Interference of bio-control Trichoderma to enhance physical and physiological strength of sugarcane during Pokkah boeng infection.

Tremendous benefits have been derived from the use of fungicides but excessive use of chemical fungicides not only posing threat to human and animal life but also contaminates the prevailing environment. Damage by pathogenic fungi alone causes significant damage to crops like maize, rice, wheat, soybeans, and potatoes. Therefore, it becomes imperative that these diseases are checked and controlled, for which chemical pesticides are being sprayed on plants extensively. Considering the devastating damage and toxicity, the global focus has taken a drift from synthetic chemicals to nature-friendly biological control agents. The present study focuses on the use of biological control agents particularly Trichoderma in sugarcane during Pokkah boeng infection. In the present experiment, twenty promising Trichoderma strains were evaluated for plant growth promotion, lytic enzymes, and physiological and biocontrol activity. Out of the twenty, four potential Trichoderma strains were assessed in the pot experiment viz. T. harzianum strain T28, T41 and T49 and T. aureoviride strain T38. The T. harzianum (T28) showed efficient plant growth-promoting traits as it produced IAA (20.67 µg/ml), phosphorus solubilization (18.57 µg/ml), and cell wall degrading enzymes such as chitinase (24.98 µg/ml) and ß-glucanase (29.98 µg/ml). The interference of biocontrol agent T. harzianum (T28) controlled the disease by 73.55%. Apart from this, the inoculation of Trichoderma (T28) enhanced growth attributes including germination percentage (26.61%), mean tiller number (8.28 tiller/pot), individual cane length (241.5 cm), single cane weight (1.13 kg) and the number of milleable canes (6.00 cane/pot). Improvements in physiological activities at different growth stages of the sugarcane crop were observed based on the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) on the leaf surface, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and photosynthetic rate. Further, improvement in juice quality parameters was also observed as it recorded the highest 0brix, sucrose, and commercial cane sugar by 21.26%, 19.28%, and 13.50%, respectively, by applying T. harzianum strain T28. Thus, results proved that T. harzianum strain T28 may be an effective eco-friendly biocontrol tool for managing Pokkah boeng disease in sugarcane. This is the first report of the biocontrol potential of Trichoderma spp. against Fusarium proliferatum causing Pokkah boeng disease in sugarcane.

Anorectal Malformations: Histomorphological and Immunohistochemical Evaluation of Neuronal Dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: The patients with anorectal malformations (ARM) have been identified with specific and non-specific pathological changes. The present study was conducted with the aim to study histomorphological changes and various immunohistochemical (IHC) markers (calretinin, S-100, CD117) in intestinal wall specimens to assess neuronal dysfunction in ARM patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty children having ARM were included in our study. In all the cases, a representative biopsy was received. The tissue sections were processed and wax blocks were prepared. Various histopathological changes were examined on routine H&E. Representative sections were further subjected to IHC staining for ganglion cells (calretinin), interstitial cells of Cajal (CD117) and nerve bundles (S-100 protein). Descriptive variables were analyzed to assess neuronal dysfunction in cases of ARM. Chi-square was used to compare the categorical values. P-value <0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. RESULTS: Biopsies were studied for histological changes using H&E stain. The most frequently observed histological finding in mucosa was inflammation and congestion in 87% and 67% of cases respectively. Disrupted muscularis mucosa was observed in 60%, eroded mucosa in 57%, and hemorrhage in 40% of cases. Submucosal inflammation and congestion were most common finding observed in submucosa in 87% and 80% cases respectively. CD117 was used to demonstrate altered density and distribution of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in cases of ARM. Majority of them belong to grade 2+ category (n=17, 57%) followed by grade 1+ (n=8, 17%) for ICC cells. Altered density and distribution of ICC was observed in ARM which was statistically significant (p=0.02). CONCLUSION: The malformed segments in ARM show various specific and non-specific histomorphological changes. Examination of H&E sections along with IHC stains evaluation can minimize need for repeated biopsies and unnecessary radical treatment. CD117 immunohistochemistry is reliable adjunctive test in evaluation of ICC in motility disorders of bowel. Calretinin is good marker for identification of ganglion cells. In ARM, density and distribution of ICCs is significantly altered which can explain postoperative dysmotility.