<div>Background: Maize is an important cereal crops as it is a good source of nutrition and raw material for industries. Among various pathogens attacking maize crop, banded leaf and sheath blight (BLSB) caused by Rhizoctonia solani f.sp sasakii is a potential threat for quality maize production. It affects all the plant parts at every stage of crop growth.&nbsp; 
 
Methods:&nbsp;The present investigation was carried out at Regional Research Station Uchani, Karnal of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar to evaluate the efficiency and efficacy of biorational products (Cowpathy) such as Vedic Krishi inputs viz., Beejamrit and Jiwamrit, compost extract and biocontrol agents with the objective to manage banded leaf and sheath disease and increasing yield of maize.&nbsp; 
 
Result: All the biorational products were found quite effective in controlling the disease and enhancing the yield attributes. Seed treatment with Achook (Neem based fungicide containing azadirachtin) @ 2 g/l of seed was found most effective in controlling disease upto 51.77 per cent. Seed treatment with Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10 ml/kg followed by Beejamrit @ 10 ml/kg were also found effective in reducing the disease incidence as compared to control. These are economic, reliable and viable sources and hold good promise for use in organic and sustainable agriculture.</div>

Field Efficacy of Cowpathy Products and Biological Control Agents in Controlling Banded Leaf and Sheath Blight Disease and Increasing Maize Yield

<div>Background: Rice brown spot disease is caused by the fungus Bipolaris oryzae (Breda de Haan), which is one of the most significantly devastating diseases in rice. Nowadays, biological control agents and plant extracts as botanical fungicides are used to develop an alternative method to control this disease and reduce the use of synthetic fungicides. Therefore, the efficacy levels of Hydnocarpus anthelminthicus Pierre ex Laness., Crateva magna (Lour.) DC., Caesalpinia sappan L., Xanthophyllum lanceatum J. J. Sm. and Carallia brachiata (Lour.) Merr. crude extracts were tested in vitro against B. oryzae and their control of rice brown spot disease under greenhouse conditions.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Five plants namely; H. anthelminthicus, C. magna, C. sappan, X. lanceatum and C. brachiata were cleaned with tap water and air dried at 28&plusmn;2&deg;C then cut into small pieces and ground into fine powder and stored at 4&deg;C until used. Plant crude extracts was prepared using ethanol as solvent.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The results showed that the H. anthelminthicus crude extract showed the best antifungal activity against B. oryzae at the highest dose tested, causing 93% mycelial growth inhibition. Under greenhouse testing, the application of the H. anthelminthicus, X. lanceatum, C. brachiata, C. magna and C. sappan crude extracts at a concentration of 50,000 ppm effectively suppressed and reduced rice brown spot incidence caused by B. oryzae when applied once 30 days after transplanting (DAT). Interestingly, the H. anthelminthicus crude extract at a concentration of 10,000 ppm displayed the greatest suppression of the development of rice brown spot disease in terms of disease incidence when applied twice 30 DAT and 45 DAT compared with unprotected control. The results of this study indicated that H. anthelminthicus could provide botanical fungicide protection against rice brown spot disease to reduce the use of synthetic fungicides.</div>

In vivo Testing of Plant Extracts in Controlling Rice Brown Spot Disease Through Folia Application

Background: Pepper growing fields in the Babil and Wasit governorates in Iraq, are suffering from a decline in production due to the spread of root rot diseases. The use of biological control techniques, such as the use of beneficial bacteria in the rhizosphere and natural plant extracts, along with chemical fungicides, has recently contributed to reducing the damage of plant pathogens globally. 
 
Methods: In this research, the main cause of root rot disease in pepper plants was isolated and diagnosed using polymerase chain reaction technology using (TEF-1&alpha;) gene, antagonistic activities of 75 rhizobacterial isolates, natural extracts of garlic and nerium and the fungicides of Promess and Tecto 500 SC were tested in vitro against the pathogen, then the superior bacterial isolates were identified. The ability of biological and chemical agents to control the disease was tested under greenhouse conditions according to the completely randomized design (CRD). 
 
Result: The results of isolation showed that the fungus Fusarium solani was dominance and the isolate Fsw45 was the most virulent. 3 of 75 rhizobacterial isolates outperformed the pathogen in an antagonistic tests and identified as Pseudomonas mendocina, P. fluorescens and Staphylococcus kloosii also the fungicides and botanical extracts showed significant antagonistic activities as well in vitro. Under greenhouse conditions, the fungicide treatments excelled in disease control by 100%. As for the 3 bacterial isolates, they achieved a significant reduction in the percentage of disease incidence and disease severity index, their abilities were higher than the nerium and garlic extracts.

Some Chemical and Biological Methods to Control Pepper Root Rot Disease in Iraq

Background: Rhizobacteria are essential for plant health by offering natural antagonism to soil-borne fungi. Rhizobacteria are regarded as an alternative to chemical agents for the integrated control of plant diseases and for enhancing yield in an ecologically sustainable way. Nonetheless, there is a limited comprehension of the precise processes via which rhizobacteria suppress these diseases and the variety of rhizobacterial species implicated. 
 
Methods: Through experiments conducted in 2022-2024, the efficiency of 12 rhizobacterial isolates of Alloiococcus otitis BRE6, Aneurinibacillus thermoaerophilus SDV1, Aeribacillus pallidus ECC4, A. thermoaerophilus ECL1, Bacillus megaterium SKE2, Staphylococcus lentus BZD2, Enterobacter cloacae complex BZD3, B. megaterium TNK1, Leclercia adecarboxylata DKS3, B. halotolerans DMC8, B. subtilis NAS1 and Paenibacillus polymyxa TRS4, in controlling soilborne pathogenic fungi of Rhizoctonia solani, Macrophomina phaseolina and Pythium aphanidermatum, the causal agents of tomato root rot disease was evaluated under greenhouse conditions and plant growth parameters were evaluated. 
 
Result: The results indicated that the combination treatment of 12 rhizobacterial isolates (COR12) achieved the highest germination rate of tomato seeds in the presence of pathogenic fungi, reaching 100% and the lowest rate of disease incidence and severity, reached 5% and 1%, respectively, compared to the positive control treatment, which reached 82% and 53%, respectively. Representing control disease value of 98% compared to the single bacteria treatments. The COR12 treatment achieved a significant increase in the growth parameters represented by plant height and fresh and dry weight of the shoot and root system in the presence of pathogenic fungi compared to the individual bacterial treatments.

Biological Control of Tomato Root Rot Disease by Indigenous Rhizobacteria in Greenhouse Setting

Background: Chickpeas are a prevalent and significant crop in the agricultural sectors of northern Iraq.&nbsp; In recent years, production has significantly declined due to diseases affecting chickpea plants. Investigating the pathogenic fungi responsible for these diseases is essential to restore production levels to their prior and improved states. 
 
Methods: Samples of diseased chickpea plants were collected from fields in the Erbil, Sulaymaniyah and Salah al-Din governorates in northern Iraq. Isolated associated fungi led to the identification of the dominant pathogenic species. A pathogenicity test was performed on the fungal isolates, showing&nbsp; the most aggressive strain for subsequent antagonism testing against three rhizobacterial isolates: Azotobacter chroococcum, Bacillus cereus and B. pumilus. This testing was conducted both in vitro and in a greenhouse setting,&nbsp; using&nbsp; single treatments and combinations. 
 
Result: The results showed that the pathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani was predominant, with the strain Srs-21 exhibiting the highest virulence in vitro. The three rhizobacterial isolates, A. chroococcum, B. cereus and B. pumilus, showed high efficacy in inhibiting the pathogenic fungus in vitro on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium.&nbsp; In the greenhouse, the triple bacterial interaction treatment showed a seed germination rate of 100% and diminished disease incidence and severity to 0%, in contrast to the positive control treatment, which recorded 90% and 70%, respectively. It also showed the highest rate of rise in the dry weight of plants, signifying enhanced growth metrics.

Control of Chickpea Root Rot Disease by Rhizobacteria in a Greenhouse

Background: Pests and diseases can cause suboptimal tomato production. One alternative that can be used to control wilt disease in tomato plants is to use biological agents. Biological agents that have the potential to control wilt disease in tomato plants are mycorrhizae. This study aimed to determine whether mycorrhizal treatment was effective in the growth of tomato plants and the control of wilt.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The research design was a randomized block design (RBD) arranged factorially. This study used two factors and the first was the dose of mycorrhizal application (M) with three treatments consisting of M1 = mycorrhizal 25 spores/plant, M2 = mycorrhizal 50 spores/plant and M3 = mycorrhizal 75 spores/plant. The second factor was Mycorrhiza (T) application time using two treatments consisting of T1 = when the tomato seeds were sown and T2 = when transplanting. All treatment combinations were repeated 4 times. The varieties used are varieties that farmers usually plant, namely the F1-resistant variety, which was an introduced hybrid plant. The type of plant was a determinate plant. 
 
Result: The results showed that the mycorrhizal treatment with 75 spores significantly increased tomato plant growth on parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, fruit weight and reduced disease incidence.

Arbuscular Vascular Mycorrhizes (MVA) to Control Wilt Disease in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

<div style="text-align: justify;">Stem rot of groundnut caused by Sclerotium rolfsii, seriously damages groundnut production in central Vietnam. Biological control is a promising strategy for sustainable groundnut cultivation. In this study, indigenous bacteria were isolated from the rhizosphere of groundnut and tested for fungal inhibition against S. rolfsii in vitro and disease control under net house condition. Genetic diversity of isolated bacterial population was evaluated by BOX-PCR and 16S rDNA sequences. Bacterial strains that showed high disease control in net house were evaluated under natural conditions in farmer fields. The antifungal mechanism of the best bacterial strain was identified. Results of the study showed that the antagonistic bacterial population in groundnut rhizosphere is separated in three bacterial genera including Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Burkholderia. One bacterial strain which produces 2,4-DAPG reduced stem rot of groundnut caused by S. rolfsii and increased yield from 20.3 to 26.3% compared to the control.</div>

Genetic diversity of groundnut rhizosphere antagonistic bacteria and biological control of groundnut wilted diseases in central Vietnam

Background: Anthracnose disease of chili caused by Colletotrichum spp is one of the most destructive diseases affecting chili fruits in Thailand and significantly reduces fruit quality and chili production. Currently, this disease is managed primarily with synthetic fungicides that may affect public health and the environment adversely. Consequently, there is a need for biological management options. In vitro and in vivo evaluations of the antagonistic activity of Talaromyces flavus Bodhi001, Talaromyces trachyspermus Bodhi002, Talaromyces flavus Bodhi003 and Neosartorya fischeri Bodhi004 against Colletotrichum capsici, the causal agent of chili anthracnose disease, were conducted in the present study. 
 
Methods: The activity of antagonistic fungi against C. capsici was determined using PDA plate by dual culture method. The spore suspensions of C. capsici and antagonistic fungi were prepared in sterile water and adjusted using a hemocytometer to achieve a final concentration of about 106 spores mL-1. 
 
Result: The most effective antagonistic strains were T. flavus Bodhi001 and N. fischeri Bodhi004, which inhibited the mycelial growth of C. capsici by 68.99% and 70.76%, respectively. Interestingly, the antagonistic T. flavus Bodhi001 strain was the most effective at reducing the severity of chili anthracnose in vivo by up to 80%. The biological control activity of T. flavus Bodhi001 was to produce antibiosis against C. capsici; therefore, testing can be recommended to confirm its field trial stability. The results indicate that the application of the antagonistic fungi T. flavus Bodhi001 may be quite effective in biological control of chili anthracnose.

Biological Control of Chili Anthracnose Disease using Talaromyces flavus Bodhi001

<div style="text-align: justify;">Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) is a horticultural commodity with high economic value. However, serious disease management is needed to get good production with better fruit quality. &nbsp;Wilt disease caused by Fusarium is constraining &nbsp;tomato production. This study was aimed to measure the effectiveness the use of Gliocladium fimbriatum and Trichoderma viride to control fusarium wilt disease. This study was conducted in Food Crop and Holticultural Plant Protection Institute of West Papua and Laboratory of Plant Diseases of Agricultural Faculty, Papua University, Manokwari. This study was designed using factorial complete randomized design consisting of two treatment factors and repeated three times. The experiment findings indicated that servo variety was better compared to other tested varieties as indicated by better plant height, low fusarium wilt disease intensity, and higher fruits quantity and weight. Trichoderma and Gliocladium were capable of controlling the development of fusarium wilt disease in tomatoes plant, but the effectiveness of Trichoderma (53.68%) was better controlling the pathogen compared to Gliocladium (48.89%). Interaction between the treatments of Servo variety and fungi Trichoderma resulted in better effect both to lower disease intensity and higher fruits quantity and weight.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">The effectiveness of fungi Gliocladiumfimbriatum and Trichoderma viride to control fusarium wilt disease of tomatoes &nbsp;(Lycopersicum esculentum)</div>

Background: Groundnut is an economically important edible oilseed crop. Groundnut suffers from seed, soil and foliar diseases. Among the groundnut diseases, collar rot is one of the economically important diseases. Collar rot is damaged regularly due to its seed and soil-borne nature. This disease is prevalent in almost all groundnut-growing states. Collar rot disease of groundnut is one of the most serious, destructive diseases and yield losses range from 13 to 52% and can be as high as 93.6% in some areas. Being mainly a soil-inhabiting pathogen, many environmental and soil factors are responsible for disease development. 
 
Methods: Field experiment was conducted for four years to find out effective control of collar rot of groundnut. Eight treatments including fungicides/bio agents along with control were laid in randomized block design with three replications. Efficacy of deep summer ploughing with mould board plough+Seed treatment with Tebuconazole followed by PGPR+Soil application of Trichoderma enriched in 250 kg FYM/ha at 35 and 80 DAS along with farmer practices as well as control was tested at ARS, Bikaner in RBD design during kharif season from 2017 to 2020 for management of collar rot diseases of groundnut.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The result of experiment revealed that deep summer ploughing with mould board plough+Soil application of Trichoderma @ 4 kg/ ha enriched in 250 kg FYM/ha+Seed treatment with Tebuconazole 2 DS @ 1.5 g/kg of seed followed by seed treatment with PGPR @ 625 g/ha of seed+Soil application of Trichoderma @ 4 kg/ha enriched in 250 kg FYM/ha at 35 and 80 DAS (T4) gave maximum germination (93.00%), minimum collar rot incidence (6.17%) and highest pod yield (4066.3 kg/ha) followed by deep summer ploughing with mould board plough+Seed treatment with Tebuconazole 2DS 1.5 g/kg seed followed by PGPR @ 625 g/ha of seed+Soil application of Trichoderma @ 4 kg/ ha enriched in 250 kg FYM/ha at 35 and 80 DAS (T1) where germination (89.30%), collar rot (7.04%) and with pod yield (3661.9 kg/ha). All the treatment significantly were superior as compared to control, where minimum germination (82.00), maximum collar rot incidence (15.59 %) and minimum pod yield (2125.1 kg/ha) were recorded. As regard to ICBR, in different treatments, maximum ICBR ratio (1:20.68) was recorded in treatment consisting (T4): Deep summer ploughing with mould board plough+Seed treatment with Tebuconazole 1.5 g/kg seeds+Soil application of Trichoderma @ 4 kg/ha enriched in 250 kg FYM/ha at 35 and 80 DAS followed by treatment (T1).

Management of Collar Rot Disease in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Caused by Aspergillus niger in Rajasthan Through Bio-control Agents