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Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa

In the imperial Gazetteer of India 1878, Pusa was recorded as a government estate of about 1350 acres in Darbhanba. It was acquired by East India Company for running a stud farm to supply better breed of horses mainly for the army. Frequent incidence of glanders disease (swelling of glands), mostly affecting the valuable imported bloodstock made the civil veterinary department to shift the entire stock out of Pusa. A British tobacco concern Beg Sutherland & co. got the estate on lease but it also left in 1897 abandoning the government estate of Pusa. Lord Mayo, The Viceroy and Governor General, had been repeatedly trying to get through his proposal for setting up a directorate general of Agriculture that would take care of the soil and its productivity, formulate newer techniques of cultivation, improve the quality of seeds and livestock and also arrange for imparting agricultural education. The government of India had invited a British expert. Dr. J. A. Voelcker who had submitted as report on the development of Indian agriculture. As a follow-up action, three experts in different fields were appointed for the first time during 1885 to 1895 namely, agricultural chemist (Dr. J. W. Leafer), cryptogamic botanist (Dr. R. A. Butler) and entomologist (Dr. H. Maxwell Lefroy) with headquarters at Dehradun (U.P.) in the forest Research Institute complex. Surprisingly, until now Pusa, which was destined to become the centre of agricultural revolution in the country, was lying as before an abandoned government estate. In 1898. Lord Curzon took over as the viceroy. A widely traveled person and an administrator, he salvaged out the earlier proposal and got London’s approval for the appointment of the inspector General of Agriculture to which the first incumbent Mr. J. Mollison (Dy. Director of Agriculture, Bombay) joined in 1901 with headquarters at Nagpur The then government of Bengal had mooted in 1902 a proposal to the centre for setting up a model cattle farm for improving the dilapidated condition of the livestock at Pusa estate where plenty of land, water and feed would be available, and with Mr. Mollison’s support this was accepted in principle. Around Pusa, there were many British planters and also an indigo research centre Dalsing Sarai (near Pusa). Mr. Mollison’s visits to this mini British kingdom and his strong recommendations. In favour of Pusa as the most ideal place for the Bengal government project obviously caught the attention for the viceroy.

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2012 - 20133
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Subject: Plant Pathology × End date: 2013 × Start date: 2010 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Fungal flora in soils of some Krishi Vigyan kemdras of zone - I of Bihar with special reference to population of Trichoderma species.
    (Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2013) Priya, Shweta; Upadhyay, J. P.
    The present study was carried out to know the distribution of fungal flora with special reference to population of Trichoderma species in 5 Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) of Zone I of Bihar viz., Jale (Darbhanga), Saraiya (Muzaffarpur), Hariharpur (Vaishali), Birauli (Samastiur) and Madhopur (West Champaran). The fungal flora were isolated from the soil samples collected from cultivated field, orchard and vegetable plots of local farmers. The soil of cultivated plots of wheat (Triticum aestivum) field at KVK Jale had sandy loam while orchard’s soil had loamy sand texture. Soil pH of all samples was neutral to alkaline. Organic carbon ranged from 0.26 to 0.92 per cent. Higher fungal population (6 X 103 cfu/g soil) was recorded in soil of wheat field followed by orchard and brinjal (Solanum melongena) plot. Saprophytic fungus Aspergillus and Penicillium were observed in most of the soil samples. Trichoderma species were present in all the samples except in soils of lowland field of wheat. The soil texture of cultivated plots of wheat at KVK, Saraiya was silt clay loam whereas soil from brinjal’s plot of local farmer had silt loam texture. Soil pH was neutral to alkaline with higher organic carbon content (0.81 to 1.40 %). Maximum fungal population was recorded in soils of wheat plot 7 (14.6 X 103 cfu/g soil). Aspergillus was dominant in most of the soil samples. Lower population of Trichoderma was recorded in all the samples. Soil samples from KVK, Vaishali belonged to orchards of guava (Psidium guajava) and mango (Mangifera indica), mustard (Brassica compestris) field and cauliflower (Brassica olerecea) plot of local farmer. These soil samples showed wide range of pH (6.6 to 8.2) and organic carbon (0.24 to 0.71 %). Maximum fungal flora was isolated in soil of guava orchard and mustard field while it was minimum in cauliflower plot of local farmer (8.0 X 103 cfu/g soil). Penicillium species commonly observed in isolation. Maximum population of Trichoderma (5.3 X 103 cfu/g soil) was observed in soil of mustard field. Soil samples from the plot intercropped with turmeric(Curcuma longa), arvi (Colacasia esculenta), ginger (Zingiber officinale), sole crop of dhaincha (Sesbania bispinosa), litchi (Litchi chinensis) orchard and elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus campanulatus) plot had sandy loam to silt loam texture. The pH of all soil samples was near neutral to alkaline (7.9 to 8.1). Maximum fungal population was recorded in soil of litchi orchard (12.33 X 103 cfu/g soil). Trichoderma was recorded frequently in most of the soil samples. The species of Trichoderma viz., Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma viride were isolated from the soil samples of KVK, Birauli. Soil samples from plots of sugarcane (Saccharum officiniarum) K2 and B2 at KVK Madhopur had sandy loam texture, while soils of mango orchard and brinjal plot of farmer had clay loam texture. Soil pH of the samples was neutral to slightly alkaline and organic carbon content was very low (0.21 to 0.49 %). Maximum fungal population (13.0 X 103 cfu/g soil) was recorded in cultivated plots of sugarcane. Saprophytic fungus Penicillium dominated in most of the soil samples. Trichoderma harzianum was evaluated for its antagonistic potential against Rhizoctonia solani f. sp. sasakii causing banded leaf and sheath blight disease of maize. In dual culture, Trichoderma completely overgrew the colony of R. solani in 144 hours and completely inhibited the formation sclerotia. The mechanism of antagonism was hyphal coiling and penetration of the hyphae of Trichoderma in the hyphae of host fungus.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on Colletotrichum leaf spot disease of turmeric (Curcuma Longa L.)
    (Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2013) Kumar, Abhishek; Mishra, A. K.
    Turmeric (curcuma longa L.) is an important spices crop and emerged as a high valued cash crop for intercropping in agro-forestry plantations. Among various diseases attacking turmeric, Colletotrichum leaf spot caused by Colletotrichum capsici is the most divesting disease. The present investigation was undertaken on epidemiology and management of this disease. Effect of environmental factors on development and progress of Colletotrichum leaf spot disease is important in order to device an appropriate and effective disease management strategy. Simple correlation, simple linear regression and multiple linear regression analysis were performed on epidemiological observations to establish relationship in between disease incidence and weather parameters. Progress of Colletotrichum leaf spot disease of turmeric is differing with different genotypes and interaction of different weather factors prevailing during crop season. The minimum intensity of disease i.e., initiation of incidence (PDI) was recorded as 4.00 during second week of September with 33.20oC max. temp., 25.97oC min. temp., 87% morning RH, 71.81% evening RH, 06.00 km/h wind velocity, 4.63 hr/day BSSH and 0.97 mm rainfall. Whereas maximum PDI was recorded as 66.00 with 14.30oC max. temp., 8.24oC min. temp., 93% morning RH, 78% evening RH, 3.2 km/hr wind velocity and without bright sun shine hours and rainfall. The periodic increase in disease intensity was maximum during beginning of 3rd week of October (127DAP). At this stage of maximum periodic increase in disease development was found favoured by max. temp. (32.14oC) min. temp.(21.4oC), morn.RH (89%), eve.RH (70%), BSSH (7.9h/day) and wind velocity (2.7km/hr.). A highly significant negative correlation was found between PDI and min. temp. (r = -0.975), wind velocity (r = -0.809), max. temp. (r = -0.758) and rainfall (r = -0.499) while it was found positive in case of morn. RH (r = -0.517). Simple linear regression analysis revealed that a negative regression co-efficient for all the weather parameters considered with PDI except morning RH. Highest regression co-efficient (b) of 0.951 followed by 0.654 in case of min. temp.and wind velocity respectively. Multiple regression analysis revealed variation in co-efficient of determination (R2) from 0.574 to 0.990 indicating the range of variation in disease development minimum being 57 per cent when only max. temp. was taken into consideration and gradually attained maximum limit of 99 per cent based on the combine contribution of all weather parameters considered under study. Under germplasm screening, altogether 15 germplasm were evaluated against Colletotrichumcapsici under natural conditions. The varietal screening indicated the maximum PDI (65.00) in Morangia (Susceptible check) and minimum PDI (17.50) in RH-403. Five genotypes viz., RH-7, RH-50, RH-403, RH-411 and RH-412 was found moderately resistant against the diseases. Minimum PDI (13.33) with highest rhizome yield (35.13t/ha) fallowed by PDI (16.67) and rhizome yield (34.42t/ha) was recorded in four numbers of spray with Zineb @0.3% followed by Tricyclazole @0.1% at fortnightly interval. Best incremental cost benefit ratio (1:10.64) was recorded under the treatment where the crop was sprayed with Hexaconazole @0.1% followed by ICBR of 1:9.38 with fungicidal spray of Tricyclazole @0.1%.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Epidemiology and Ecofriendly Management of Pigeonpea Wilt
    (2012) Kumar, Sunil; Upadhyay, J. P.
    Wilt of Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L) Millisp.) incited by Fusarium udum (Butler) is a serious threat to the production and productivity of this crop in India and abroad. In Bihar, 18.3 per cent average incidence of wilt has been reported. Effect of soil texture on wilt incidence revealed maximum wilt incidence of 74.75 per cent in loam soil and least in clay soil (49.50%). The effect of soil pH on disease indicated maximum wilt incidence (51.50 %) at soil pH 5 followed by pH 7 (47.25%). Correlation coefficient between wilt incidence and pH of the soil revealed that wilt incidence was negatively (-0.960*) and significantly correlated with soil pH. Disease appearance was early i.e. 19 days at highest inoculum load of 30 g/kg soil where the mean population of F. udum was 12.92 x 103 cfu/g soil and wilt incidence was also highest 70.25 per cent after 30 days of inoculation. The inoculum load of F. udum @ 20 g/kg soil was the optimum inoculum load of for creation of disease epiphytotic as the wilt incidence appeared in 20 and 30 g inoculum load did not differ significantly. Correlation between inoculum density of F. udum (cfu/g soil) and days of disease appearance showed significant and negative correlation and ‘r’ value -0.890* and -0.867* at 30 and 60 days after sowing. Whereas wilt incidence was significantly and positively correlated with inoculum density and ‘r’ values were 0.920* and 0.898* at 30 and 60 days after sowing respectively. The mean values of coefficient of determination (R2), indicated that 85 and 81.0 per cent variation in wilt incidence at 30 and 60 DAS respectively were contributed by inoculum density. It is, therefore, concluded that wilt incidence mainly depended on the initial population of F. udum. Significantly maximum population of F. udum (4.83 x 103 cfu/g soil) was recorded in 1st July and 16th July sowing at upper (0-15) soil strata followed by the subsequent date of sowing on same depth of soil strata. At crop harvest stage maximum population of F. udum 15.17 x 103 cfu/g soil in 1st July sowing in upper soil strata (0-15 cm). The minimum population of F. udum was recorded in 16th August sowing at 31-45 cm soil strata. Sowing of pigeonpea in first fortnight recorded maximum wilt incidence 89.58 % in 1st July sowing which was at par with 16th July sowing (86.83 %) and significantly higher than August sowing. Correlation coefficient (r) between the wilt incidence and weather factors in pigeonpea cultivar ICP 2376 showed a negative and significant correlation between disease incidence and minimum temperature (0C), soil moisture (%), rainfall (mm) and number of rainy days and observed ‘r’ values were -0.591*, -0.987**, -0.593** and -0.664*, respectively whereas it was non significant with R.H at 7hrs (-0.223) and 14hrs (-0.527). Maximum temperature and soil temperature had negative and non significant correlation and observed ‘r’ values were lower i.e. 0.141 and 0.170, respectively. Population F. udum was positively (0.706**) and significantly correlated. Best fitted equation for prediction of wilt disease on cultivar ICP 2376 is Y8 =177.419+0.021(F. udum population) +0.308(Soil temp.0C)-6.347(Soil moisture %) R2 = 0.980