mycosynthesis of silver nanoparticles produced from the fungus Trichoderma harzianum. Characterization of silver nanoparticles were carried out by UV-Vis spectroscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) which revealed that synthesized nanoparticles were having the UV absorption peak at 420 nm and nanoprticle size was 50 nm. Silver nanoparticles demonstrated significant antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici in tomato by using Agar well diffusion method and Poisoned food technique. In Agar well diffusion method, the highest zone of inhibition 18.66 mm was recorded at 100 ppm concentration than other treatments. In poisoned food technique, the suspension of silver nanoparticles at 100 ppm concentration recorded highest (75.19%) inhibition. This was followed by 50 ppm, 30 ppm, 10 ppm conc. and Trichoderma culture filtrate which recorded 66.67%, 58.89%, 54.45% and 51.45% inhibition, respectively. Growth of the Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici in tomato decreased drastically with increase in the concentration of the silver nanoparticles.

Conformation Techniques for False Smut Pathogen (U. virens) on Rice through Cultural and Molecular Tools in Telangana

The study was conducted during period of January to April, 2022 at the Department of Plant Pathology and Institute of Biotechnology, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana state, India. The main objective of this study was to investigate cultural and morphological characteristics of U. virens isolates on potato sucrose medium (PSA) and their molecular confirmation collected from rice growing regions of Telangana during the kharif (rainy season), 2021. The isolates showed varying colony diameters and growth rates, with Uv3 reaching a maximum diameter of 77 mm and a growth rate of 2.85 mm, while Uv11 exhibited a minimum diameter of 40 mm with a growth rate of 1.48 mm. Notably, twenty two isolates showed diverse characteristics, including colony color, elevation, zonation, sectoring, and chlamydospore formation. Cluster analysis revealed the formation of five major groups, each group containing isolates with distinct features and PCR amplification with universal and species-specific primers yielded products of 700 bp and 380 bp, respectively. Phylogenetic tree analysis, indicated, Uv3 and Uv15 belonged to clade X and clade VII, respectively, both comprising Indian isolates. In contrast, Uv4 was grouped under clade II, which included both Chinese and Indian isolates. The proposed technique coupled with information of U. virens will immensely contribute to further studies on this fungus and false smut disease in India.

Effect of Selected Leaf Extracts on the Mycelial Radial Growth of Phytophthora sp. Causing Corm Rot of Colocasia (Colocasia esculenta L.)

In the present study the pathogenicity of Phytophthora sp. causing corm rot of colocasia was proved by Koch’s postulates. Sixteen infected corm samples were collected from different markets in two districts (West Godavari and East Godavari) of Andhra Pradesh and pot experiment was carried out in the Department of Plant Pathology, SHUATS, Prayagraj during Rabi season (2022-23). Out of those, the sample which collected from Kovvur Rythu Bazar, West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh shows high pathogenicity. Five leaf extracts viz., neem, mint, lantana, tulsi and periwinkle @ 5, 10 and 15% concentrations were evaluated by using poisoned food technique against Phytophthora sp. Among all the leaf extracts, neem leaf extract @ 5, 10 and 15% concentrations recorded minimum radial growth (26.43, 24.73 and 22.77 mm, respectively) and maximum per cent inhibition (33.27, 37.59 and 42.55%, respectively) of Phytophthora sp. at 120 hrs of incubation as compared to other leaf extracts, treated (Metalaxyl) and untreated checks. The present study is limited to one trial in Prayagraj conditions, therefore to substantiate the present results more such trials are required in future for further recommendation.

Marasmius vagus (the Wandering Creamsicle), One of Florida’s Most Common Lawn Mushrooms

Marasmius vagus is one of the most common lawn mushrooms in the state of Florida. The purpose of this publication is to introduce Floridians to this mushroom, provide basic information about its biology, and aid in identification. Written by Sarah Prentice and Matthew E. Smith, and published by the UF/IFAS Plant Pathology Department, February 2024.

Effect of Bacillus subtilis, Soil Amendments and Microalgae Treatment on Fusarium equiseti of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) Prayagraj, India

Rhizome rot of turmeric caused by Fusarium equiseti emerge as a significant soil-borne threat to crop health. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Bacillus subtilis, soil amendments and microalgae treatment on Fusarium equiseti of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L). Experiment was conducted under field condition at the courtyard of department of Plant Pathology, SHUATS, Prayagraj, during kharif season of 2022. Various soil treatments including farm yard manure (FYM), spent mushroom compost (SMC), and microalgae were used, along with rhizome treatment utilizing Bacillus subtilis. The experiment was carried out in Randomized Block design (RBD) with three (3) replications. Results revealed that in the soil application, (T5) i.e., the combination of all the treatments recorded minimum disease intensity (59.26%) which was significant over other treatments and control (T0) (33.86%). To evaluate the radial growth (mm) of Fusarium equiseti in turmeric, seven botanicals from Manipur viz., Zanthoxylum acanthopodium, Phlogacanthus thyrsiformis, Solanum xanthocarpum, Centella asiatica, Drymaria cordata, Persicaria chinensis and Gynura cusimbua were investigated in vitro at 10% and 30% concentration. The antagonistic effects of various botanicals were evaluated in vitro, demonstrating inhibition of mycelial growth. Among the tested botanicals, Zanthoxylum acanthopodium inhibited the highest inhibition rate (86.27%), followed by Phlogacanthus thyrsiformis (77.45%), Solanum xanthocarpum (75.48%), Persicaria chinensis (68.62%), Drymaria cordata (65.68%), Gynura cusimbua (62.74%) with Centella asiatica displaying the lowest inhibition rate (57.84%), all at a concentration of 30%. Overall, our findings highlight the potential of integrated management strategies involving biological control agents and soil amendments for sustainable management of Fusarium equiseti in turmeric cultivation. Implementation of these strategies holds promise for improving crop health, productivity, and sustainability in turmeric production systems.

Prospecting the Effectiveness of Fungicides and Bioagents against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Penz & Sacc.

Aims: The leaf spot caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Penz & Sacc. is one of the most serious disease in all mango growing regions of the world. In vitro bioassay of fungicides and bioagents were performed to evaluate the effectiveness of different fungicides and bioagents against C. gloeosporioides.
 Study Design: Poison food techique for fungicides bioassay and dual culture technique for bioagents bioassay.
 Place and Duration of Study: The laboratory studies were conducted in the Department of Plant Pathology, N. M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat, India during 2020–2021.
 Methodology: The poison food technique assessed the efficacy of systemic, contact and combination fungicides against C. gloeosporioides. While the dual culture method was employed to gauge the potency of biocontrol agents, against C. gloeosporioides. 
 Results: In laboratory screening, systemic fungicides such as carbendazim and difenconazole were shown to have 100% growth suppression at 500 ppm. Mancozeb and copper oxychloride, two contact fungicides, demonstrated 100% growth inhibition of C. gloeosporioides at 2500 ppm . The combi-product fungicides tricyclazole 18% + mancozeb 62%, hexaconazole 4% + zineb 68%, and carbendazim 12% + mancozeb 63% were shown to exhibit 100% growth inhibition at 2000 ppm. Using the dual culture method, five distinct bioagents were tested in vitro for their ability to prevent the development of C. gleosporiodes. Trichoderma harzianum showed up as one of them to be a powerful and effective antagonist of C. gleosporiodes.
 Conclusion: In vitro fungicide and bioagent testing provides preliminary data on the effectiveness of fungicides against pathogens, guiding field testing. The study evaluated the effectiveness of fungicides and bioagents in suppressing the leaf spot pathogen of mango.

Bioconsortia: A Potential Ecofriendly Bio-Based Product to Enhance the Productivity of the Green Gram

The present investigations on the studies to see the effect of seed biopriming with bacterial consortia in green gram were conducted in a field experiment employing randomized block design with nine treatments and three replications during kharif season 2022-2023 at the Post Graduate Institute, research farm of the Department of Plant Pathology and Agricultural Microbiology, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Dist. Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. The result revealed that, among the treatment, T4 recorded the highest average plant height (65.66 cm) and average number of leaves (22.79 plant-1), average number of branches (5.23), average number of pods (30.93), average grain yield (9.18 q ha-1), average stalk yield (24.25 q ha-1) and 1000 seed weight i.e. test weight (33.78 g).

Effects of Bio-inoculation on the Growth of Cabbage as Well as the Disease Progression of Alternaria Leaf Spot

Cabbage is one of the common Cole crop which is widely grown throughout India. It is affected various disease including, Alternaria leaf spot, black rot, club root, downy mildew and powdery mildew. Alternaria leaf spot, caused by Alternaria species such as A. brassicae and A. brassicicola, has been documented on every continent and is a prevalent disease affecting cabbage. Among the various diseases impacting cabbage, it stands out as a major contributor to yield loss, averaging between 32-57%. An experiment Effects of bio-inoculation on the growth of cabbage seedlings, as well as the disease progression of Alternaria leaf spot under challenge inoculation was conducted at Department of Plant Pathology, Rama University, Kanpur during 2023. Result of the study revealed that. application of Trichoderma as a seed treatment led to higher root and shoot dry biomass (0.080 and 0.021 mg/ seedling respectively), higher % increase in root and shoot dry weight (61.25and 82.78%) was found in T1 (Seed treatment with trichoderma harzianum) whereas highest root: shoot ratio (0.222) was reported in treatment T2.