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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 IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MUSHROOM GROWTH PROMOTING BACTERIA FROM CASING SOIL AND THEIR EFFECT ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF BUTTON MUSHROOM(UHF Nauni, 2024-05-25) JYOTI NUGHAL; Dharmesh GuptaGlobally, Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Imbach is cultivated as a food source, undergoing a crucial transition from vegetative to reproductive stages facilitated by a specific casing layer. In the present investigation 90 bacterial isolates from casing soil were collected and screened to see the effect of mushroom growth promoting bacteria (MGPB) on quality and yield of Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Imbach. The bacterial isolates were isolated on nutrient agar medium. Out of 90 isolates, 52 were selected for exhibiting all the traits associated with Mushroom Growth Promotion (MGP). SNG9 exhibited (226.39%) maximum qualitative P-solubilization and PRG10 showed maximum (173.51 μg/ml) quantitative P-solubilization. SNG10 demonstrated maximum siderophore production efficiency (158.15%) and per cent siderophore unit (201.57%). SNG10 also produced the highest IAA (41.59 μg/ml), while SNG9 had maximum gibberellic acid (55.31 μg/ml) and 85.56 per cent isolates demonstrated nitrogen-fixing ability. Chitinase activity was observed in 53.85 per cent of isolates, with PRG10 (4.22) having the highest enzyme index. Fifty per cent showed cellulase activity and KLH8 (5.55) exhibited the highest enzyme index. Protease activity was observed in 55.77 per cent with PRG10 having the highest enzyme index (4.43). Twelve isolates produced HCN and six showed antagonistic effects (>25%) against Trichoderma harzianum. Five highly effective bacterial antagonists exhibited >25% antagonistic effects against Mycogone perniciosa. Through morphological, biochemical and molecular characterization, the bacterial isolates were identified as Stenotrophomonas rhizophila (PRG10), Sphingobacterium nematocida (SNG9), Pseudomonas putida (SNG10) and Bacillus proteolyticus (KLH8). In field experiments, these isolates, either individually or in combination (PRG10, SNG9, SNG10 and KLH8) at concentrations of 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 ml were tested for white button mushroom growth. Treatments like PRG10+SNG9 at 5ml, SNG9+SNG10 at 5ml, SNG10+KLH8 at 7.5ml and KLH8 at 7.5ml exhibited a significant increase in yield (31.17%, 24.58%, 21.48% and 18.79%) and various growth parameters compared to the uninoculated control. Moreover, these treatments improved the physio-chemical properties of the casing soil, contributing to enhanced nutritional status in mushrooms. Therefore, these bacterial isolates possess significant potential for enhancing the yield and quality of button mushrooms.ThesisItem Open Access MOLECULAR VARIABILITY AND MANAGEMENT OF XANTHOMONAS CITRI SUBSP. CITRI CAUSING CITRUS BACTERIAL CANKER(UHF Nauni, 2024-06-14) DINESH KUMAR; Monica SharmaThe present investigation entitled “Molecular variability and management of Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri causing citrus bacterial canker” was undertaken to record the amount of molecular variability exists in different isolates of the pathogen and different management strategies were assessed for the management of the disease. Different isolates of the pathogen were collected from four districts (Hamirpur, Una, Sirmour and Kangra) of Himachal Pradesh and one was collected form Punjab and one from Karnataka. The isolates were isolated from different hosts such as Citrus sinensis, C. reticulata, C. aurantifolia, C. limon and C. jambhiri. The isolates exhibited variable colony colour from yellow, light yellow, dark yellow and pale colour on nutrient agar medium. The variation in incubation period of isolates ranged from 2.2 to 4.4 days, in final symptom development period ranged from 19.6 to 24 days and in per cent disease index ranged from 40 to 90 per cent in detached leaf pathogenicity assay. The isolates showed variation under attached leaf pathogenicity assay on seedlings of sweet orange and incubation period ranged from 7.2 to 10.4 days and final symptoms development ranged from 32.4 to 40 days and per cent disease index varied from 37.50 to 79.17 days. Molecular identification confirmed the presence of single band in all isolates for 16S rDNA at 591 bp, for glpF gene two isolates with a single band at 690 bp and for species specific rpf gene in seven isolates producing single band near 581 bp. Moleclar variability among isolates was confirmed by using RAPD and ISSR markers which showed high amount of genetic variability among the isolates and both markers were polymorphic in nature. Both the markers clustered the isolates in three groups and combined clustering grouped them in two groups. For disease management, different resistance inducing chemicals at three different concentrations were analysed and salicylic acid, β-amino butyric acid, acibenzolar -S- methyl and potassium chloride were effective and effectiveness increased from low to high concentration of chemicals. All these chemicals were found to improve the plant’s phenolic and chlorophyll content and the peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity was also enhanced with their application in comparison to inoculated control, un-inoculated control and other treatments. Green silver and copper nanoparticles using leaf extract exhibited the effectiveness for inhibition of the pathogen as well as disease under semi-controlled conditions with highest efficacy in green silver nanoparticles of Ocimum sanctum and Tagetes erecta followed by green copper nanoparticles of Eucalyptus hybrida. Metal nanoparticles were effective in disease management under controlled conditions and pathogen inhibition under in vitro conditions.ThesisItem Open Access STUDIES ON PATHOGENIC VARIABILITY OF MYCOGONE PERNICIOSA CAUSING WET BUBBLE DISEASE OF AGARICUS BISPORUS AND ITS MANAGEMENT(UHF Nauni, 2024-05-22) PRATIBHA; Dharmesh GuptaThe present studies entitled “Studies on pathogenic variability of Mycogone perniciosa causing wet bubble disease of Agaricus bisporus and its management” were carried out during 2022 and 2023. Extensive surveys conducted revealed that the incidence of wet bubble disease in different districts of Himachal Pradesh ranged from 3.28 to 16.42 per cent. The disease was prevalent in all mushroom growing districts with intensity in the range of 19.33 to 42.0 per cent over years. The per cent yield loss caused by wet bubble disease on white button mushroom data was reported to be maximum (25.12%) at Baba Dera in district Una with all overall yield loss ranging from 5.83 to 25.12 per cent. The mycopathogen Mycogone perniciosa was found to be persistently linked with the wet bubble disease. The fungal pathogen exhibited typical and distinctive symptoms of wet bubble disease. In vitro studies were conducted to assess symptomatological, morphological, physiological and genetic variability among eighteen isolates collected from major mushroom cultivation areas. Different isolates of the pathogen were observed to exhibit varying symptoms e.g., appearance of cauliflower like fruiting bodies, scattered sclerodermoid mass with amber-coloured droplets thickened stipe and interior stipe browning. Symptoms such as gill infection, foul smell, and appearance of brown, amber-coloured droplets and thickened stipe were used to characterize these isolates into highly virulent, moderately virulent and less virulent categories. Isolates MP-4, MP-7, MP-3 and MP-15 were highly virulent, isolates MP-2 and MP-18 were less virulent while remaining twelve isolates were categorized as moderately virulent isolates. The isolates were observed to produce light brown to pale white coloured colonies, with texture ranging from uneven striate to even and fluffy and growth rate ranging from 17.00 to 51.00 mm per week. Bi-celled aleurospores were seen in all the isolates while eleven out of eighteen isolates were seen to produce single- celled conidia with size range of 5.7-22.5 × 1.5-6.4 μm. The dendrograms constructed by using similarity matrix on the basis of RAPD and ISSR primers revealed that isolates MP-13 and MP-15 showed highest similarity coefficient (0.89) while MP-4 and MP-10 showed minimum similarity coefficient (0.04). The results showed that temperature range of 22-25 ℃ and pH 7 was most suitable for optimum growth of the pathogen. The primary inoculum of the pathogen was observed in the contaminated casing soil with which it reaches the farms during the interval of button mushroom crop production. Spent mushroom compost and garden soil were found to contain propagules of the pathogen. Among bacterial isolates, B-1 (Bacillus subtilis strain MPS1), B-8 (Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain MPS2) and B-9 (Bacillus velezensis strain MPS3) exhibited effective mycelial inhibition of 75.11, 73.09 and 70.41 per cent, respectively of the pathogen fungus under in vitro conditions while, under in vivo conditions maximum yield (14.01 kg per 100 kg compost) and minimum per cent disease intensity (4.45 %) was seen in treatments with consortia of B-1+B-8+B-9. In-vitro evaluation of ZnO nanoparticles synthesized using bacterial atagonists against M. perniciosa revealed that maximum (79.49 per cent) mycelial inhibition was recorded in case of ZnO-NP2, followed by ZnO-NP3 (78.46 per cent) and ZnO-NP1(73.39 per cent) at 1000 ppm concentration. Under in vivo conditions, maximum yield (13.24 kg per 100 kg of compost) and minimum per cent disease intensity (4.75 %) was obtained in treatments with consortia NP-1+NP-2+NP-3.ThesisItem Open Access STUDIES ON PATHOGENIC VARIABILITY OF MYCOGONE PERNICIOSA CAUSING WET BUBBLE DISEASE OF AGARICUS BISPORUS AND ITS MANAGEMENT(UHF Nauni, 2024-06-04) Dharmesh Gupta; Dharmesh GuptaThe present studies entitled “Studies on pathogenic variability of Mycogone perniciosa causing wet bubble disease of Agaricus bisporus and its management” were carried out during 2022 and 2023. Extensive surveys conducted revealed that the incidence of wet bubble disease in different districts of Himachal Pradesh ranged from 3.28 to 16.42 per cent. The disease was prevalent in all mushroom growing districts with intensity in the range of 19.33 to 42.0 per cent over years. The per cent yield loss caused by wet bubble disease on white button mushroom data was reported to be maximum (25.12%) at Baba Dera in district Una with all overall yield loss ranging from 5.83 to 25.12 per cent. The mycopathogen Mycogone perniciosa was found to be persistently linked with the wet bubble disease. The fungal pathogen exhibited typical and distinctive symptoms of wet bubble disease. In vitro studies were conducted to assess symptomatological, morphological, physiological and genetic variability among eighteen isolates collected from major mushroom cultivation areas. Different isolates of the pathogen were observed to exhibit varying symptoms e.g., appearance of cauliflower like fruiting bodies, scattered sclerodermoid mass with amber-coloured droplets thickened stipe and interior stipe browning. Symptoms such as gill infection, foul smell, and appearance of brown, amber-coloured droplets and thickened stipe were used to characterize these isolates into highly virulent, moderately virulent and less virulent categories. Isolates MP-4, MP-7, MP-3 and MP-15 were highly virulent, isolates MP-2 and MP-18 were less virulent while remaining twelve isolates were categorized as moderately virulent isolates. The isolates were observed to produce light brown to pale white coloured colonies, with texture ranging from uneven striate to even and fluffy and growth rate ranging from 17.00 to 51.00 mm per week. Bi-celled aleurospores were seen in all the isolates while eleven out of eighteen isolates were seen to produce single- celled conidia with size range of 5.7-22.5 × 1.5-6.4 μm. The dendrograms constructed by using similarity matrix on the basis of RAPD and ISSR primers revealed that isolates MP-13 and MP-15 showed highest similarity coefficient (0.89) while MP-4 and MP-10 showed minimum similarity coefficient (0.04). The results showed that temperature range of 22-25 ℃ and pH 7 was most suitable for optimum growth of the pathogen. The primary inoculum of the pathogen was observed in the contaminated casing soil with which it reaches the farms during the interval of button mushroom crop production. Spent mushroom compost and garden soil were found to contain propagules of the pathogen. Among bacterial isolates, B-1 (Bacillus subtilis strain MPS1), B-8 (Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain MPS2) and B-9 (Bacillus velezensis strain MPS3) exhibited effective mycelial inhibition of 75.11, 73.09 and 70.41 per cent, respectively of the pathogen fungus under in vitro conditions while, under in vivo conditions maximum yield (14.01 kg per 100 kg compost) and minimum per cent disease intensity (4.45 %) was seen in treatments with consortia of B-1+B-8+B-9. In-vitro evaluation of ZnO nanoparticles synthesized using bacterial atagonists against M. perniciosa revealed that maximum (79.49 per cent) mycelial inhibition was recorded in case of ZnO-NP2, followed by ZnO-NP3 (78.46 per cent) and ZnO-NP1(73.39 per cent) at 1000 ppm concentration. Under in vivo conditions, maximum yield (13.24 kg per 100 kg of compost) and minimum per cent disease intensity (4.75 %) was obtained in treatments with consortia NP-1+NP-2+NP-3.ThesisItem Open Access INTEGRATION OF RESISTANCE INDUCERS, ENDOPHYTES, EPIPHYTES AND CHEMICALS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF BACTERIAL BLIGHT OF POMEGRANATE(UHF Nauni, 2024-06-04) ABHA THAKUR; Satish Kumar SharmaBacterial blight, caused by Xanthomonas citri pv. punicae, is a devastating disease affecting pomegranate and causing extensive yield losses in crop growing areas of Himachal Pradesh. In this study, an eco-friendly management strategy was developed utilizing a combination of resistance inducers, endophytes, epiphytes and chemicals. Four modules were assessed under various conditions, including in vitro, pot, and field trials. During in vitro evaluation of endophytes, epiphytes, resistance inducers and chemicals against Xanthomonas citri pv. punicae, maximum inhibition zone (5.00 cm) was observed in streptocycline (275 ppm) and bronopal (275 ppm). In Module-1,conjoint application of salicylic acid (300 ppm), β-amino butyric acid (300 ppm), streptocycline (500 ppm) and bronopal (500 ppm), achieved a disease control of 64.99% in potted plants and 67.65% under field conditions and also effective in improving plant growth as compared to other treatments such as seedling/plant height, stem girth, leaf area, and shoot growth etc. along with elevated levels of biochemical parameters associated with plant defense mechanisms. In Module-2, combining Bacillus paramycoides strain BKEp-1 (108 cfu/ml), Ascochyta rabiei strain FDEp-1 (108 cfu/ml), streptocycline (500 ppm), and bronopal (500 ppm) proved effective, reducing disease by 68.13 per cent in potted plants and 68.99 per cent in field conditions. Additionally, it enhanced plant growth and increased biochemical levels. Module 3 demonstrated that combining Bacillus anthracis strain BDEn-1 (108 cfu/ml), Albifimbria verrucaria strain FDEn-2 (108 cfu/ml), streptocycline (500 ppm) and bronopal (500 ppm) was very successful. This approach resulted in a 73.06 per cent reduction in disease severity in potted plants and 70.69 per cent decrease under field conditions. Moreover, it concurrently enhanced plant growth and increased the levels of biochemical parameters. In Module 4, combining salicylic acid (300 ppm), β-amino butyric acid (300 ppm), Bacillus paramycoides strain BKEp-1 (108 cfu/ml), Ascochyta rabiei strain FDEp-1 (108 cfu/ml), Bacillus anthracis strain BDEn-1 (108 cfu/ml), Albifimbria verrucaria strain FDEn-2 (108 cfu/ml), streptocycline (500 ppm) and bronopal (500 ppm) proved highly effective. This approach led to 80.00 per cent reduction in disease severity in potted plants and a 73.69 per cent decrease under field conditions. Additionally, it simultaneously enhanced plant growth and elevated the levels of biochemical parameters. This module exhibited the highest percentage of disease control and demonstrated significant improvements in plant growth parameters amongst all the modules alongside increased levels of biochemical parameters. This study underscores the efficacy of integrated management strategies integrating multiple agents for controlling bacterial blight in pomegranate cultivation, while simultaneously fostering plant growth and fortifying plant defense mechanisms. Such integrated approaches hold promise for sustainable disease management in pomegranate cultivation in the state.ThesisItem Open Access STUDIES ON BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF WHITE ROT OF GARLIC (Sclerotium cepivorum Berk.)(UHF Nauni, 2024-04-22) SHAVNAM; Narender K. BharatThe present investigation entitled “Studies on Biological Control of White rot of Garlic (Sclerotium cepivorum Berk.)” was conducted in the Department of Plant Pathology, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (Nauni) Solan (HP) -173 230 India during 2021-2023. The pathogen associated with white rot disease of garlic was identified as Sclerotium cepivorum Berk. The optimum temperature and pH, for growth of the pathogen was observed to be 15-20°C and 4-5, respectively. Among all the indigenous biocontrol agents tested in vitro, Trichoderma sp. strain 1 exhibited the highest efficacy with mycelial inhibition of 95.83% followed by Trichoderma sp. strain 2 and T. virens, with inhibition rates of 94.80% and 91.57%, respectively. While, in a pot culture experiment T. virens and Trichoderma sp. strain 1 exhibited the highest disease control of 63.17% and 61.13%, respectively. However, these values were lower when compared to the fungicide tebuconazole 25 EC @ 0.2%, which demonstrated the highest disease control of 75.65%. In another experiment on evaluation of germination stimulants conducted under pot culture conditions, garlic waste @ 0.1% was found most effective germination stimulant in reducing the viability of sclerotia of S. cepivorum to 2.50% after 3 months of inoculation in comparison to 89.63% viability in control. Out of six crucifer crops residues tested, mustard and cabbage fresh crop residues @ 10 g were found most effective with 95.13 and 94.83 per cent mycelial inhibition while in pot culture experiment cauliflower and cabbage crop residues applied @ 10% w/w were found effective with 51.31 and 52.61 per cent disease incidence in comparison to 83.87% in control. In biointensive disease management, treatment combination of garlic waste + T. virens, T. virens + crucifer residues were most effective with 38.03% and 37.30% disease incidence in comparison to 91.97% in control. However, these rates were lower when compared to the fungicide clove treatment with tebuconazole 25 EC @ 0.2%, which demonstrated the lowest disease incidence 27.77%. Under field experiment, treatment combination comprised of garlic waste + crucifer residues + T. virens and Trichoderma sp. strain 1 and tebuconazole 25 EC @ 0.2% were found most effective with 18.27% and 14.17% respectively, disease incidence compared to the control (62.50%). It can be concluded from the present investigation that for the management of white rot of garlic (S. cepivorum), a treatment combination involving the application of garlic waste @10g/m2 as a germination stimulant, applied 3-4 weeks before planting, incorporation of crucifer residues, including cabbage and cauliflower @ 500g/m2, one week after the application of garlic waste and following this, application of biocontrol agents T. virens and Trichoderma sp. strain 1 @ 500g/m2 (multiplied on wheat bran and saw dust medium), ten days after the addition of Brassica residues was found a good approach providing a disease control up to 72%, which proved to be as effective as the application of chemical fungicide tebuconazole (applied as seed/clove treatment @ 0.2%) with a disease control of 79%.ThesisItem Open Access INVESTIGATION ON BUD FAILURE DISEASE OF ALMOND (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb.)(UHF Nauni, 2024-04-24) GULSHAN NEGI; Anil HandaSurveys of 40 almond orchards of Shimla, Kullu, Lahaul & Spiti and Kinnaur districts of Himachal Pradesh conducted during 2021, 2022 and 2023 revealed the incidence of Prunus necrotic ring spot virus (PNRSV) ranging from 0 to 100 percent. The predominant symptoms observed included chlorotic spot, shot holes, necrotic rings and mid vein distortion. Almond orchard in the Experimental Farm of the Department of Fruit Science, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan was selected for serological indexing through DAS-ELISA which resulted in the detection of PNRSV in all trees marked on the basis of visual symptoms. Association of PNRSV with viral symptoms in almond was further confirmed by RT-PCR assays. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that PNRSV isolate from Lippa (OQ784876) had maximum homology with that of the isolate from Canada (JQ005050); Nirath isolate (OQ734566) with isolate from Germany (QP357944); Duttnagar isolate (OQ434579) with isolate from Italy (AJ133213); Bagara isolate (OQ434576) with Italian isolate ( AJ133204) and almond isolate from Nauni (OQ434580) with two isolates from China (MH730938, MF198443). Among all plant parts used throughout the year for DAS-ELISA based detection of PNRSV, leaves of the almond collected from symptomatic plants had the maximum concentration of PNRSV and petals had a high concentration of virus can be used in the month of march for detecting PNRSV. Plants germinated from seeds of infected almond trees with PNRSV yielded positive results in DAS-ELISA assays. Serological host range of PNRSV has also been established in peach, nectarine, plum, cherry and almond. Nectarine has been serologically established to be a new host of PNRSV in our conditions and this finding is of vital importance as nectarine has a great potential of becoming a highly remunerative crop due to its attractive colour and fuzzless skin. None of the 12 almond varieties indexed serologically were found to be free from PNRSV infection with California Paper Shell recording the maximum virus concentration and Sharbo selection had the minimum virus concentration. Visual and serological indexing in all orchards surveyed in the Districts of Shimla and Kullu revealed the association of PNRSV with almond trees whereas almond orchards at Triloknath, Geu and Hurling in Lahaul & Spiti district and Pooh in District Kinnaur were found to be free from PNRSV infection. During the course of studies, a new phytoplasma disease of almond was detected which is a new report from India.ThesisItem Open Access MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF A CUCUMOVIRUS INFECTING PEPPERS (Capsicum annuum L.)(UHF Nauni, 2024-03-18) NAVEEN KATOCH; Anil HandaThe present investigation entitled, “Molecular Characterization and management of a Cucumovirus infecting peppers (Capsicum annuum L.)” was carried out at laboratory and experimental farm of Department of Plant Pathology, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP)-173 230. Peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) comprising of bell pepper, chilli and paprika are susceptible to a large number of viruses and causes yield losses upto 100 per cent. Among all the viruses, Cucumber mosaic virus is most prominent virus infecting peppers worldwide. The surveys conducted in major pepper growing areas of Himachal Pradesh during the year 2021-2022 revealed the per cent disease incidence of CMV ranging from approximately 40 to 60 per cent. The per cent incidence of 57.7 per cent was recorded in Solan district, 57.2 percent in Sirmour, 56.6 per cent in Mandi, 49.1 per cent in Kullu, 46.9 per cent in Kangra, 45.8 per cent in Chamba, 40.9 per cent in Bilaspur and 39.3 per cent in Shimla district. Typical symptoms associated with CMV on pepper plants were mosaic, mottle, leaf distortion, vein chlorosis, stunting, shoe-stringing, crinkling, necrotic spots, vein distortion, yellowing, filliform leaf, oak leaf pattern and leaf size reduction. The virus was detected through serological (ELISA) and molecular (PCR) techniques and it was found that symptomatic leaves from susceptible plants obtained a seropositive reaction. The molecular characterization of CMV coat protein region was carried out and sequence was submitted to NCBI which revealed 94.99 per cent similarity with isolate TNCR3-3 segment RNA3 genome segment. Among insecticides, Afidopyropen and Cyantraniliprole were found to be most effective for the management of aphid vector transmitting CMV during two consecutive years 2022 and 2023. Further, DAS-ELISA based screening of forty nine pepper varieties/ breeding lines revealed that 30 accessions were found free from CMV infection which may have a potential use in breeding programmes aimed at developing resistance against CMV in peppers. Mixed infection of CMV and Capsicum chlorosis virus (CaCV) was also recorded in six varieties/breeding lines during germplasm screening.ThesisItem Open Access STUDIES ON UTILIZATION OF PADDY STRAW FOR COMPOST PREPARATION OF BUTTON MUSHROOM (Agaricus bisporus(UHF Nauni, 2024-03-26) RAJNEESH THAKUR; Dharmesh GuptaThe compost for white button mushroom is generally been prepared using wheat straw all over the world but complete dependency on wheat straw is restricting the growth of mushroom industry severely. Thus it is imperative to search for alternative agriculture residue for white button mushroom compost preparation. During the study, we have tried to develop new composting formulations using paddy straw and supplementing wheat straw with paddy straw in different proportions. During the study, a combination of wheat straw and paddy straw (1:1) proved promising formulation taking minimum days for first harvest (28.02 days) and maximum yield (19.98 kg/ 100kg compost). To enhance the process of composting and make the compost more selective and productive, a total of eighteen thermophilic fungi were isolated from the different compost formulations. The thermophilic fungi were screened for enzyme production potential (laccase, manganese peroxide, cellulase, and xylanase) responsible for composting, growth and development of button mushroom. Two selected thermophiles showing maximum enzyme activities (TF4 Thermomyces lanuginosus and TF6 Melanocarpus albomyces) were identified based on morphological and molecular tools. The optimized compost formulae i.e., T3 (PS: WS, 1:1) was inoculated with the selected thermophilic fungi, singly and in combination. Inoculation of consotium of Thermomyces lanuginosus and Melanocarpus albomyces in the compost of paddy straw + wheat straw (1:1) took the minimum days for first harvest (26.01) and gave maximum yield (23.98 kg/100 kg compost). The consortium of isolates also increased the availability of macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) and micronutrients (Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn) due to enhanced enzyme activities. It also helped in decreasing the silica content in compost. Nutritional value of the mushroom produced was also recorded be better with compost inoculated with Thermomyces lanuginosus and Melanocarpus albomyces. Overall, it was recorded that paddy straw and wheat straw combinations with inoculated thermophiles (TF4 and TF6) gave promising results.
