<div>Background: Stem and pod rot is an economically important soil borne disease of groundnut caused by Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. resulting in significant yield losses across the globe. Bacillus spp. is rod-shaped and gram-positive bacterium which is predominantly found in the soil. Hence, considering the importance of the disease, the present investigation was carried out to evaluate the indigenous Bacillus spp. for plant growth promotion and to inhibit the pathogen in groundnut. 
 
Methods: Totally nineteen Bacillus spp. isolates from healthy groundnut rhizosphere and their antagonistic potential was recorded. The molecular characterization of five efficient Bacillus spp. was carried out using 16S rDNA. Later, morphological and biochemical characterization and plant growth promoting traits were recorded. 
 
Result: All nineteen isolates of Bacillus spp. showed antagonistic potential against S. rolfsii. Five Bacillus spp. isolates which showed higher inhibition of the pathogen were identified as B. subtilis, B. pacific, B. cereus, two isolates belonging to B. tropicus through molecular technique. The morphological, biochemical characters and growth promoting traits were recorded.</div>

Exploration of the Potential of Bacillus spp. as an Antagonist and PGPR against Stem and Pod Rot of Groundnut.

<div>Background: One of the major constraints of soybean production in Indonesia is pod shattering which occurs after soybean pod maturity. This study aimed to identify the pod shattering resistance of different pod positions in the plant stem.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Sixteen genotypes were evaluated in the field research during the dry season 2019. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with three replicates. Ten sample plants were randomly taken after R8 phase. Plant was divided into three parts, i.e. upper part, middle part and lower part. The shattering evaluation was done using the oven-dry method in the laboratory. The observation on the number of shattered pods was measured for each part of plant stem.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Pod shattering was different among the pod positions as well as among genotypes. One genotype was categorized as resistant, eight genotypes were moderate, six genotypes were susceptible and one genotype was highly susceptible. The highest percentage of the shattered pods was in the lower part of the plant stem, followed by the middle and upper part, respectively. The resistant genotypes showed the shattered pods mostly in the lower part of the stem, the moderate genotypes showed the shattered pods mostly in the lower and middle part of the stem and the susceptible genotypes shattered in all part of the stem.</div>

<div>Pod Positions on the Plant Associated with Pod Shattering Resistance in Soybean Genotypes</div>

<div>Background: Pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) and pod fly, Melanagromyza obtusa (Malloch) are important pod boring insects infesting the pigeonpea, Cajanus cajan (Linn.) Millsp. throughout the world. A number of synthetic insecticides are known to be effective against these borers but most of them have been phased out as a result of high toxicity to the pollinators and other biotic agencies, therefore, a new molecule, chlorantraniliprole has been tested for bioefficacy against these insect pests. 
 
Methods: The experiment was conducted during Kharif, 2017 in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 7 treatments and 3 replications. Observations were made to record pod borer, H. armigera and pod fly, M. obtusa maggot present before treatment imposition and 3, 7 and 14 days after each spray from five randomly selected and tagged plants/ plot. From the data recorded per cent reduction in population over control was calculated. The per cent pod damage was calculated by counting damaged pods out of healthy pods. The numbers of coccinellids and spiders were recorded on 5 randomly selected plants before treatment and 7 and 14 days after spray (DAS) in each treatment. 
 
Result: The chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC was found most effective @ 200 ml/ha which was found at par with chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 150 ml/ha and chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC (Market sample) @ 150 ml/ha for suppression pod borer, H. armigera and pod fly, M. obtusa. The yield was maximum and at par in the chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 200 ml/ha (18.25 q ha-1), chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 150 ml/ha (17.82 q ha-1) and chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC (Market sample) @ 150 ml/ha (17.42 q ha-1). Predatory population of coccinellids and spiders after imposing the treatments declined to some extent at seven days after treatment, however, increased after 14 days. Based on the results, the use of chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 150 ml/ha was most effective to control pod borer and pod fly in pigeonpea crop.</div>

<div>Bioefficacy of Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC Against Pod Borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) and Pod Fly, Melanagromyza obtusa (Malloch) in Pigeonpea, Cajanus cajan (Linn.) Millsp.</div>

<div>Background: Gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) and spotted pod borer, Maruca testulalis (Geyer) are important pod boring insects infesting the greengram, [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] throughout the India. A number of synthetic insecticides are known to be effective against these borers but most of them have been phased out as a result of high toxicity to the pollinators and other biotic fauna, therefore, a group of new chemical insecticides with biopesticides have been tested for bioefficacy against these insect pests. 
 
Method: A field experiment was conducted at S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner, Rajasthan during kharif, 2018 in randomized block design (RBD) with 9 treatments and 3 replications. The observations were recorded of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) and spotted pod borer, Maruca testulalis (Geyer) borers one day before and 1, 3, 7 and 15 days after application of insecticides and biopesticides in each the spray from ten randomly selected and tagged plants/ plot. From the data recorded per cent reduction in population over control was calculated. The per cent pod damage was calculated by counting damaged pods out of healthy pods of greengram. 
 
Result: The spinosad 45 SC (0.01%) proved to be most effective, indoxacarb 14.5 SC (0.01%)&nbsp; followed by fipronil 5 SC (0.01%), whereas, treatments of neem leaf extract (10.00%), Beauveria bassiana 1.15 WP 1X108 spore/ l proved to be least effective. The maximum seed yield of 9.13 q ha&ndash;1 was obtained in the plots treated with spinosad 45 SC (0.01%) followed by indoxacarb 14.5 SC (0.01%) (8.89 q ha-1), fipronil 5 SC (0.01%) (8.60 q ha-1).</div>

​Bio-efficacy of Chemical Insecticides and Biopesticides against Gram Pod Borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) and Spotted Pod Borer, Maruca testulalis (Geyer) on Greengram, [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]

<div>Background: Groundnut is an important edible leguminous oilseed crop and stem rot caused by Sclerotium rolfsii is one of the major soil borne disease affecting groundnut severely in India. The current study aimed to get an understanding regarding the incidence level and pattern of prevalence of the disease in the agro-ecological condition of Andhra Pradesh.&nbsp;</div>

<div> 
Methods: Roving survey was taken up from major groundnut growing areas in Andhra Pradesh during kharif, 2019 and kharif, 2020 in five districts. From each district predominant groundnut growing areas were chosen for assessment of the disease. Five spots of one square meter area in each field were selected randomly and Per cent disease incidence was recorded.</div>

<div> 
Result: From the data it is observed that the stem and pod rot incidence was higher during kharif, 2020 when compared with kharif, 2019. The pooled data indicated that the mean stem rot incidence for the two years ranges from 5.39% to 23.56% with highest mean stem rot incidence in Krishnapuram (v), Kothapatnam (m) of Prakasam dist (23.56%) and lowest in Bandarupalli (v), Yerpedu (m) of Chittoor dist (5.39%). Among different districts highest mean stem rot incidence was recorded in Prakasam dist (18.71%) and lowest was recorded in Chittoor dist (7.11%). The stem rot severity was high in sandy soils with TAG24 variety where groundnut is being grown followed by red sandy loams and least in clay loam soils. The groundnut sole crop recorded high disease incidence when compared with intercrop of red gram. Siginificant positive correlation was recorded between stem rot, pod rot and leaf spot incidence.</div>

Survey for the Incidence of Stem Rot (Sclerotium rolfsii sacc) of Groundnut in Andhra Pradesh

<div>Background: Black pod rot disease of cocoa caused by (Phytophthora palmivora Butl.) is one of the major diseases on cocoa plantations worldwide. Many attempts have been made to prevent or reduce the infection of pathogens, but they have not provided optimum results. This study aims to detect antibiotic genes in endophytic bacteria that can suppress cocoa black pod disease. 
 
Methods: Eight endophytic bacteria were isolated from healthy cocoa pods and twigs that showed potentials in suppressing P. palmivora growth in vitro were used in suppressing of black pod rot disease in vivo tests. Antibiotic biosynthesis-related genes from eight endophytic bacterial isolates were confirmed by using PCR method, which includes phenazine-1-carboxylic (PCA), pyrrolnitrin (PRN), phenazine-1-carboxamide acid (PCN), pyoluteorin (PLT) and 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DPAG/Phl). 
 
Result: The endophytic bacteria, 4RSI, 5BR B3 and 2RW B2 isolates showed the highest disease suppressing index to black pod rot disease in vivo, i.e., 70.27%, 70.08% and 56.64%. The isolates 5BR B3 and 2RW B2 DNA yielded PCR product by using PCA primers (1400 bp), PRN primers (700 bp) and DAPG primers (1600 bp), while the 5RSI isolate yield PCR product using PRN primers only. Endophytic bacterial isolates 5BRB3 and 2RW B2 provided partial disease suppression to pod rot disease by inhibit pathogen growth and antibiotic compounds production.</div>

​Control Activity and Antibiotic Gene Detection of Endophytic Bacteria in Suppressing Cocoa Black Pod Disease (Phytophthora palmivora Butl.)

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important legume crop of tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world. This crop suffers from several diseases like early leaf spot, late leaf spot, rust, groundnut bud necrosis, peanut clump and collar rot etc. But collar rot caused by Aspergillus niger van Teighem is one of the most important seed and soil borne diseases causing huge economic (40-50 per cent) loss in India and abroad. 
 
Methods: A roving survey was conducted to assess the incidence of collar rot in eight major groundnut growing districts of western Rajasthan i.e. Bikaner, Jodhpur, Churu, Jalore, Jaipur, Sikar, Nagaur and Dausa during Kharif 2018. A field experiment was carried out for two consecutive years (2019 and 2020) to manage the disease through altering micro-climate under canopy with six levels of seed rates (80, 85, 90, 95, 100 and 105 kg/ha). 
 
Result: Our investigations cleared that this disease is prevalent in all the 200 fields surveyed in eight districts of Rajasthan with 22.99 per cent overall disease incidence which varied from 17.84 to 32.38 per cent with monetary losses. Maximum disease incidence was recorded in Jaipur (28.85%) district while it was lowest in Nagaur district (20.15%). Higher disease reduction (12.97%) with increased pod yield (27.65%) was observed with higher seed rate of 105 kg/ha as compared to standard recommended seed rate (80 kg/ha) as this pathogen is favoured by higher temperature and low soil moisture, dense canopy provides shade that increases humidity under the cropped area and lowers temperature. As a result of this, plant mortality can be compensated by increasing plant population through seed rate, as it modifies the microclimate and generate an environment which is less favourable for developing collar rot disease of groundnut.</div>

​​Incidence of Collar Rot of Groundnut in Rajasthan and its Management

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

The present investigation was conducted during kharif 2011-12 on field of Department of Agricultural Entomology, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola. The experiment was planned in randomized block design with gross plot size 4.2 x 4.4  m2 and net plot size 3.0 x 4.0 m2 with twelve treatments replicated thrice with the object to study the effect of some insecticides against pigeonpea pod fly,Melanagromyza obtuse. In evaluation study ten treatments were tested against pod fly,Melanagromyza obtuse. on pigeonpea .The result revealed that treatment Deltamethrin 1 EC + Triazophos 35 EC emerged as the most effective treatment against M. obtusa in minimizing the damage to green and dry pods as well as grains. Thiaclopride 21.7 SC and Profenophos 50 EC were found significantly effective in minimizing the cumulative mean per cent infestation of pod fly of pigeonpea. These findings indicate that the pigeonpea crop required two sprays of newer insecticides from pod initiation stage at 15 days interval for the management of pigeonpea pod fly, Melanagromyza obtusa.

Evaluation of some insecticides against pigeonpea pod fly Melanagromyza obtusa Mall

<div>Background: Blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) is an important pulse crop occupying a unique position in Indian agriculture and it stands fourth in area and production among the pulses. The popularity of this pulse is due to its nutritional and industrial values. Blackgram crop is attacked by a number of insect pests from sowing to harvest in the field as well as in storage condition. Among these insects-pests pod borers i.e. spotted pod borer, Maruca vitrata (Geyer) and gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) are serious insect-pests of black gram causing seed and pod damage. Therefore, keeping these views in mind, the present study was conducted. 
 
Methods: Present investigations were carried out during Kharif season of 2018 and 2019 to identify the resistant cultivars that are less susceptible to spotted pod borer and gram pod borer in black gram. 
 
Result: Fifteen black gram genotypes were screened against pod borers i.e. M. vitrata and H. armigera. When the data of both years were pooled, the two genotypes viz., KU-99-05 and Azad Urd-1 were found with minimum pod infestation of 7.67 and 9.67 per cent, respectively and categorized as resistant (R) against M. vitrata. The four genotypes KU-99-05, Azad Urd-1, Shekhar-2 and PU-6 were classified as resistant (R) against H. armigera with minimum pod infestation of 5.83, 6.17, 8.50 and 9.83 per cent, respectively during both the consecutive seasons (Kharif, 2018 and 2019).</div>