Indigenous technical knowledge of Assam for pests management – Exploit potential in organic agriculture

One neighborhood investigation was conducted amongst 500 farmers of Nagaon, Golaghat, Jorhat and Dibrugarh districts of Central Brahmaputra valley Zone and Upper Brahmaputra valley Zone of Assam. Only 21.8% of farmers completely practiced the indigenous technology knowhow (ITK) for pest management, though 48.4% were aware about ITKs, whereas 41.8% famers apply synthetic chemical driven approaches. A total of 30 different types of ITKs had been collected which weresorted out crop wise and placed in different groups based on their use i.e. rice (20), pulses (1), tuber crops (3), vegetables (2) and fruits (4). It is speculated that a comprehensive study on different ITKs of Assam and their appropriate validation could be the valuable components for organic farming technology.

Tackling banded leaf and sheath blight disease of maize through activation of host defense

Maize or corn (Zea mays L.) is the third most important cereal crop in the economy of agriculture. Banded leaf and sheath blight (BLSB) caused by Rhizoctonia solani (= R. solani f. sp. sasakii) is one of the highly devastating soil-borne diseases of maize in South and Southeast Asia. Although the use of resistant varieties is preferred as an eco-friendly and cheapest approach to disease management, unfortunately, no true genetic sources of BLSB resistance are available in maize. Hence, chemically induced resistance in the host plant is considered an alternative strategy against many crop diseases. The present study investigated the basis of BLSB resistance in maize hybrid variety Vivek QPM-9 by seed priming with two plant defense inducers, viz., salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA). Higher concentrations (100 ppm) of SA and JA were significantly more effective against R. solani than the lower concentrations (75 and 50 ppm) in vitro. The study found that the application of SA and JA as exogenous pretreatment resulted in improved seed germination, increased seedling weight, and enhanced overall plant growth. During the Kharif season (June–October) in both 2020 and 2021, under in vivo conditions in a net house, the application of SA at 100 and 75 ppm and JA at 100 ppm resulted in a significant decrease in the percent disease index (PDI) of 46.79%, 47.05%, and 48.85%, respectively. Both plant defense inducers elevated the activity of the enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) in maize at higher concentrations of 100 ppm. Seed priming with a high concentration of the inducers was more effective in suppressing the disease and increasing grain yield under the controlled condition of the net house. The study shows the scope of using need-based fungicides with a reduced amount in the management of fungal diseases of maize by adopting a plant defense inducer-mediated host resistance approach

Expression analysis of maize genes during Bipolaris maydis infection and assessing their role in disease resistance and symptom development

82-93Bipolaris maydis causing maydis leaf blight (MLB) is an aggressive fungal pathogen of maize. The present study focused on the responses of certain defence genes in the resistant and susceptible maize inbred lines viz., SC-7 and CM 119, respectively, against MLB and symptom development in the host. Biochemical activity of the PR protein β-1, 3-glucanase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) assay, with total chlorophyll content was recorded for both the inbred lines before and after pathogen inoculation. Gene expression was studied by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) at different time intervals post inoculation. Differential expression pattern was observed even at the same time point in both the inbred lines. Enhanced expression of the pathogenesis related (PR) protein and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) enzyme at different time points in resistant lines indicated their association with infection stages of B. maydis and response of the resistant line against disease establishment. Down regulated gene expression of pheophytinase suggests reduced enzyme activity linked with less chlorophyll degradation in the resistant line compared to the susceptible line. This fact directly correlates with symptom development of MLB disease. The present study thus revealed that the expression of defence related genes is aligned with developmental stages of the pathogen to restrict its growth and gene expression of constitutive genes also changes differentially during the disease development in resistant and susceptible lines

Biochar: A Comprehensive Review on a Natural Approach to Plant Disease Management

Since time immemorial organic amendments have been an important strategy for improving soil fertility and suppressing a wide range of soil-borne pathogens. Biochar, a charcoal-like amendment has true potential in managing phytopathogens with an eco-friendly approach. It is produced by subjecting plant materials and agricultural waste to high temperatures of around 900°C in limited oxygen conditions. Biochar is considered to be an excellent carbon sequester and has an undeniably imperative role in improving soil properties. Biochar has innumerable applications in the remediation of environmental pollutants by immobilizing heavy metals such as Cadmium and Arsenic and degradation of dyes and pesticides. One of the most significant advantages of biochar in addition to mitigating environmental pollution is effectively managing plant pathogens by altering soil physical and chemical properties and promoting antagonistic microorganisms. Biochar directly suppresses plant pathogens by priming plant defense mechanisms. For instance, sugarcane bagasse biochar remediates Cd from contaminated soil, and citrus wood biochar induces systemic resistance against Botrytis cinerea in host-Lycopersicon esculentum, Capsicum annuum L. cv. Maccabi and Fragaria ananassa. Nevertheless, it is essential to acknowledge its limitations, such as the potential to absorb and enhance the residual activity of harmful chemicals. Further research is needed to develop a deeper understanding of biochar’s properties and mechanisms for more effective results. Advanced techniques like meta-transcriptomics and metaproteomics hold the potential to provide invaluable insights into this field. The review provides a comprehensive overview of current information regarding biochar, covering its production techniques and highlighting its agricultural benefits, with a particular focus on its role in plant disease management. Furthermore, the associated risks and concerns are also discussed

Column evaluation of a water defluoridation technique based on phosphoric acid-enhanced limestone adsorption

374-382Fluoride removal from water by phosphoric acid-enhanced limestone defluoridation has been studied in a continuous-flow mode using crushed limestone column by adding dilute phosphoric acid (PA) to the influent water. The flow rate of the gravitationally fed water in an up-flow mode is controlled with a flow controller. Fluoride has been removed from initial 5 mg/L to 0.1 mg/L using 0.01-0.05 M initial PA. The pH of the treated water was between 7.4 and 7.7. The present continuous-flow mode show almost four times higher fluoride removal capacity of the limestone than that of the batch mode reported earlier. The continuous-flow mode also shows better regeneration of the exhausted limestone and lower recurring cost compared to that of the batch mode. The kinetic and mechanistic behaviour of fluoride removal in the continuous-flow mode has been found to be somewhat different from that of the batch mode. Three stages of fluoride removal observed as a function of throughput volume have been attributed to gradually diminishing precipitation and sorption of fluoride as the limestone surface is gradually covered by adsorbed fluoride, and precipitate of calcium carbonate and fluoroapatite

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Not AvailableBishakta aru khadyor upojyogi kathphular parthokyoNot Availabl

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Not AvailableAsomor kathphula:Opomrityu kenekoi rudhibo'Not Availabl

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Not AvailableMushroom cultivation in Assam: Problems and prospectsNot Availabl