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Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan
Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, was established on 1st December, 1985 with the objective to promote education, research and extension education in the fields of Horticulture, Forestry and allied disciplines. Late Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar, the first Chief Minister and the architect of Himachal Pradesh perceived the importance of Horticulture and Forestry to develop and improve the State economy which led to the establishment of this University. Its history lies in erstwhile Himachal Agricultural College, Solan, established in 1962 and affiliated to the Panjab University. It became one of the campuses of Agriculture Complex of Himachal Pradesh University on its formation in 1970. Consequent upon the establishment of Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya in 1978, this campus became its Horticulture Complex and finally in 1985, assumed the status of a State University, being the only University in the country engaged exclusively in teaching, research and extension in Horticulture and Forestry.
The University is located at Nauni in Solan District of Himachal Pradesh, 13 km from Solan on Solan-Rajgarh Road, at an elevation of 1300 metres above mean sea level. Solan town is situated on national highway (NH-22) and is well connected by train and bus services.
The University has four constituent colleges, out of which, two are located at the main campus Nauni, one for horticulture and the other for forestry, having 9 and 7 departments, respectively. The third College i.e., College of Horticulture & Forestry is located at Neri in Hamirpur District on Nadaun-Hamirpur state highway, about 6 Km from Hamirpur town and is well connected with bus service. The college offers three Undergraduate Degree Programmes i.e. BSc (Hons.) Horticulture, BSc (Hons.) Forestry and B. Tech. Biotechnology and MSc degree programme in a few subjects. The fourth college i.e. College of Horticulture and Forestry, Thunag (Mandi) is located at Thunag District Mandi. This college offer BSc (Hons.) Horticulture and BSc (Hons.) Forestry degree programme. In addition, there are five Regional Research Stations, 12 Satellite Stations and five Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) situated in different zones of the State.
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ThesisItem Open Access DEMIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF PURPLE BLOTCH IN ONION(UHF,NAUNI, 2018-07) DANGI, RISHIKA; KANSAL, SANDEEPABSTRACT Purple blotch caused by Alternaria porri (Ellis) Cifferi is one of the major disease in onion growing areas of Himachal Pradesh. Survey studies conducted in the present investigation revealed that disease occurred in moderate to severe form in different onion growing localities of Solan and Sirmour districts of Himachal Pradesh. The test pathogen was isolated in pure culture on PDA. The microscopic examination of test fungus revealed peculiar obclavate or obpyriform conidia with long beak. Thus, based on cultural and morphological characters the test pathogen was identified as Alternaria porri (Ellis) Cifferi. Pathogenicity tests revealed initial symptoms as small sunken whitish fleck which later on became oblong with peculiar purple zonations giving target board like appearance to the lesion. Epidemiological studies revealed that temperature of 25oC, RH of 100.0 per cent and leaf wetness period of 24 h were optimum for the disease development reflecting significantly high rate of infection. The results of survival studies indicated a significant decrease in survivability of pathogen with the increase in storage duration and depth of burial. In vitro evaluation studies reflected Cabrio Top (metiram + pyraclostrobin), Folicur (tebuconazole), and Amistar (azoxystrobin) as most efficacious fungicides in inhibiting the mycelial growth of Alternaria porri while amongst botanicals garlic and NSKE provided significantly high inhibitory response. Field evaluation studies inferred the application of four foliar sprays of Cabrio Top (metiram + pyraclostrobin) @ 0.2 per cent at ten days interval started with the initiation of disease to be most efficacious in limiting the purple blotch of onion (83.41%) and enhancing the bulb yield (255.32 q/ha) with ICBR ratio of 1:8.78.ThesisItem Open Access STUDIES ON THE INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF WHITE ROOT ROT (Dematophora necatrix Hartig) IN APPLE(UHF, NAUNI, 2018-10) KUMAR, NAVEEN; VERMA, SHALINIABSTRACT White root rot of apple caused by Dematophora necatrix Hartig with its perfect stage as Rosellinia necatrix (Prill) is one of the most prevelant and destructive disease in all the apple growing regions of Himachal Pradesh. It causes serious losses both in nursery as well as in orchard conditions. Therefore, the present investigation was undertaken with the objectives to study pathogenicity of fungus, host range, effective concentration that inhibits mycelial growth of the pathogen, compatibility of botanicals, biocontrol agents and fungicides and their combinations to evolve the effective disease management strategy during the year 2016-2018. The most distinguishing morphological feature of the pathogen is the presence of a characteristic pear shaped swelling in mycelium at the septa of fungal hypha and pathogenicity test revealed that symptoms appeared after 13-15 days of pathogen inoculation. In host range studies, fifteen host seeds were evaluated against D. necatrix both under in vitro and pot conditions. In vitro studies revealed that length of the epicotyl of different host seeds tested against D. necatrix were less than that of its control. The per cent epicotyl inhibition was found minimum in maize (3.93%) followed by cauliflower (5.19%) and cabbage (5.65%) seeds. In case of pot experiment, maximum mortality against the test pathogen was noticed in garlic, fenugreek, soybean, French bean and tomato plants and these plants were killed in 30 days. Root weight of cauliflower, cabbage and maize seedlings remained unaffected to the inoculation of test pathogen. Thus, the per cent root inhibition was found to be negligible in cauliflower, cabbage and maize seedlings. Soil pH in different inoculations ranged between 6.1 to 6.9. The host plants cabbage, maize and cauliflower showed minimum viz. 2.67×104, 2.67×104 and 3.00×104 CFU/g soil as compared to other hosts tested. Therefore cabbage, maize and cauliflower can be used as an intercrop in apple orchards infested with D. necatrix. Under in vitro studies carbendazim, (pyraclostrobin + metiram) and (flusilazole + carbendazim) at all the concentrations tested and botanical cabbage (10 %) completely inhibited the growth of D. necatrix. In compatibility studies, T. viride and T. harzianum were highly compatible with carbendazim, (pyraclostrobin + metiram), (flusilazole + carbendazim), cabbage + carbendazim, cabbage + (pyraclostrobin + metiram), cabbage + (flusilazole + carbendazim). They showed negligible diametric growth of D. necatrix and 100 per cent mean mycelial growth inhibition, while, they were least compatible with cabbage showing 7.48 mm and 7.89 diametric growth with 56.07 and 53.99 per cent mean mycelial growth inhibition, respectively. Under pot culture conditions, the combinations viz. T. viride + carbendazim , T. viride + (pyraclostrobin + metiram), T. viride + (flusilazole + carbendazim), cabbage + carbendazim , cabbage+ (pyraclostrobin + metiram), cabbage + (flusilazole + carbendazim), T. viride + cabbage + carbendazim, T. viride + cabbage + (pyraclostrobin + metiram), T. viride + cabbage + (flusilazole + carbendazim), T. harzianum + carbendazim , T. harzianum + (pyraclostrobin + metiram), T. harzianum + (flusilazole + carbendazim), T. harzianum + cabbage + carbendazim, T. harzianum + cabbage + (pyraclostrobin + metiram), T. harzianum + cabbage + (flusilazole + carbendazim), carbendazim , pyraclostrobin + metiram and flusilazole + carbendazim were highly effective and provided complete control of the disease when applied twice at 7 days interval after soil inoculation with the test pathogen. The root weight of above treatments ranged between 24.47g to 29.07g, which were found higher than that of control (18.83g). The pH of the soil of all treatments ranged between 7.0 to 7.5 while the total microbial count of treated plants lied between 10.67 to 14.33×104 CFU/ g soil which were more than that of control plant. The combined application of biocontrol agents, botanical and fungicides control the disease more effectively as compared to their individual treatment.ThesisItem Open Access EPIDEMIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF STEMPHYLIUM BLIGHT OF GARLIC(UHF, NAUNI, 2018-10) BHARDWAJ, CHIDEMBRA; KANSAL, SANDEEPABSTRACT Stemphylium blight caused by Stemphylium vesicarium (Wallr.) E. Simmons is an important destructive disease among various other diseases. It appears every year in moderate to severe form in different garlic growing areas of Solan and Sirmaur districts of Himachal Prdaesh. The causative fungus isolated from infected leaves of diseased plants grew in the form as off white mycelium, which later turned golden brown and finally velvety on PDA. Conidia were oblong to oval, light to olive brown in colour, produced on straight to variously curved cylindrical conidiophores. Thus, based upon morphological and cultural characters, the causative fungus was identified as Stemphylium vesicarium (Wallr.) E. Simmons. The pathogenicity tests revealed peculiar symptoms as small white to yellow flecks which later turned into lesions tan brown in colour and expanded along the leaf blade, giving blighted appearance to the leaves. Epidemiological studies revealed that the temperature of 25ºC, inoculum concentration of 6x104 conidia/ml, leaf wetness period of 72 h and relative humidity of more than 90 per cent were optimum for the rapid progression of disease reflecting significant higher infection rate under artificial epiphytotic conditions. Under field conditions, disease was affected by variation in weather variables, as dry and moist weather coupled with intermittent rains favoured the progression of Stemphylium leaf blight disease. Twelve genotypes were tested against Stemphylium blight disease of garlic. None of the genotypes tested was found immune or resistant to the disease whereas, Kandaghat Selection was found moderately resistant against the disease. In vitro evaluation of fungicides indicated Folicur (tebuconazole), and Companion (carbendazim+mancozeb) as potent mycelial growth inhibitors of S. vesicarium. Field evaluation studies inferred the application of three foliar sprays of Folicur (tebuconazole) @ 0.1 per cent at ten days interval started with the initiation of disease to be most efficacious in limiting Stemphylium blight of garlic (71.5%) and enhancing the bulb yield (145.7q/ha) with ICBR ratio of 1:9.1.ThesisItem Open Access STUDIES ON POWDERY MILDEW OF SUMMER SQUASH (Cucurbita pepo L.)(UHF,NAUNI, 2018-09) BHARMERA, POOJA; GUPTA, S.K.ABSTRACT Powdery mildew is an important disease of summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) in Himachal Pradesh. Present investigations were undertaken with an objective to study the occurrence, symptomatology, correct identity of the pathogen involved, pathogenicity, relationship of environmental factors with disease development, screening of germplasm and to evolve an effective disease management strategy. The disease was found prevalent in moderate to severe form in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh. The characteristic symptoms were observed on leaves, petioles and stems while no symptoms were observed on fruit. On the basis of anamorphic characters like ectophytic mycelium, unbranched conidiophores with cylindrical foot cell, ellipsoidal conidia, 31.53 × 20.34 μm in size, presence of fibrosin bodies in conidium, forked/simple germ tube and absence of appressorial formation and teleomorphic characters like presence of cleistothecia, variable number of myceloid appendages, single ascus with 8 ascospores, the associated pathogen was identified as Sphaerotheca fuliginea (Schlect) Poll. as the causal agent of this disease. Pathogenecity test showed that both i.e. cotyledonary and first true leaves were susceptible to disease with incubation period ranging from 168 to 188 h and latent periods from 206 to 228 h, respectively. Maximum conidial germination and germ tube length was recorded at 25 °C and 100 per cent relative humidity. Moderate air temperature coupled with high relative humidity and cumulative rainfall helped significantly in disease development. Out of 18 cvs./lines/hybrids only one i.e. Korean House F1 showed moderately susceptible reaction whereas eleven cvs./lines/hybrids were observed as susceptible and rest six exhibited highly susceptible reaction. Among all fungicides evaluated, carbendazim proved most effective at all concentrations followed by dinocap (500ppm) and wettable sulphur (1000ppm) and completely checked the conidial germination and germ tube elongation under in vitro conditions. Among different fungicides evaluated under field conditions, four azoxystrobin (0.1%) sprays were significantly most effective followed by carbendazim (0.1%) in reducing the severity of the powdery mildew to 14.33 and 17.67 per cent and increased fruit yield to 5.32 and 5.07 kg/plot, respectively. Among different natural products, botanical, bio control agent and SAR chemicals evaluated against the disease under field conditions di potassium hydrogen phosphate (0.9%) was statistically superior and reduced the powdery mildew severity to 21.33 per cent and increased fruit yield to 4.20 kg/plot.ThesisItem Open Access INTEGRATION OF SOIL SOLARIZATION AND BENEFICIAL SOIL MICROFLORA FOR MANAGEMENT OF RHIZOCTONIA STEM ROT OF CHRYSANTHEMUM(UHF, NAUNI, 2018-11) TYAGI, ANKUR; GAUTAM, H RABSTRACT The present investigation entitled “Integration of soil solarization and beneficial soil microflora for management of Rhizoctonia stem rot of chrysanthemum” was conducted in the laboratories and experimental farm of the Department of Plant Pathology. Among different bio-control agents evaluated under in vitro conditions against the Rhizoctonia stem rot pathogen, T. viride resulted in maximum mycelial growth inhibition (68.8 %) followed by T. harzianum (66.1 %) and T. hamatum with 58.4 per cent inhibition in mycelial growth of the stem rot pathogen, respectively. Among bacterial antagonists, P. fluorescens was found most effective resulting in 56.9 per cent mycelial inhibition followed by B. subtilis (53.5 %). Combination of Trichoderma viride with soil solarization was found most effective with no incidence of the disease and this treatment also reduced the viability of the sclerotia by 99.2 per cent. Combination of neem cake with soil solarization was found most effective with no incidence of the disease and this treatment also reduced the viability of the sclerotia by 93.7 per cent.Soil amendment ofresidues ofmustardcropbefore solarization was found most effective with no incidence of the disease and it also reduced the viability of the sclerotia 100 per cent. Soil solarization resulted increased average maximum soil temperature to 45.9and 44.9 °C, during the years 2016-2017 with an increase of 7.8 and 7.07°C at 5 cm soil depth over unsolarized pots. Treatment combination of soil solarization with green gram was found most effective with 85.6 per cent reduction in the stem rot incidence and also improved plant growth and quality parametersof the flowers. Soil solarization increased the average maximum soil temperature to 41.4, 40.7 and 40.3°C, during the years 2013, 2015 and 2016 with an increase of 7.2, 7.5 and 6.0°C at 5 cm soil depth over unsolarized plots. Soil solarization of the sclerotia of Rhizoctonia stem rot pathogen with transparent polyethylene sheet at 5 cm soil depth for 40 days reduced the viability of sclerotia by 88. 7 per cent. Treatment combination of green gram in the year 2016-2017 with soil solarization was found most effective with 62.5 per cent increasein the spore countof AM fungi with root colonization of 60 per cent. Soil solarization of thesclerotia of the stem rot pathogen with transparent polyethylene sheet at 5 cm soil depth for 40 days increased the incubation period of the disease by 21.2 per cent.Eight native species of AM fungi related to four genera viz., Glomus, Acaulospora, Gigaspora, Scutellospora sp. were isolated from the rhizosphere soil of the chrysanthemum field. Treatment combination of soil solarization with Trichoderma viride formulation and growing of green gram crop was found most effective in all the trials in the years 2013, 2015 and 2016 with 81.7, 85.1 and 85.8 per cent reduction in the stem rot incidence. Treatment combination of soil solarization followed by growing of green gram crop and application of Trichoderma viride formulation improved plant height by 36.3 to 41.7 per cent, increased flower size by 31.8 to 37.8 per cent, increased number of flowers by 27.9 to 38.3 per cent and reduced the time taken to first flowering from 4.0 to 6.0 days in comparison to unsolarized control in different years. Treatment combination of Trichoderma viride formulation and green gram in solarized soil was found most effective in 2013, 2015 and 2016 with an increase of 75, 66.6 and 63.1 per cent inspore population ofAM fungi and 72.1, 72.8 and 72.6 per cent higher root colonization.ThesisItem Open Access STUDIES ON ALTERNARIA BLOTCH OF APPLE AND ITS MANAGEMENT(UHF, NAUNI, 2018-10) CHAUHAN, PRANEET; GUPTA, A KABSTRACT Alternaria blotch caused by Alternaria alternata f. sp. mali is one of the economically important disease of apple particularly in Himachal Pradesh. Therefore, the present investigations were undertaken with the objectives to record the prevalence of this disease; study the variability of causal agent Alternaria isolates and evolve effective disease management strategy through the use of fungicides, plant extracts, bioproducts, biocontrol agents and their combinations as well as host resistance during the year 2015-2017. Alternaria blotch of apple was found to occur in moderate to severe form in different apple growing areas of district Shimla of Himachal Pradesh. The mean disease incidence ranged from 11.00 to 50.00 per cent with maximum at Summerkot and minimum at Khadrala of district Shimla, while highest disease severity was recorded at Chaithla and lowest at Khadrala in the same district with an average of 6.20-27.57 per cent. Pathogenicity test revealed that symptoms appeared after 4 to 7 days of inoculation. Eleven isolates of Alternaria spp. were isolated from apple cv. Royal Delicious and fiveisolates were isolated from tomato, cabbage, marigold, carnation and pear. These isolates differed in their ability to produce typical symptoms. Morphological, cultural and molecular studies were made to ascertain the prevalence of variability among the isolates. Colonies varied in their cultural behaviour ranging from velvetty to cottony, mostly appressed, with regular to irregular margins. Colour of the colonies varied from light to dark olivaceous. The mean ,of the isolates was between 32.90 to 66.92 mm after 8 days of inoculation with highest growth in Isolate 1 on potato dextrose agar medium and lowest in Isolate 8 on Dimmick’s agar medium. Morphological studies revealed variations in their size, shape and septations of conidiophore and conidia. Maximum conidial size was 19.38-38.8× 9.90-20.7 μm and minimum was 9.9-23.8× 5.3-13.6 μm in Isolate 10 and Isolate 9, respectively. Isolates when tested for their pathogenic behaviour showed variation in incubation period, latent period and disease reaction. A positive reaction was observed on the susceptible apple cv. Royal Delicious during the leaf necrosis bioassay, demonstrating the host specific nature of the toxin. Molecular characterization of the seven isolates of Alternaria spp. showed 99-100% homology with Alternaria alternata, Alternaria mali and Alternaria spp. Phylogenetic tree depicted that all the isolates were closely clustered to Chinese isolates deposited earlier in the NCBI. The sixteen isolates of the Alternaria spp. were differentiated on the basis of location, host, cultural and morphological characteristics using RAPD markers. Leaves collected during autumn produced the maximum inoculum in the month of August i.e. 3.7 ×103conidia/ml whereas, the production of primary inoculum was least (1.8×103 conidia/ml) on the leaves during April. Alternaria alternata f.sp. mali infection on host physiology revealed that reducing and non reducing content were more in uninoculated plants in all the test cultivars with time lapse. Total phenolics content, polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, PAL activity and ROS were more in inoculated plant during all the sampling hours in all the three test cultivars. Screening of cultivars revealed that only one cultivar Top Red Delicious showed highly susceptible reaction and Starking Delicious showed susceptible reaction. Six cultivars viz., Manchurian Crab, Tydeman’s Early Worcestor, Hardeman, Stark Spur Golden, Gold Spur and Scarlet Gala were found to be moderately susceptible at RHR&TS Mashobra while, two cultivars viz., Royal Delicious and Vance Delicious showed susceptible reaction at Nauni. Out of ten systemic and non-systemic fungicides evaluated under in vitro conditions, two fungicides viz., difenoconazole and propineb exhibited complete mycelial growth inhibition against the test pathogen. Amongst eight plant extracts tested under in vitro conditions, leaf extract of neem was found to be most effective with 72.89 per cent mycelial growth inhibition, while in case of bioproducts tested, Neemazal, cow urine and field formulation gave cent per cent mycelial growth inhibition. Under pot conditions, difenoconazole + propineb gave good disease control as compared to all other combinations. Among SAR chemicals tested, BABA @2000 ppm found to be the most effective in all the cultivars, with minimum disease severity rangingfrom 5.24-7.15per cent and maximum disease control rangingfrom 69.71-75.85per cent. In case ofSAR chemicaltreatments, there was an increasein reducing sugar and non reducing sugar over the untreated controlin all three cvs. of apple with maximum in salicylic acid and minmum in calcium carbonate treated leaves, respectively. Total phenol content in apple leaves after treatment with SAR inducers was found to be maximum in salicyclic acid treated leaves and minimum in calcium carbonate. Polyphenol oxidase, Peroxidase and PAL activity was found to be highest in salicyclic acid treated leaves in all the three cultivars. Production of Reactive oxygen species was found to highest in salicyclic acid treated leaves in all the three cvs. Among biocontrol agents, Pseudomonas flourescens @105cfu/ml found to be best in all the cvs. tested with minimum disease severity ranging from 1.90-13.33 per cent and maximum disease control ranging from 63.79-89.01 per cent. Maximum suppression of the primary inoculum was observed when the leaf litter was dipped in urea (50000 ppm) followed by difenoconazole (1000 ppm) and hexaconazole (1000 ppm). Under field conditions, the combination of difenoconazole and propineb was most effective(95.30%)in disease control, whileBacillus subtilis was found least effective (58.66%).ThesisItem Open Access STUDIES ON PEACH LEAF CURL (Taphrinadeformans [Berk.] Tul.) AND ITS MANAGEMENT(UHF, NAUNI, 2018-06) KARDAM, VINAY KUMAR; GUPTA, A KABSTRACT Peach suffers from a number of fungal, bacterial and viral diseases. Leaf Curl is one of the most serious diseases in Peach and Nectarine caused by Taphrina deformans [Berk.] Tul.. The objective of the present study was isolation, identification and study of morphological characteristics of the fungus T. deformans and screening of different cultivars of peach, nectarine and almond as well as investigating the efficacy of different fungicides, plant origin pesticides and biological control agents at pink-bud and green-tip stages. The fungus was isolated using potato dextrose agar enriched (2%) yeast extract (PDA+YE) medium and identified by oblong with rounded tip blastospores. The survival of the pathogen was found maximum at green-tip stage. The germination per cent of blastospores of the fungus was found maximum at 20°C and 100% RH. All the cultivars of peach, nectarine and almond were found susceptible to the disease showing disease incidence ranging from 30100%. carbendazim was found as most effective fungicide against T. deformans under in vitro conditions. Neemazal was found as most effective plant origin pesticides against T. deformans under in vitro conditions. Carbendazim (1.42%) and hexaconazole (1.42%) were found most effective fungicides for the management of the disease at pink-bud stage and green-tip stage, respectively. Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis were found most effective biological control agents for the management of the disease at pink-bud satge and green-tip stage providing disease severity(2.44%) & (2.38%),respectively.ThesisItem Open Access STUDIES ON BACTERIAL WILT OF TOMATO AND ITS ECO-FRIENDLY MANAGEMENT(UHF, NAUNI, 2018-09) SOOD, DEEPIKA; SHARMA, MONICAABSTRACT bac The present investigation entitled “Studies onterial wilt of tomato and its eco-friendly management” was conducted in the laboratories and polyhouse of the Department of Plant Pathology. In the present research work, survey was done in district Solan and Sirmaur of Himachal Pradesh and highest disease incidence (70.45%) was observed in Nandal while, least incidence was observed in Deothi (10.00%). Characteristic symptoms of the disease appeared as initial loss of turgidityof young leaves as a result of disfunctioning of vascular bundles, flabby appearance usually at the warmest time of the day and later on, rapid wilting and collapse of entire plant. Morphological, cultural and biochemical tests of theolated p isathogen revealed that it was Ralstonia solanacearum. , tests of the isolated bacterium were performed by two methods out of which shorter incubation period (11 days) was observed in bacterial suspension drenching method than seedling root dip method (13 days).,of R.solanacearumrevealed that with the increase in soil moisture and soil temperature from 40 to 90 per cent and 25 to 35°C, respectively, there was a progressive increase in disease incidence, being maximum at 90 per cent soil moisture and 30 and 35°C temperature. Among different abiotic resistance-inducers evaluated under pot culture conditions, seedling dip treatment and drenching one week after transplanting with potassium chloride at 300 mM was found most effective in managing the disease and increasing plant weight and plant height. The activity level of key enzymes of plant defence namely polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase and phenyl alanine lyase was maximum at 24 h after elicitation and thereafter declined. Among three biocontrol agents used, Bacillus subtilis (seedling dip + foliar spray after 7 days of transplanting) treatment was most effective as it was able to reduce the disease by 56.76 per cent. A consortium of Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma viride in neem cake and molasses was made which gave best result as it was able to completely hold off the disease as well as increased plant weight and plant height and resultedin 0 per cent disease incidence.ThesisItem Open Access STUDIES ON CULTIVATION OF Pleurotus cornucopiae (Paulet) Rolland ON DIFFERENT AGROFORESTRY SUBSTRATES IN HIMACHAL PRADESH(UHF,NAUNI, 2018-09) ARUNESH, KUMAR; JARIAL, R.S.ABSTRACT The present investigations entitled “Studies on cultivation of Pleurotus cornucopiae (Paulet) Rolland on different agroforestry substrates in Himachal Pradesh” was undertaken to evaluate various cultural requirements, grain substrate for spawn production and different agroforestry based substrates used for fruit body production of the test fungus. Out of five solid and liquid media tested, potato dextrose agar and potato dextrose broth were the best solid and liquid media, respectively and optimum temperature of 250C and pH 7.0 was found to be the best for better mycelial growth of the test fungus. Out of five grain spawn, minimum (7.33 days) time for spawn run was observed on jowar grain spawn and maximum (4.20) number of fruit bodies was observed in wheat grain spawn. Out of five substrates, minimum (16.30 days) time for spawn run, maximum (4.40) number of fruit bodies, was observed on wheat straw substrate. So far as morphological characters of P cornucopiae in different substrates was concerned, longest stipe length (23.92 mm), fruit body length (38.88 mm) and cap diameter (55.96 mm) was observed on wheat straw spawned with wheat grain spawn. Maximum yield (496.00 g/2kg substrates) was observed on wheat straw substrate spawned with wheat grain spawn. Biological effeciency of different substrates spawned with five grain spawn, ranged between 16.33 to 82.66 per cent. Out of five spawn doses, minimum (14.00 days) time for spawn run, maximum yield (517.33 g/2 kg substrate), maximum number of basidioma (7.33) and good biological efficiency (86.22 %) was recorded in wheat straw spawned at the rate of 5 per cent. However yield at 5 per cent rate of spawning was statistically at par with that at 4 per cent rate (507.33 g/2 kg substrate). For the production of P. cornucopiae, wheat straw proved to be the best substrate exhibiting minimum time for spawn run (16.33 days), maximum number of basidioma (20.49) and yield (1276 g/5kg substrate) as well as good biological efficiency (85.06%).Out of six supplements amended in wheat straw substrate evaluated at five different doses for the production of test mushroom, wheat bran supplemented at the rate of 6 per cent took minimum time for spawn run (12.00 days) and produced maximum (8.77) number of basidioma with highest yield (546.66 g /2 kg substrate) and good biological efficiency of 91.11 per cent in comparison to wheat straw supplemented with oat meal exhibiting a biological efficiency of 74.44 per cent only