Understanding the structure and dynamics of fungi inhabiting the rhizosphere is paramount for advancing sustainable agriculture and preserving ecosystem health. Rhizospheric fungi possess considerable potential to enhance crop yield, diminish dependence on chemical inputs, and promote ecologically sound agricultural methodologies over an extended period. A study was conducted to isolate and delineate rhizospheric soil fungi associated with Lagenaria siceraria Standl. Through a comprehensive analysis of morphological, cultural, and microscopic attributes, a total of twenty distinct species of soil fungi were successfully isolated and identified from the rhizosphere of L. siceraria.These fungi were Acremonium falciforme (Carrioon) W. Gams; Alternaria alternata Fr., Keissier; Aspergillus clavatus Desmazieres; A flavus Link; A. fumigatus Fresenius; A. nidulans (Eidam) G. Winter; A. niger Tieghem; A. oryzae (Ahlburg) Cohn; A. terreus Thom; Curvularia brachyspora Boedijn; Fusarium culmorum (Wm.G. Sm.) Sacc.; F. oxysporum Schlecht., Emend, Synder & Hansen; F. solani (Mart.) Sacc.; Verticillium nigrescens Pethybr.; Mucor mucedo Linnaeus; Paecilomyces variotii Bainer; Penicillium oxalicum Currie and Thom; P. solitum Westling; Talaromyces purpureogenus (Stoll) Samson and Trichoderma harzianum Rifai. This study will be instrumental in the precise identification of soil fungi intricately associated with various crop plants and some fungal species can be harnessed through in vivo methodologies to safeguard and enhance the sustainable cultivation of Lagenaria siceraria. Furthermore, certain strains exhibit antimicrobial properties, particularly in combating pathogenic fungal organisms.. KEYWORDS :Lagenaria siceraria, rhizospheric fungi

The present study was aimed to evaluate different strains of oyster mushrooms during rainy and winter seasons for higher yield and comparative nutritive value. The strain PL-19-05 took minimum time (8.75 days) for spawn run in rainy season which was significantly faster than other strains in both the seasons. While the strain Pl-19-04 took maximum time of 17.75 days in winter season. The strain PL-19-06 took minimum days (18 days) for pin head initiation followed by the strain PL-19-04 and PL-19-01 in rainy season. Higher fruiting body yield and biological efficiency (932.32 g kg of substrate dry weight and -1 93.23%) were achieved by the strain PL-19-06 in the winter season, followed by the strain PL-19-01 (910.66 g kg of substrate dry weight and 91.07%) in winter and PL-19-06 (901.00 g kg of substrate dry -1 -1 weight and 90.10%) in rainy season. The lowest yield and biological efficiency were observed in PL-19-02 (708.25 g kg of substrate dry weight and 70.83%) in rainy season. Nutritional analysis revealed the highest -1 moisture content (90.51%) and carbohydrate (45.75%) in the strain PL-19-07, whereas the strain PL-19-03 had the highest protein content (8.43 mg 100 mg ). The results of this study revealed that winter season was -1 found suitable for most of the strains but the strain PL-19-06 could be recommended for commercial cultivation in both seasons.. KEYWORDS :Biological efficiency, oyster mushroom

Soil borne fungal diseases viz., vascular wilt (Fusarium oxysporum), basal stem rot and blight (Sclerotium rolfsii) and collar rot and web blight (Rhizoctonia solani) result in drastic yield loss in yard long bean vegetable crop. Synthetic fumigants have been banned owing to the hazards they pose to human beings, ozone layer and the environment. Thus, the present research work was undertaken to identify potential alternatives to synthetic fumigants. An emerging technique viz., biofumigation when evaluated by paired plate technique using 2.5 g bulbs of Allium sativum (garlic) could completely (100%) inhibit the mycelial growth of all the three pathogens, but not that of the bioagent, Trichoderma asperellum, revealing the compatibility between the biofumigant and the bioagent. Steam distillation and further, gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of garlic essential oil could identify diallyl disulphide (DADS), as one of its major components. DADS (0.30%) completely (100%) inhibited the mycelial growth of all the three fungal pathogens and promoted germination of seeds of yard long bean. It was also compatible with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) as evidenced by enhanced germination percentage, maximum nodule number and vesicle percentage in roots. Besides fungicidal potential, DADS also revealed insecticidal property against the two major insect pests of yard long bean viz., black aphid (Aphis craccivora) and pulse beetle (Callosobruchus chinensis) indicating the possibility of integrated pest management in the crop. The contact toxicity and mean repellence of DADS (LC 50) against pulse beetle were 666.90 ppm and 71.1 ppm per cm r film residue method 2 espectively, when tested by . The fumigant and contact toxicity of DADS against black aphid were 0.029 μl mL air and 6.87 mgcm respectively, when tested by head space μ1 -2 analysis. Soil fumigation using garlic bulbs (10g per pot) two weeks prior to planting and soil plastering using cowdung slurry followed by soil application of T. asperellum multiplied in cowdung: neem cake mixture (9:1 ratio) after one week as well as soil drenching using 0.30 per cent DADS followed by T. asperellum multiplied in cowdung: neem cake mixture (9:1 ratio) after one week were effective in reducing the incidence and severity of the soil borne diseases. Further studies are in progress to identify the upregulation of genes of various pathways in T. asperellum to reveal the principle behind its compatibility with DADS by transcriptome analysis.. KEYWORDS :Allium sativum, biofumigant, diallyl disulphide, soil borne pathogens, Trichoderma asperellum, Vigna unguiculata sesquipedalis

Fusarium wilt of pea, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi, is one of the most serious fungal diseases that can cause severe yield loss in pea. As a result, the present investigation was carried out to evaluate the performance of certain potential single and combination fungicides for the successful management of pea wilt. Seven single fungicides, Tebuconazole (1 g l ), Chlorothalonil (2.5 g l ), Propiconazole (1 ml l ), -1 -1 -1 Azoxystrobin (1 ml l ), Difenoconazole (1 ml l ), Propineb (1 ml l ), and Thiophanate methyl (1 g l ), and -1 -1 -1 -1 seven combination fungicides, Metalaxyl 8% + Mancozeb 64% (2.5 g l ), Hexaconazole 4% + -1 Carbendazim 16% SC (1 g l ), Carboxin 37.5% + Thiram 37.5% (2.5 g l ), Tebuconazole 50% + -1 -1 Trifloxystrobin 25% (1 ml l ), Azoxystrobin 11% +Tebuconazole 18.3% SC (1 ml l ), Azoxystrobin 18.2% -1 -1 + Difenoconazole 11.4% SC (1 ml l ), and Fluopyram 17.7% + Tebuconazole 17.7% SC (1 ml l ) were -1 -1 tested in vitro and in the field during the years 2020-21 and 2021-22, respectively.Under in vitro, Tebuconazole and Thiophanate methyl were the most effective fungicides, with no radial growth and 100 per cent test pathogen growth inhibition. Azoxystrobin + Difenoconazole, Hexaconazole + Carbendazim, and Carboxin + Thiram were the most efficient combination fungicide, with no radial growth and 100 per cent pathogen growth suppression. Later, all fourteen selected fungicides were assessed as seed treatments against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. pisi for their efficacy in reducing wilt incidence and enhancing yield under field conditions during rabi 2020-21 and 2021-22. Tebuconazole (T6) at 0.1 per cent reduced disease incidence (9.91%) and increased yield (14.67 q ha ) with the highest C:B ratio of 1:1.88. Seed treatment -1 with a combination fungicide of Azoxystrobin + Difenoconazole (T5) at 0.1 per cent demonstrated the lowest disease incidence (7.80%), highest mean yield (14.88 q ha ), and highest C:B ratio (1:1.95). -1 Combiformulations fungicides showed additive effect of the protectant and systemic fungicides over solo fungicide application. Coformulations are more effective than individual fungicides at controlling pea wilt in areas where it is common. KEYWORDS :Fusrium oxysporum f.sp. pisi, fungicides, pea, wilt

Erysiphe polygoni DC, the causative agent of powdery mildew, poses a significant threat to pea crop, resulting in substantial yield and economic losses. To address this menace, an exploration of intrinsic resistance within pea germplasm becomes imperative for effective disease management. In our study, phenotyping of 1095 pea accessions, sourced from both indigenous and exotic origins, under natural epiphytotic conditions during Rabi 2021-22, revealed a prevailing susceptibility, with over 60 per cent disease severity in majority of accessions. Remarkably, only 22 accessions, including IC208327, IC220109, IC220378, IC258401, IC262762, IC262849, IC267140, IC267174, IC267727, IC274039, IC274040, IC310074, IC311066, IC345548, IC424898, IC552779, IC613133, IC629544, IC629687, NC57793, IC220193 and EC598669, exhibited resistance with a disease score of <1. Subsequent, pot screening of these 22 resistant accessions under artificial epiphytotic conditions during Rabi 2022-23 confirmed their resistance showing disease severity ranging from 5.83 - 17.50 per cent. Recognizing the pivotal role of resistant varieties in disease management, these identified accessions hold immense potential as resistant donors in crop improvement programs.. KEYWORDS :Germplasm, pea, powdery mildew, resistance