Background: Parthenium hysterophorus is a fast-spreading invasive weed that poses serious challenges to agriculture and the environment due to its aggressive growth and allelopathic effects. The conventional use of mechanical or chemical methods for its control, often result in environmental hazards and some times limited effectiveness of these methods. As a sustainable alternative, biological management using pathogenic fungi is gaining attention due to its specificity and ecological safety. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: The study aimed to isolate and evaluate pathogenic fungi from infected Parthenium plants to assess their potential as biological control agents. Four fungal isolates were collected from naturally infected Parthenium plants and tested for pathogenicity on Parthenium, using the disc plate technique under controlled laboratory conditions. 
&nbsp; 
Result: Results revealed that Alternaria macrospora strain PHMMU1 exhibited the highest disease incidence (67.27%) and most severe defoliation, followed by Alternaria alternata strain PHMMU2 (50.06%), A. macrospora strain PHMMU3 (40.70%) and A. macrospora strain PHMMU4 (35.18%). All isolates fulfilled Koch&rsquo;s postulates, confirming their pathogenicity. The findings highlight the potential of Alternaria spp., particularly A. macrospora, as effective mycoherbicides for the sustainable management of Parthenium hysterophorus, supporting integrated weed management strategies and environmental conservation efforts. 
&nbsp;

Exploiting Phytopathogenic Alternaria alternata and Alternaria macrospora for Management of Parthenium hysterophorus

<div style="text-align:justify">Talking about the invasive species of plants there are many of them like Ageratum conyzoides, Cannabis sativa, Parthenium hysterophorus, Lantana camara, Tribulus terrestris and&nbsp;many more. And one of these is Parthenium hysterophorus which we will be discussing in this paper. P. hysterophorus is native species to tropical America, Mexico and the southern USA. This invasive plant belongs to the Asteraceae family. This is said to be a poisonous annual herb that grows aggressively. It has certain harmful effects on agriculture, livestock and human life. This herb tends to cause skin problems, respiratory problems, fever and bronchitis-like problems in humans. Despite having many harmful elements this weed is also known to have health benefits examples as urinary tract infection, rheumatic pain and Diarrhoea. This herb is spreading all over India badly. Certain experiments and methods are being done on this plant to know the impactful parameters of the plant which can be used in a productive way. It has the potential to be used as bio-pesticides and for removing heavy metals and dyes. In this paper, we have discussed this noxious herb and its benefits. The goal of the review is to impart basic knowledge about, morphology, discovery, harmful and beneficial effects, active compounds and preventive measures about P. hysterophorus.</div>

Parthenium hysterophorus Being Boon and Bane for Human Beings: A Review

Invasive alien weeds are non-native organisms that cause potential harm to the environment, economics and human health. &nbsp;Its ability to outcompete native species for space, water, nutrients, and other essential resources, adaptability to a variety of environmental conditions, absence of natural predators and parasites and prolific seed producing characteristics, once established it is very difficult to control or eliminate. Eradication through utilization is the present concept of management of invasive alien weeds. Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitchell, Parthenium hysterophorus L., Mikania micrantha Kunth, Chromolaena odorata (L.), Mimosa invisa Mart. Ex Colla and Lantana camara L. are the major invasive alien weeds of Kerala. The literature about the bio-utilization of these major invasive alien weeds is reviewed in this paper.

Invasive alien weeds as bio-resource: A review

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Alfalfa, Medicago sativa L. is the most important and widely grown leguminous fodder crop in temperate and tropical regions of the world. The production of alfalfa crop is limited by several biotic stresses, among which witches&rsquo; broom disease (AWB) was reported to cause significant economic losses. 
 
Methods: The phytoplasma infected alfalfa plants were collected from a central research farm, ICAR-IGFRI, Jhansi, U.P. Qualitative parameters such as crude protein content, acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre were estimated in diseased and healthy plants. Phytoplasma universal primer (P1/P7) and nested primer (R16mF2/R16mR1) were used for the molecular characterization of AWB infected plants and phytoplasma infected, Parthenium hysterophorus.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
Result: The incidence of AWB disease ranged from 8-10%. The quantitative analysis of disease plants showed reduced plant height (-35%), fresh weight (-46.89%) and dry weight (-50.08%) compared to healthy plants. The diseased plant recorded low crude protein content (-21.38%) and higher dry matter content (+0.68%), acid detergent fibre (+33.72%) and neutral detergent fibre (+13.06%). The association of phytoplasma in diseased alfalfa and parthenium samples was confirmed by using P1/P7 and R16mF2/R16mR1 primer pair and Blastn analysis shared 99.6-100% similarity with &lsquo;Candidatus Phytoplasma australasia&rsquo; belongs to the 16Sr group II-D.</div>

Candidatus Phytoplasma Australasia Associated with Alfalfa Witches&rsquo; Broom: Symptomatology, Quantitative Loss, Qualitative Loss and Molecular Characterization

Background: Cereal-legume cropping system is considered to be one of the better alternatives for sustaining soil fertility and increasing the yield. At present maize-groundnut cropping system is gaining importance under both rainfed and irrigated situations. Maize, being an exhaustive and weed-sensitive crop, is supplied with large doses of fertilizers and new herbicide molecules.Since maize is exhaustive and weed sensitive crop, there was a usage of excessive fertilizers and new herbicides. There is a need to assess the carry over effect of fertilizers and new generation herbicides in leguminous crops like groundnut. 
 
Methods: The experiment was conducted during two consecutive rabi seasons of 2019-20 and 2020-21 on sandy loam soils of S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. Maize hybrid DHM -117 was sown and maintained with general cultivation practices except for nitrogen and weed management methods was raised after harvest of maize in undisturbed layout to study the residual effect of different nitrogen and weed management practices imposed in maize. 
 
Result: Residual effect of nitrogen and weed management practices imposed in preceding maize did not exert any significant influence on germination percentage, phytotoxicity and SPAD chlorophyll meter reading (SCMR) values but efficacy of herbicide residue found to be significant with weed management practices. Growth parameters, yield attributes pod yield, haulm yield and economics were higher in groundnut with brown manuring, which was however, in parity with hand weeding twice at 15 and 30 DAS, pre emergence application of atrazine 1.0 kg ha-1 fb post emergence application of topramezone 30 g ha-1 and pre emergence application of atrazine 1.0 kg ha-1 fb post emergence application of tembotrione 120 g ha-1 and lower with unweeded check and it was remained in parity with application of parthenium water extract15 lha-1 twice at 15 and 30 DAS, application of sunflower water extract 15 lha-1 twice at 15 and 30 DAS, pre emergence application of atrazine 1.0 kg ha-1 fb post emergence application of parthenium water extract 15 lha-1 and pre emergence application of atrazine 1.0 kg ha-1 fb post emergence application of sunflower water extract 15 lha-1 in the order of ascent.&nbsp; None of their interaction effects were found to be significant during both the years of study and in pooled mean.

Residual Effect of Nitrogen and Weed Management Practices in Maize on Succeeding Groundnut

Rabi maize is affected by three types of weed species mainly&nbsp; broad-leaf weeds in eastern pockets of Uttar Pradesh and causes grain and stover yields loss in higher amount. Therefore present study was carried out to find the most effective dose of 2, 4-D Sodium salt 80% WP on killing of braod-leaf weeds. A field investigation was conducted during Rabi season of (2021) at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, to study the efficacy of&nbsp; 2, 4-D Sodium salt 80% WP on weeds, productivity and economics of rabi maize (Zea mays L.).&nbsp;2, 4-D Sodium salt 80% WP 1250 g/ha at 25 DAS recorded lesser weed density and weed dry weight of Physalis minima, Chenopodium album, Parthenium hysterophorus and Cichorium intybus at 45 DAS as compared to other doses of 2, 4-D. Number of cobs, number of grains, number of grains/ row, seed index in comparison were superior in 2, 4-D Sodium salt 80% WP 1250 g/ha at 25 DAS with improved grain and stover yields and higher&nbsp; monetary returns during the study.

Efficacy of 2, 4-D Sodium Salt 80% WP on Weeds, Productivity and Economics of rabi Maize (Zea mays L.)

Background: This study evaluates the impact of various tillage systems and weed management practices on maize (Zea mays L.) growth and yield under Punjab agro-ecological conditions. During the time of study three tillage methods, conventional, minimum and zero tillage were combined with chemical weed control treatments focusing on post-emergence herbicides. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: Design of experiment used was Split Plot Design and total number of treatments were 21. 
&nbsp; 
Result: The results show that, the combined mix application of mesotrione (70 g/ha) and atrazine (0.5 kg/ha) post-emergence under conventional tillage proved most effective in suppressing dominant weeds including Parthenium hysterophorus and Amaranthus viridis, resulting in the lowest total weed counts (8.26 no/m&sup2;) and total weed dry weight (9.18 g/m&sup2;). This treatment also produced superior crop growth parameters: highest plant height (217.09 cm), plant dry weight (153.81 g), cob length (15.20 cm), cob girth (13.31 cm), number of grai rows per cob (13.41), grain yield (4.39 t/ha) and stover yield (7.23 t/ha). While conventional tillage preserved soil health, conventional tillage combined with integrated chemical weed control maximized maize productivity by effectively reducing weed competition. The findings highlight that a balanced approach integrating optimal tillage and targeted herbicide application is vital for enhancing maize yield and sustainability in Punjab&rsquo;s maize cropping system. 
&nbsp;

Influence of Tillage and Weed Management Strategies on Weed Dynamics, Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.)

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Yellow mosaic disease (YMD) caused by Yellow mosaic virus is one of the major constraints in the pulse production in Andhra Pradesh (A.P.) due to fast evolution of strains, like Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV). Keeping this in view, a survey was undertaken in the major blackgram growing districts of A.P. to know the YMD incidence in blackgram and weed hosts and were characterized based on genetic features by comparing with other YMV isolates from different hosts and locations across the world. 
 
Methods: Roving survey was conducted during rabi 2019-20 in major blackgram growing districts of A.P. viz., Krishna, Guntur, West Godavari and Prakasam districts for YMD incidence. Blackgram plants showing characteristic symptoms were collected as representative samples from each mandal along with the suspected weed plants and were subjected to amplification using coat protein (CP) specific primers followed by molecular characterization. Phylogenetic tree for coat protein (CP) gene was constructed using aligned sequences with 1000 bootstrap replicates following neighbor-joining phylogeny. 
 
Result: Out of the four districts surveyed, the highest disease incidence was recorded at Machavaram village of Prakasam district (43.22%), whereas least disease incidence was recorded at Chinaganjam village of Praksam district (2.4%). Six weeds viz., Ageratum conyzoides, Amaranthus viridis, Parthenium hysterophporus, Vigna trilobata, Abelmoscus moschatus, Desmodium laxiflorum have showed positive result in PCR amplification with MYMIV specific coat protein primers. Four isolates from blackgram samples and two from weed plants shared 94.85 to 99.58% nucleotide identity among themselves.&nbsp;</div>

Survey for Yellow Mosaic Disease Occurring on Blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] and Weed Hosts in Four Major Blackgram Growing Districts of Andhra Pradesh and Characterization of Associated Viruses using Coat Protein Gene

<div style="text-align:justify">Different crops were raised and harvested at physiological maturity and weeds were collected at flowering stages during Kharif 2017 for preparing plant aqueous extracts at wet land farm of Sri Venkateswara Agricultural College, Tirupati. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of different plant aqueous extracts and paddy straw mulch for organic weed management in a randomized block design and replicated thrice during Rabi, 2017-18 and The predominant weed species observed were Cyperus rotundus L. (45%), Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. (15%), Borreria hispida (L.) K. Schum. (7%). All chemical weed management practices recorded significantly lesser weed density and dry weight than organic weed management practices. Among the organic weed management practice, application of paddy straw mulch at 5 t ha-1 recorded significantly lesser density and dry weight of weeds with higher weed control efficiency, apart from enhancing the yield components and pod yield of groundnut. Among the plant aqueous extracts, sorghum plant aqueous extract spray 15 L ha-1 at 15 and 30 DAS proved to be the best in controlling weeds and increasing pod yield. The performance of parthenium and purple nutsedge aqueous extracts each applied at 15 L ha-1 at 15 and 30 DAS were very poor in controlling weeds and promoting pod yield of groundnut. The reduction in pod yield of groundnut due to unchecked weed growth was 52.53 and 37.18% compared to pendimethalin 1kg ha-1 + HW at 30 DAS and paddy straw mulch at 5 t ha-1, respectively. Paddy straw mulch at 5 t ha-1 recorded significantly higher count of effective rhizobium nodules plant-1 and soil microorganisms viz., bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes.</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">Performance of Plant Aqueous Extracts for Organic Weed Management in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea)&nbsp;</div>

Background: Maize is the third most important cereal in India after rice and wheat which contributes nearly 9% in national food basket. Weed infestation is a major problem in maize, primarily at initial growth stages and due to wider spacing, hence weed control is essential to reduce the competition with maize crop. In maize row to row spacing is more so maximum number of weeds appears and compete with main crop. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted in the University Agricultural Farm under the Department of Agronomy in kharif 2019. The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam in texture having pH 6.87 and electrical conductivity 0.32 mmhos/cm. The experiment was comprised of eight treatments and laid out in randomized block design with three replications T0 (Control), T1 (Hand weeding at 20 DAS, 40 DAS), T2 (Atrazine 1 kg/ha after 3 days of sowing), T3 (Metribuzin 1 kg/ha after 3 days of sowing), T4 (Alachlor 1.5 kg/ha after 3 days of sowing), T5 (Atrazine + hand weeding 1 kg/ha (after 3 days and 30 days after sowing), T6 (Metribuzin + hand weeding 1 kg/ha (after 3 days and 30 days after sowing), T7 (Alachlor + hand weeding 1.5 kg/ha (after 3 days and 30 days after sowing). The texture of the experimental field soil was sandy loam having pH-6.87, EC-0.32 mmhos/cm.&nbsp; 
 
Result:&nbsp;The weed species recorded at the experimental site were mainly comprised with grasses, sedges and broadleaf weeds. The dominant weed species infested in the experimental field were: Cynodon dactylon (doob grass), Cyperus rotundus, Amaranthus viridis, Anagallis arvensis, Argemone mexicana, Chenopodium album, Parthenium hysterophorus and Trianthema prolacastrum. Significant reduction in the weed density was recorded in manual weeding. The highest plant height, stem girth, number of leaves, flag leaf length, chlorophyll content, leaf area index, grain yield and stover yield was recorded highest with hand weeding which was followed by T7 (Alachlor + hand weeding 1.5 kg/ha (after 3 days and 30 days after sowing).