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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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ThesisItem Open Access Eco-friendly management of Sclerotinia rot disease of oilseed brassica(Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2017) Husain, Mohammad Akram; Choudhary, C. S.The oil yielding Brassica crops grown in India include rai or raya or mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. & Coss.], and rapeseed (B. rapa sp. oleifera). Sclerotinia rot disease of oilseed brassica incited by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary is the most ubiquitous, omnivorous, soil-borne and destructive plant pathogen distributed worldwide. Survey conducted at different locations showed its prevalence in Bihar with variable magnitude of incidence ranging from 25 to 47 per cent. Symptom first appeared on the leaf as water soaked spot then whole leaf got water soaked followed by drooping and hanging in air, the leaves showed blighting then ultimately dried. On the stem, first symptom of Sclerotinia rot was noticed as water soaked patches which soon turned into whitish brown, enlarged and finally girdled the stem completely. The pith of stem became hollow in which irregular sized sclerotia were observed. Isolation of the pathogen was made on PDA medium and identified as Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary. The fungus produced aerial mycelium, which was hyaline, branched well developed and appeared cottony with closely septate hyphae. The hyphae were 2.0-11.5 µm in width and contained dense granular protoplasm. The sclerotia were round to irregular in shape in culture and measured 1.5-7 mm in width and 2-15 mm in length. Apothecia were brown in colour and were round to globose type, measured 5-21 mm in length, 2-9 mm in diameter and 0-7 numbers arose from single sclerotium. The pathogenic behaviour of the fungus was also confirmed after test. Potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium among solid media and Richards’ medium among liquid medium were found most supportive for the growth and sclerotial formation of the Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Temperature 20-25⁰C and pH 4.5 to 5.5 are most suitable for the growth and sclerotial formation of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Out of ten entries, NDN-16-79 were found to be resistant against Sclerotinia rot disease. NDN-16-75, NDN-16-76, NDN-16-77 and NDN-16-81 were moderately resistant (MR). Highest seed yield of 1290 kg/ha was recorded when crop was sown timely on 30th October. Multiple regression between per cent disease incidence and weather variables indicated that the combined effect of different weather variables favoured the disease development causing up to 86 per cent variation in the Sclerotinia rot incidence. In management trial, the crop sown on 30th October recorded significantly higher yield, 1000 seed weight, stem diameter and lower disease incidence and intensity than early as well as late sown crop. Variety ‘Rohini’ recorded lower disease incidence, disease intensity, lesion length of the disease and recorded significantly greater stem diameter, 1000 seed weight and seed yield as compared to yellow sarson variety, 66-197-3. Seed treatment with carbendazim + foliar spray of carbendazim recorded lowest disease incidence, disease intensity and shortest lesion length of the diseased plants and highest stem diameter, 1000 seed weight, seed yield and highest (8.82) incremental benefit-cost ratio. This treatment was found best for the management of Sclerotinia rot of oilseed brassica.ThesisItem Open Access Ecofriendly Management of Maydis Leaf Blight (Helminthosporium maydis) of Maize(Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2017) Bharti, Prasoon; Chand, PhoolMaize (Zea mays L.) popularly known as "corn” is queen of cereals due to its high yield efficiency, important human nutrient, basic element of animal feed etc. Maydis leaf blight disease of maize causes considerable losses to the maize crop. The present investigations on “Ecofriendly management of maydis leaf blight (Helminthosporium maydis) of maize” were undertaken to explore the possibilities of botanicals and fungicides for the management of maydis leaf blight (Helminthosporium maydis) disease. Among five fungicides evaluated at different concentrations (50, 100, 150, 200, 250) in vitro against H. maydis by poison food technique, propiconazole showed 100 per cent inhibition of mycelia growth were recorded at 150, 200 and 250 ppm followed by mancozeb which caused 92.37 per cent inhibition at 250 ppm and minimum inhibition was recorded in copper oxychloride at all the concentrations (70.63, 72.26, 75.55, 76.82 and 79.48). Of the six plant extracts evaluated by poison food technique for their inhibitory effect on the growth of H. maydis, the neem leaf extracts shoed strong inhibitory effect at all concentration followed by parthenium at 10and 20 per cent and garlic cloves at 30, 40 and 50 per cent concentrations. Out of the 128 genotypes screened under artificial inoculated conditions, 29 genotypes appeared resistant, 44 genotypes were moderately resistance to maydis leaf blight, 52 genotypes were rated as moderately susceptible and 3 genotypes found susceptible. All fungicides and plant extracts screened under in vitro, were further evaluated under field conditions against maydis leaf blight disease. Three sprays of propiconazole and mancozeb proved to the most effective fungicides recording the lowest disease incidence 34.75 and 53.20 per cent, respectively as against control treatment (79.67 PDI). However, neem leaf extracts and garlic cloves @ 10% showed maximum (51.30 and 59.10) disease incidence.ThesisItem Open Access Management of Collar rot of chickpea by native isolates of Trichoderma.(Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2016) Ahsan, Md. Shahzaman; Upadhyay, J. P.The soil samples collected from KVK, Birauli and Dr. RPCAU (RAU), Pusa were analysed for texture, pH and organic carbon content. The texture of soil samples collected from RAU, Pusa and KVK Birauli was sandy loam except the mango orchard of KVK, Birauli which was silt loam. The pH of soils of litchi orchards was slightly acidic while it was neutral in soils of mango orchard. The fungal population in soils of mango and litchi orchrds was studied on Peptone dextrose rose bengal agar medium using dilution plate technique. The population of total fungi in different soil samples of mango and litchi orchrd of Pusa and Birauli ranged from 9.00 X103 cfu/g of soil to 9.60 X103 cfu/g of soil. The population of total fungi in different soil samples did not differ significantly. In soil samples of KVK, Birauli, population of Trichodrma (ranged from 2.50-2.60 cfu/g soil) while in the the soil samples of RAU, Pusa it ranged from 3.3- 3.6 cfu/g soil. The result indicated that population of Trichodrma is available in all soil samples with varying population. Five isolates of Trichoderma were observed in isolation of total fungi from soils of mango and litchi orchards of RAU, Pusa and KVK, Birauli. The isolates were purified on PDA and identified as Tricoderma harzianum based on cultural and morphological characters like colony character, mycelium, conidiophores, phialides and phialspores. The characteristic symptoms of collar rot of chickpea caused by Sclerotium rolfsii observed are - sudden drooping and chlorosis of leaves and petioles, external rotting of collar region of stem and root (at seedling stage) and white fluffy growth of Sclerotium rolfsii at the collar region upon which mustard grain like brown sclerotia were formed. Five isolates of T. harzianum such as Th1, Th2, Th3, Th4 and Th5 were compared for their capability of antagonism towards S.rolfsii in dual culture. T. harzianum isolate 4 proved best in dual culture and parasitized the colony of S. rolfsii earliest. T.hazianum 4 also showed maximum inhibition in formation of sclerotia of S. rolfsii (73.30%) in dual culture. Viability studies on mycelium and sclerotia of S. rolfsii in dual culture with T. harzianum in antagonized plate revealed lysis of both mycelium and sclerotia. Five Fungicides- Propiconazole, Hexaconazole, Bavistin, Topsin M and Vitavax at 100, 250 and 500 ppm concentrations were evaluated for their efficacy against S. rolfsii in vitro. Propiconazole, Hexaconazole and Vitavax completely inhibited the growth of S. rolfsii in vitro while Bavistin and Topsin M showed 79.52 and 71.78% growth inhibition respectively at 500 ppm. Investigation on host resistance against collar rot of chickpea viz., DKG 964, BG 372, BG 3051, PUSA 256, BAUG 15, C 235, GAG 1107, JG 315, JG 62 and BG 3043 revealed that out of 10 cultivars tested in pot soil artificially infested with S.rolfsii, none showed resistant reaction against the disease. Seed treatment with fungicides significantly reduced the sedling mortality of chickpea when compared with control. Seed treatment with Vitavax @ 2 g/kg of seed proved that best and showed 73.32% disease control followed by Propiconazole @ 2 g/kg. Soil application of maize grain based culture of T. harzianum at 5, 10, 15 and 20 g per pot showed significant reduction in seedling mortality. Maximum control of collar rot (53.33%) was recorded in treatment where T. harzianum was applied @ 20 g per pot. The integration of soil application of maize grain based culture of T. harzianum (10 g per pot) with Vitavax seed treatment @ 2 g/kg seed proved best combination and gave maximum disease control over check (79.95%). Integration of seed treatment with T. harzianum and Vitavax showed 59.90% disease control which was higher than Vitavax 0.2% seed treatment alone but did not differ significantly with each other.ThesisItem Open Access Holistic Management of Sheath Blight of Rice caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn(Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2016) Sharma, Kuldeep; Rai, R. C.Studies on the sheath blight (Rhizoctonia solani) of rice have been carried out to understand the symptomatology and evaluate different rhizospheric mycoflora, botanicals and fungicides against the pathogen to explore the possibility of using these for the management of sheath blight. Attempts have also been made to manage the disease by using bio agents, botanicals and fungicides. An attempt has also been made to find out the sources of resistance against sheath blight pathogen. Rhizoctonia solani was mainly responsible for causing sheath blight of rice. Initially, lesions developed on leaf sheath, leaf blades and emerging panicles. Lesions appeared in the form of circular, oblong or ellipsoid, greenish grey water soaked spot about 1cm long that occur near water level. Lesions enlarged and became oblong and irregular in outline. The center of the spots became grey white with brown margin. Sclerotia developed in lesions. Heavily infected plants produced poorly filled grains Propiconazole @ 0.2 and 0.3 % produced more than 80 % inhibition of radial growth of Rhizoctonia solani. Bio agents (Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma viride) and Neem oil @ 10 %, produced respectively, about 75 and 80 % inhibition of mycelial growth of Rhizoctonia solani. In the field disease can be effectively managed by two spray of propiconazole 25 EC @ 1ml/L at 15 days interval. In the field, bio agents and Neem oil were not very effective. One hundred seventy five resistance breeding lines have been identified.ThesisItem Open Access Studies on Sterility Mosaic Disease of Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) and their management(Rajendra Agriculrural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2015) Maurya, Rahul Kumar; Kumar, BirendraPigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) is one of the most important pulse in India. It is known to be affected by several pests and diseases however among these sterility mosaic disease is one of the most destructive disease and has become a major limiting factor for Pigeonpea cultivation. Present investigations were carried out to survey the status of the disease, to study the symptomatology of sterility mosaic disease, suitable mode of transmission, effect of sowing dates on incidence of Pigeonpea sterility mosaic disease, its integrated disease management and to find out the resistant source of Pigeonpea against sterility mosaic disease. The survey was undertaken in six districts of Bihar viz., Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Begusarai and Saran. Begusarai and Samastipur districts recorded maximum incidence of 15 per cent whereas, Saran district recorded lowest 1-5 per cent. Sterility mosaic disease infection produced the symptoms like stunting of plant, reduction in size of leaf, mosaic mottling of leaves, profuse branching, bushy appearance and pale green leaf color. The diseased plants do not produce flowers and pods. The virus was readily transmissible by mites but not by sap, seed or through dodder. Epidemiological study indicated the effect of weather variables on the progress of sterility mosaic disease. The progress of the disease was found to be highly influenced by weather variables prevalent under field condition. Maximum periodical increase was observed during first to second week of October when maximum temperature ranged 32.2 – 33.10C, minimum temperature ranged 22.9 – 23.50C with relative humidity morning more than 90 per cent and relative humidity evening more than 70 per cent. The shifting of the date of planting from normal to early or late has no significant effect on the total development of sterility mosaic disease.Disease progress was found significantly and negative correlated with maximum temperature, minimum temperature, wind velocity and rainfall while relative humidity morning and relative humidity evening were found significantly and positive correlated with disease progress in all three dates of sowing. Multiple linear regression equation for the production of the disease based on different dates of sowing with weather variables were developed. The minimum temperature, relative humidity and wind velocity explained the variability between 78-85 per cent in all three dates of sowing. Regression equation have been developed using different weather factors and these explained the variability upto 85 per cent. Many management practices taken up propargite @ 0.1% two spray (1st spray 25 days after sowing and 2nd spray 15 days after 1st spray) recorded least incidence of sterility mosaic disease (7.72 %) with highest yield 875 kg/ha followed by dicofol @ 0.2 % (1st spray 25 days after sowing and 2nd spray 15 days after 1st spray) were found effective in controlling mites in reducing disease incidence. Screening of Pigeonpea germplams under field condition during Kharif season 2014-15. AKTE 10-12, AKTE 12-01, AL 1758, AL 1932, AL 1933, BDN 2004-1, BDN 2010-1, BDN 2011-1, BRG 3, BRG 4, BRG 5, BRG 14-1, BRG 14-2, BSMR 2, BSMR 243, BSMR 571, BSMR 853, BWR 133, CO – 6, CORG 9701, CRG 2010-11, CRG 2013-10, GRG K-1 , GRG 82, GRG 140, GRG 160, GRG 2009-1, ICPHL 4989-7, IPA 13-1, IPA 15F, IPA 204, JKM 189, KPL 43, KA 12-2, KA-3, MA 6, MAL 13, Mahajeb 105, PA 419, PA 426, PUSA 2014, PUSA 2014-3, RVSA 07-10, RVSA 07-29, RVSA 07-31, RVSA 2014-2, WRG 242, WRG 244, WRG 246, WRG 248, WRG 252, WRG 256, WRG 292, Bahar, ICP 11376, ICP 12012, ICP 12728, ICP 12752, ICPL 20095, ICPL 20123, ICPL 20124, ICPL 20135, ICPL 87051, ICPL 96053, ICPL 96061, ICPL 99009, ICPL 99044, ICPL 99055, ICPL 99095, ICPL 99098, ICPL 99099, ICPL 99100 were found resistant and 27 germplasms viz., BAU 13-1, BDN 2, BSMR 579, JSA 28, PT 257, PUSA 2014-2, RVSA 07-22, RVSA 2014-1, TJT 501, Vipula, WRP 1, WRG 223, WRG 287, WRG 288, WRG 289, WRG 293, WRG 297, WRG 65, ICP 13361, ICPL 94062, ICPL 20119, ICPL 20136, ICPL 20137, ICPL 99008, ICPL 99048, BRG 1 and ICPL 99091 were recorded moderately resistant among 140 germplasms & having resistant to moderately resistant may either be used as donor parent in breeding programme for development of resistant varieties or if yield level is comparable with existing varieties it may be released for general cultivation.ThesisItem Open Access Studies on etiology and management of root rot of papaya(Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2015) Kumar, Rahul; Singh, S. K.In the present investigation papaya root rot was found to cause 60-95 per cent disease incidence resulting in failure of crop in the state. Fusarium solani was established as a causal organism of root rot of papaya in Bihar. Disease incidence was found to decrease with increasing plant spacing. June – July planted crop was found to favour the disease development while March-April planted crop recorded low disease incidence and higher fruit yield. Potato dextrose agar was found appropriate media for proper growth of pathogen whereas sporulation (macro conidia) was favoured in Carnation leaf media. Among native and commercial bioagent tested against the pathogen, Trichoderma viride (native) was found most effective in suppression of the pathogen. Among botanicals, Adenocalymma alliaceum (wild garlic) was found highly effective in checking the development of disease under sick pot condition. Among fungicides, carbendazim and thiophanate methyl showed good efficacy in checking the growth of pathogen in vitro. Again, among fungicides, thiophanate methyl showed best compatibility with Trichoderma viride in vitro. All the oil cake- mustard cake, neem cake, castor cake were found compatible with Trichoderma viride, but mustard cake was also found to be the efficient inhibitor of the pathogen. The most effective treatment for the management of disease was integration of disease free seedling + mustard cake (10%)+wild garlic (10%)+dipping of seedlings in thiophanate methyl (0.1%) for 30 min. + soil drenching with thiophanate methyl (0.1%) solution three times, 1st at time of transplanting, second at 3rd month after transplanting (MAT) and third at 5th MAT+ soil application of Trichoderma viride @50g/plant three times 1st at time of transplanting, second at 3rd MAT and third at 5th MAT+ soil application of Pseudomonas florescence @ 50g/plant three times 1st at time of transplanting ,second at 3rd MAT and third at 5th MAT.