Isolation and characterization of native antagonistic rhizobacteria against Fusarium wilt of chilli to promote plant growth.

In the eastern coastal regions of Odisha, wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.capsici is an extremely damaging disease in chilli. This disease is very difficult to manage with chemical fungicides since it is soil-borne in nature. The natural rhizosphere soil of the chilli plant was used to isolate and test bacterial antagonists for their effectiveness and ability to promote plant growth. Out of the fifty-five isolates isolated from the rhizosphere of healthy chilli plants, five isolates, namely Iso 01, Iso 17, Iso 23, Iso 24, and Iso 32, showed their highly antagonistic activity against F. oxysporum f. sp. capsici under in vitro. In a dual culture, Iso 32 (73.3%) and Iso 24 (71.5%) caused the highest level of pathogen inhibition. In greenhouse trials, artificially inoculated chilli plants treated with Iso 32 (8.8%) and Iso 24 (10.2%) had decreased percent disease incidence (PDI), with percent disease reduction over control of 85.6% and 83.3%, respectively. Iso 32 and Iso 24 treated chilli seeds have shown higher seed vigor index of 973.7 and 948.8, respectively, as compared to untreated control 636.5. Furthermore, both the isolates significantly increased plant height as well as the fresh and dry weight of chilli plants under the rolled paper towel method. Morphological, biochemical, and molecular characterization identified Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (MH491049) as the key antagonist. This study demonstrates that rhizobacteria, specifically Iso 32 and Iso 24, can effectively protect chilli plants against Fusarium wilt while promoting overall plant development. These findings hold promise for sustainable and eco-friendly management of Fusarium wilt in chilli cultivation.

Mitigating postharvest quantitative and qualitative losses in mango fruits through the application of biocontrol agents: An in-vivo and in-vitro assessment.

Mango is a commercial fruit crop of India that suffers huge postharvest losses every year. The application of biocontrol agents (BCAs) bears a vast potential for managing the same, which is yet to be exploited to its fullest extent. Hence, studies were conducted for BCAs application of Debaryomyces hansenii, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens strains on mango fruit under in-vitro, in-vivo conditions to know the efficacy of these BCAs on the postharvest pathogen, shelf life and quality retention of mango fruit. The 'poisoned food technique' was attempted for in-vitro studies. For the in-vivo studies, fruit of the commercial cultivar 'Amrapali' were un-inoculated and pre-inoculated with major postharvest pathogens (anthracnose: Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and stem-end rot: Botryodiplodia theobromae) were treated with BCA, followed by ambient storage at (24 ± 4 °C, 75 ± 5 % RH). From the results, it has been observed that under in vitro studies, BCA Debaryomyces hansenii (Strain: KP006) and Bacillus subtilis (Strain: BJ0011) at the treatment level 108 CFU mL-1 while, the Pseudomonas fluorescens at 109 CFU mL-1 (Strain: BE0001) were significantly effective for pathogen inhibition. However, under the in vivo studies, the BCA Debaryomyces hansenii (Strain: KP006) at 108 CFU mL-1 treatment level was found to significantly reduce the pathogen's decay incidence while positively influencing the shelf life and biochemical (quality) attributes. This treatment increased the storage life of mango fruit by more than three days over control fruit. Therefore, BCA Debaryomyces hansenii (Strain: KP006) at 108 CFU mL-1 can be used to control the postharvest pathological loss of mango fruit without affecting its internal quality.

Salt stress influences the proliferation of Fusarium solani and enhances the severity of wilt disease in potato.

Soil salinity has emerged as a critical abiotic stress in potato production, whereas wilt disease, caused by Fusarium solani, is the significant biotic stress. An experiment was performed to decipher the occurrence of wilt incidence by F. solani FJ1 under the influence of salinity in both in vitroand pot culture conditions. High salt concentration negatively influenced root and shoot development in the variety "Kufri Jyoti" but positively affected the mycelial growth and sporulation behaviours of F. solani FJ1. There was abundant whitish mycelial growth with enhanced biomass and high sporulation (microconidia production) in F. solani FJ1 cultured on salt-supplemented media. Moreover, under high salinity conditions (EC 2-8 dS m-1), severe wilting and rotting of vascular bundles were observed in plants artificially inoculated with F. solani FJ1. The mortality rate of potato plants was significantly higher under individual and combined stresses as compared to control. The wilt index of individual and combined stressed plants was also substantially higher compared to the control. Additionally, compared to the control, there was a significant decrease in total chlorophyll content and membrane stability index of the leaves under combined stress. However, the total phenols were increased under stress conditions. The total sugar content of potato plants decreased in infected plants, but increased when exposed to salt stress or a combination of salt stress and pathogen infection. F. solani infection also increased the activity of peroxidase (POX) and decreased the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and catalase (CAT). These results suggest that Fusarium wilt and dry rot will be a more severe disease for potato cultivation in saline soils.

Corrigendum: Cytokinins: a genetic target for increasing yield potential in the CRISPR era.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.883930.].

Corrigendum: Cytokinin and abiotic stress tolerance -What has been accomplished and the way forward?

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.943025.].

Optimization of a simple, low-cost one-step reverse transcription recombinase polymerase amplification method for real-time detection of potato virus A in potato leaves and tubers.

Vegetative propagation of potatoes makes it possible for potato viruses to be transmitted through tubers. Potato virus A (PVA) is one of these viruses, which belongs to the Potyvirus genus in the Potyviridae family. Potato tuber yield can be reduced by 30-40% by PVA alone. Losses can be further exacerbated by potato virus X and/or potato virus Y infection. PVA is transmitted primarily by several species of aphids in non-persistent manner. With the aim of resolving this problem, we developed one-step reverse transcription-recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA), a highly sensitive and cost-effective method for detecting PVA in both potato tubers and leaves. Detection and amplification are performed using isothermal conditions in this method. There was good amplification of the coat protein gene in PVA with all three primers tested. To conduct this study, a primer set that can amplify specific 185 base pair (bp) product was selected. PVA detection was optimized by 30-min amplification reactions, which showed no cross-reactivity with other potato viruses. A simple heating block or water bath was used to amplify PVA product using RT-RPA at a temperature range of 38-42 °C. In comparison to conventional reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the newly developed RT-RPA protocol exhibited high sensitivity for both potato leaves and tuber tissues. Using cellular paper-based simple RNA extraction procedure, the virus was detected in leaf samples as efficiently as purified total RNA. We also found that combining LiCl-based RNA precipitation with cellular paper discs allowed us to successfully optimize RNA extraction for one-step RT-RPA for detecting PVA in tubers. Tests using this simplified one-step RT-RPA method were successfully applied to 300 samples of both leaves and tubers from various potato cultivars. In our knowledge, this is the first report of an RT-RPA assay utilizing simple RNA obtained from either cellular disc paper or LiCl coupled with cellular disc paper to detect PVA. As a result, this method was equally sensitive and specific for detecting PVA in potatoes. The developed RT-RPA assay is more versatile, durable, and do not require highly purified RNA templates, thus providing an effective alternative to RT-PCR assays for screening of germplasm, certifying planting materials, breeding for virus resistance, and real-time monitoring of PVA.

First report of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris' associated with yellowing, scorching and decline of almond trees in India.

The almond, a commercially important tree nut crop worldwide, is native to the Mediterranean region. Stone fruit trees are affected by at least 14 'Candidatus Phytoplasma' species globally, among which 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris' is one of the most widespread phytoplasma infecting Prunus dulcis, causing aster yellows disease. Recently, almond plantations of Nauni region were consistently affected by phytoplasma, as evidenced by visible symptoms, fluorescent microscopic studies and molecular characterization. During several surveys from May to September 2020-2022, almond aster yellows phytoplasma disease showing symptoms such as chlorosis, inward rolling, reddening, scorching and decline with an incidence as high as 40%. Leaf samples were collected from symptomatic almond trees and the presence of phytoplasma was confirmed through fluorescent microscopic studies by employing DAPI (4, 6-diamino-2-phenylindole) that showed distinctive light blue flourescent phytoplasma bodies in phloem sieve tube elements. The presence of phytoplasma in symptomatic almond trees was further confirmed using nested PCR with specific primer pairs followed by amplification of 16S rDNA and 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer (IS) fragments. Sequencing and BLAST analysis of expected amplicon of the 16S rDNA gene confirmed that the almond phytoplasma in Himachal Pradesh was identical to the aster yellows group phytoplasma. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA almond phytoplasma also grouped 'Prunus dulcis' aster yellows phytoplasma within 16SrI-B subgroup showed 94% nucleotide identity with 'Prunus dulcis' phytoplasma PAEs3 and 'Prunus dulcis' phytoplasma PAE28 from Iran. This research presents the first host report of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris' infecting almonds in India, expanding the knowledge of the diversity and distribution of phytoplasma strains affecting almond trees globally.

Characterization of bioactive and fruit quality compounds of promising mango genotypes grown in Himalayan plain region.

Twenty mango genotypes grown in the plains of the Himalayas were characterized by their physical, physiological, biochemical, mineral and organoleptic attributes: fruit firmness, weight, peel thickness, shape, dry seed weight, respiration rate, weight loss, and shelf life. Biochemical attributes such as soluble solids, total carotenoids, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid and total sugars were also determined. In addition, mineral content and fruit-softening enzymes were measured, and an organoleptic evaluation was performed. Polygalactouronase (PG), pectin methylesterase (PME) and lipoxygenase (LOX) were measured from the pulp adjacent to the peel. Similarly, biochemical attributes and mineral content were evaluated using fruit pulp, while organoleptic evaluation included fruit pulp characters and the fruit's external appearance. The results of the study showed that the 'Malda' genotype exhibited the highest total phenolic content (560.60 µg/100 g), total antioxidant (5.79 µmol TE/g), and titratable acidity (0.37%) among the tested genotypes. 'Amrapali' had the highest soluble solid content (25.20 °B), 'Jawahar' had the highest ascorbic acid content (44.20 mg/100 g pulp), 'Mallika' had the highest total flavonoid content (700.00 µg/g) and 'Amrapali' had the highest total carotenoid content (9.10 mg/100 g). Moreover, the genotypes 'Malda', 'Safed Malda'and 'Suvarnarekha' had a shelf life of 4-5 days longer than other tested genotypes. The genotypes with high biochemical attributes have practical utility for researchers for quality improvement programmes and processing industries as functional ingredients in industrial products. This study provides valuable information on the nutritional and functional properties of different mango genotypes, which can aid in developing improved varieties with enhanced health benefits and greater practical utility for processing industries.

Diversity of bioprotective microbial organisms in Upper Region of Assam and its efficacy against Meloidogyne graminicola.

Meloidogyne graminicola has a well-established negative impact on rice yield in transplanted and direct-seeded rice, resulting in yield losses of up to 20 to 90 percent. Studies were undertaken to isolate potential native strains of bio-control agents to manage the devastating Rice Root Knot Nematode (M. graminicola). Eighteen bacterial strains and eleven fungal strains were isolated from the rhizosphere of crops like rice, okra, ash gourd, chili, beans and cucumber, enveloping diverse soil types from the Upper Brahmaputra Valley region of Assam. Six bacterial strains were gram-positive according to morphological results, while twelve others stained negatively. Fifteen bacteria were rod-shaped, two were coccus and one was diplococcus, and all the bacterial isolates showed signs of movement. All the bacterial strains exhibited positivity for gelatin hydrolysis and catalase test. Seven bacteria showed positive, while eleven showed negative reactions to possess the ability to deduce carbon and energy from citrate. The study of the in vitro efficacy of the twenty-nine bacterial and fungal isolates tested against second-stage juveniles (J2) of Meloidogyne graminicola revealed that all the bacterial and fungal isolates potentially inhibited the test organism and caused significant mortality over sterile water treatment. The promising bacterial and fungal isolates that exhibited mortality above 50% were identified as BSH8, BTS4, BTS5, BJA15, FJB 11 and FSH5. The strain BSH8 exhibited the best result of mortality, with 80.79% mortality against J2 of M. graminicola. The strain BTS4 and BTS5 expressed mortality of 71.29% and 68.75% under in-vitro conditions and were significant. The effective and promising bioagents were identified using the 16 S rRNA sequencing as Bacillis subtilis (BSH8), Bacillus velezensis (BTS4), Alcaligenes faecalis (BTS5), Rhizobium pusense (BJA15), Talaromyces allahabadensis (FSH5) and Trichoderma asperellum (FJB11). These results indicated the microorganism's potential against M. graminicola and its potential for successful biological implementation. Further, the native strains could be tested against various nematode pests of rice in field conditions. Its compatibility with various pesticides and the implication of the potential strains in integrated pest management can be assessed.

Investigating the Interplay between Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus Infection, Starch Metabolism and Antioxidant Defence System in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.).

The potato apical leaf curl disease is caused by tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus-potato (ToLCNDV-potato), which severely alters a plant's starch metabolism, starch hydrolysing enzymes, and antioxidant mechanism. In this study, the result suggested that ToLCNDV-potato significantly (p < 0.01) affected the morphological parameters and photosynthetic pigment system in both the cultivars of potato, viz., Kufri Pukhraj (susceptible) and Kufri Bahar (tolerant). However, the impact of ToLCNDV-potato was lower in Kufri Bahar. Moreover, the viral infection in potato showed significant (p < 0.01) enhancement in the leakage of plant oxidative metabolites such as proline and malondialdehyde (MDA) which was further confirmed with higher electrolyte leakage. The viral infection imbalance of starch metabolism in the leaves ultimately affects the carbohydrate profile. ToLCNDV-potato significantly lowered starch synthesis, enhanced the accumulation of sucrose, glucose, fructose and-which was further validated by enzymatic estimation of ß-amylase-α-amylase and phosphorylase activity in the leaves of both cultivars. The antioxidant enzymes, viz., catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase, were reported to be enhanced in both the cultivars due to ToLCNDV-potato infection. The higher enhancement of antioxidant enzyme activity was observed in Kufri Bahar, which signifies its resistant attributes. These findings in the potato plant broaden our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of starch metabolism and antioxidant activity and provide proof of concept for breeding potato for ToLCNDV-potato tolerance.

RNA-seq analysis reveals an early defense response to tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus in potato cultivar Kufri Bahar.

Potatoes in India are very susceptible to apical leaf curl disease, which causes severe symptoms and greater yield losses. Because the majority of potato cultivars are susceptible to the virus, it is crucial to discover sources of resistance and investigate the mechanism of resistance/susceptibility in potato cultivars. In this study, the gene expression profile of two potato cultivars, Kufri Bahar (resistant) and Kufri Pukhraj (susceptible), varying in their level of resistance to ToLCNDV, was analyzed using RNA-Seq. The Ion ProtonTM system was used to sequence eight RiboMinus RNA libraries from inoculated and uninoculated potato plants at 15 and 20 days after inoculation (DAI). The findings indicated that the majority of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were cultivar-or time-specific. These DEGs included genes for proteins that interact with viruses, genes linked with the cell cycle, genes for proteins involved in defense, transcription and translation initiation factors, and plant hormone signaling pathway genes. Interestingly, defense responses were generated early in Kufri Bahar, at 15 DAI, which may have impeded the replication and spread of ToLCNDV. This research provides a genome-wide transcriptional analysis of two potato cultivars with variable levels of ToLCNDV resistance. At an early stage, we observed suppression of genes that interact with viral proteins, induction of genes associated with restriction of cell division, genes encoding defense proteins, AP2/ERF transcription factors, and altered expression of zinc finger protein genes, HSPs, JA, and SA pathway-related genes. Our findings add to a greater comprehension of the molecular basis of potato resistance to ToLCNDV and may aid in the development of more effective disease management techniques.

Utilization of primary and secondary biochemical compounds in cotton as diagnostic markers for measuring resistance to cotton leaf curl virus.

Introduction: Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is one of the most important staple fibrous crops cultivated in India and globally. However, its production and quality are greatly hampered by cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD) caused by cotton leaf curl virus (CLCuV). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the biochemical mechanisms associated with CLCuD resistance in contrasting cotton genotypes. Methods: Four commercial cotton varieties with susceptible (HS 6 and RCH-134 BG-II) and resistant (HS 1236 and Bunty) responses were used to analyze the role of primary (sugar, protein, and chlorophyll) and secondary (gossypol, phenol, and tannin) biochemical compounds produced by the plants against infection by CLCuV. The resistant cultivars with increased activity of protein, phenol, and tannin exhibited biochemical barriers against CLCuV infection, imparting resistance in cotton cultivars. Results: Reducing sugar in the healthy plants of the susceptible Bt cultivar RCH 134 BG-II exhibited the highest value of 1.67 mg/g at 90 days. In contrast, the lowest value of 0.07 mg g-1 was observed at 60 DAS in the highly diseased plants of the susceptible hybrid HS 6. Higher phenol content (0.70 mg g-1) was observed at 90 DAS in resistant cultivars, whereas highly susceptible plants exhibited the least phenol (0.25 mg g-1) at 90 DAS. The lowest protein activity was observed at 120 DAS in susceptible cultivars HS 6 (9.4 mg g-1) followed by RCH 134 BG-II (10.5 mg g-1). However, other biochemical compounds, including chlorophyll, sugar, and gossypol, did not show a significant role in resistance against CLCuV. The disease progression analysis in susceptible cultivars revealed non-significant differences between the two susceptible varieties. Discussion: Nevertheless, these compounds are virtually associated with the basic physiological and metabolic mechanisms of cotton plants. Among the primary biochemical compounds, only protein activity was proposed as the first line of defense in cotton against CLCuV. The secondary level of defense line in resistance showed the activity of secondary biochemical compounds phenol and tannins, which displayed a significant increase in their levels while imparting resistance against CLCuV in cotton.

Bibliometric analysis of real-time PCR-based pathogen detection in plant protection research: a comprehensive study.

Introduction: The discovery of RT-PCR-based pathogen detection and gene expression analysis has had a transformative impact on the field of plant protection. This study aims to analyze the global research conducted between 2001 and 2021, focusing on the utilization of RT-PCR techniques for diagnostic assays and gene expression level studies. By retrieving data from the 'Dimensions' database and employing bibliometric visualization software, this analysis provides insights into the major publishing journals, institutions involved, leading journals, influential authors, most cited articles, and common keywords. Methods: The 'Dimensions' database was utilized to retrieve relevant literature on RT-PCR-based pathogen detection. Fourteen distinct search queries were employed, and the resulting dataset was analyzed for trends in scholarly publications over time. The bibliometric visualization software facilitated the identification of major publishing journals, institutions, leading journals, influential authors, most cited articles, and common keywords. The study's search query was based on the conjunction 'AND', ensuring a comprehensive analysis of the literature. Results: The analysis revealed a significant increase in the number of scholarly publications on RT-PCR-based pathogen detection over the years, indicating a growing interest and investment in research within the field. This finding emphasizes the importance of ongoing investigation and development, highlighting the potential for further advancements in knowledge and understanding. In terms of publishing journals, Plos One emerged as the leading journal, closely followed by BMC Genomics and Phytopathology. Among the highly cited journals were the European Journal of Plant Pathology, BMC Genomics, and Fungal Genetics and Biology. The publications with the highest number of citations and publications were associated with the United Nations and China. Furthermore, a network visualization map of co-authorship analysis provided intriguing insights into the collaborative nature of the research. Out of 2,636 authors analyzed, 50 surpassed the level threshold, suggesting active collaboration among researchers in the field. Discussion: Overall, this bibliometric analysis demonstrates that the research on RT-PCR-based pathogen detection is thriving. However, there is a need for further strengthening using modern diagnostic tools and promoting collaboration among well-equipped laboratories. The findings underscore the significance of RT-PCR-based pathogen detection in plant protection and highlight the potential for continued advancements in this field. Continued research and collaboration are vital for enhancing knowledge, developing innovative diagnostic tools, and effectively protecting plants from pathogens.

Non-dairy prebiotics: Conceptual relevance with nutrigenomics and mechanistic understanding of the effects on human health.

The increasing health awareness of consumers has made a shift towards vegan and non-dairy prebiotics counterparts. Non-dairy prebiotics when fortified with vegan products have interesting properties and widely found its applications in food industry. The chief vegan products that have prebiotics added include water-soluble plant-based extracts (fermented beverages, frozen desserts), cereals (bread, cookies), and fruits (juices & jelly, ready to eat fruits). The main prebiotic components utilized are inulin, oligofructose, polydextrose, fructooligosaccharides, and xylooligosaccharides. Prebiotics' formulations, type and food matrix affect food products, host health, and technological attributes. Prebiotics from non-dairy sources have a variety of physiological effects that help to prevent and treat chronic metabolic diseases. This review focuses on mechanistic insight on non-dairy prebiotics affecting human health, how nutrigenomics is related to prebiotics development, and role of gene-microbes' interactions. The review will provide industries and researchers with important information about prebiotics, mechanism of non-dairy prebiotics and microbe interaction as well as prebiotic based vegan products.

Biostimulants and environmental stress mitigation in crops: A novel and emerging approach for agricultural sustainability under climate change.

Pesticide and fertilizer usage is at the center of agricultural production to meet the demands of an ever-increasing global population. However, rising levels of chemicals impose a serious threat to the health of humans, animals, plants, and even the entire biosphere because of their toxic effects. Biostimulants offer the opportunity to reduce the agricultural chemical footprint owing their multilevel, beneficial properties helping to make agriculture more sustainable and resilient. When applied to plants or to the soil an increased absorption and distribution of nutrients, tolerance to environmental stress, and improved quality of plant products explain the mechanisms by which these probiotics are useful. In recent years, the use of plant biostimulants has received widespread attention across the globe as an ecologically acceptable alternative to sustainable agricultural production. As a result, their worldwide market continues to grow, and further research will be conducted to broaden the range of the products now available. Through this review, we present a current understanding of biostimulants, their mode of action and their involvement in modulating abiotic stress responses, including omics research, which may provide a comprehensive assessment of the crop's response by correlating molecular changes to physiological pathways activated under stress conditions aggravated by climate change.

Exploring the molecular basis of resistance to Botrytis cinerea in chickpea genotypes through biochemical and morphological markers.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important pulse crop around the globe and a valuable source of protein in the human diet. However, it is highly susceptible to various plant pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses, which can cause significant damage from the seedling phase until harvest, leading to reduced yields and affecting its production. Botrytis cinerea can cause significant damage to chickpea crops, especially under high humidity and moisture conditions. This fungus can cause grey mould disease, which can lead to wilting, stem and pod rot, and reduced yields. Chickpea plants have developed specific barriers to counteract the harmful effects of this fungus. These barriers include biochemical and structural defences. In this study, the defence responses against B. cinerea were measured by the quantification of biochemical metabolites such as antioxidant enzymes, malondialdehyde (MDA), proline, glutathione (GSH), H2O2, ascorbic acid (AA) and total phenol in the leaf samples of chickpea genotypes (one accession of wild Cicer species, viz. Cicer pinnatifidum188 identified with high level of resistance to Botrytis grey mould (BGM) and a cultivar, Cicer arietinumPBG5 susceptible to BGM grown in the greenhouse). Seedlings of both the genotypes were inoculated with (1 × 104 spore mL-1) inoculum of isolate 24, race 510 of B. cinerea and samples were collected after 1, 3, 5, and 7 days post-inoculation (dpi). The enhanced enzymatic activity was observed in the pathogen-inoculated leaf samples as compared to uninoculated (healthy control). Among inoculated genotypes, the resistant one exhibited a significant change in enzymatic activity, total phenolic content, MDA, proline, GSH, H2O2, and AA, compared to the susceptible genotype. The study also examined the isozyme pattern of antioxidant enzymes at various stages of B. cinerea inoculation. Results from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed that BGM had a more significant impact on susceptible genotypes compared to resistant ones when compared to the control (un-inoculated). In addition, SEM and FTIR spectroscopy analyses confirmed the greater severity of BGM on susceptible genotypes compared to their resistant counterparts. Our results suggest the role of antioxidant enzymes and other metabolites as defence tools and biochemical markers to understand compatible and non-compatible plant-pathogen interactions better. The present investigation will assist future plant breeding programs aimed at developing resistant varieties.

Investigating the impact of fungicides and mungbean genotypes on the management of pod rot disease caused by Fusarium equiseti and Fusarium chlamydosporum.

Introduction: Mungbean is a vital pulse crop in India that can thrive in dry-land conditions and is grown in three seasons, with the added benefit of being used as green manure due to its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. Recently, pod rot disease has emerged as a serious threat to mungbean cultivation in India. Methods: In this study, morpho-molecular identification of associated pathogens and the bio-efficacy of systemic and non-systemic fungicides as well as genotype screening was performed during the years 2019 and 2020. The pathogens associated with this disease were confirmed on the basis of morphological and molecular characterization. For the molecular characterization, the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef-1) gene sequences were amplified by using primers (EF1 and EF2). Results: Under in vitro conditions, trifloxystrobin + tebuconazole 75% WG was found to be the most effective against Fusarium equiseti (ED50 2.39 µg ml-1) and Fusarium chlamydosporum (ED50 4.23 µg ml-1) causal agents of pod rot of mungbean. Under field conditions, three applications of trifloxystrobin + tebuconazole 75% WG at 0.07% as a foliar application at fortnightly intervals starting from the last week of July proved to be the most effective against pod rot disease on mungbean cultivars, i.e., ML 2056 and SML 668. To identify the potential resistance sources, 75 interspecific derivative and mutant lines of mungbean were screened for disease reaction to pod rot under natural epiphytotic conditions for the years 2019 and 2020. Genotypic differences were observed for resistance to pod rot disease. The study revealed that among the tested genotypes, ML 2524 exhibited resistance to pod rot disease, with a disease incidence of 15.62% and disease severity of 7.69%. In addition, 41 other genotypes were found to be moderately resistant (MR) to the disease. Conclusion: Altogether, the identified management options will offer an immediate solution to manage this disease under recent outbreak conditions and pave a path for futuristic disease management using identified resistant sources in breeding programs.