<div>Background: Sclerotium rolfsii is a soil borne notorious pathogen widely affecting pulses, vegetables, oil seeds, flowers and ornamentals recording high yield loss. In groundnut it causes stem rot. The current study is focused towards management of S. rolfsii using combined application of Trichoderma spp. under field condition. 
 
Methods: Twenty-five isolates of Trichoderma spp. were screened initially against the stem rot pathogen through dual culture method. The effective Trichoderma spp. again assessed by agar well diffusion method and their secondary metabolites were identified using GC-MS. 
 
Result: From the 25 isolates, T. longibrachiatum and T. asperellum were inhibitory to the growth of S. rolfsii. The isolate T(SP)-20 of T. longibrachiatum showed 84.44% inhibition of mycelial growth of pathogen followed by T(AR)-10 of T. asperellum (75.55%). The major compounds present in GC-MS analysis of T. longibrachiatum and T. asperellum are 2-Tricosenoic acid (3.29%), Hexadecane (3.12%) and Phenol (27.18%), 2, 6, 10-Trimethyltridecane (3.44%) respectively. At field level combined application of effective T. longibrachiatum and T. asperellum excelled well in reducing stem rot disease incidence (82.67%) when compared to individual species.</div>

Combined Application of Trichoderma longibrachiatum T(SP)-20 and Trichoderma asperellum T(AR)-10 in the Management of Stem Rot of Groundnut

<div>Background: Micronutrient formulation is a liquid mixture of micronutrients which can be used as a fertilizer. It is a mixture of two solutions viz., solution A and solution B. Solution A is a mixture of zinc sulphate (50 gL-1), boric acid (10 gL-1), copper sulphate (20 gL-1), manganous sulphate (0.5 gL-1), ferrous sulphate (10 gL-1) and ammonium molybdate (0.5 gL-1) whereas solution B is an organic acid which act as a chelate. The mixture can be diluted to specific concentrations for application. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of micronutrient formulation as seed treatment and foliar nutrition.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The study was conducted at College of Agriculture, Padannakkad, Kerala Agricultural University and Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pilicode during 2018&ndash;19. The investigation was carried out in three parts: (i) standardization of micronutrient formulation for cowpea (ii) seed treatment study (iii) field experiment. The proportion of mixing micronutrient formulation and the duration for seed treatment was standardized in experiment I. In experiment II, a seed treatment study was carried out in a completely randomised design with seven treatments and three replications which included seed treatment with micronutrient formulation @ 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1, 1.5 and 2 percent as T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 respectively. T7 (seed treatment with water) was the control. Three, a field experiment was carried out in randomized block design (factorial) with twelve treatments and three replications. The treatment consisting of combination of four levels of seed treatment - factor A [no seed treatment (S1), seed treatment with rhizobium (S2), seed treatment with best concentration from experiment 1 (S3) and second best seed treatment from experiment 1 (S4)]&nbsp;and three levels of foliar application of micronutrient - factor B [no foliar application (F1), one foliar application at 15 DAS (F2) and two foliar applications at 15 and 30 DAS (F3)]. 
 
Result: Through lab experiments, solution B was standardized and the formulation was developed by mixing solution A and solution B in the ratio 1:2. Duration for seed treatment was also standardized as 6 hours. Thus micronutrient formulation was standardized. In seed treatment study, seeds treated with 2% micronutrient formulation (T6) showed highest plant height at three leaf stage (24.23 cm) and seedling vigour index (2423). In the field experiment seed treatment with 2% micronutrient formulation (S3), foliar spray at 15 and 30 days after sowing (F3) and their interaction (S3F3) was found to be highly effective to the crop in terms of plant height, stem diameter, number of pods per plant, pod weight per plant, grain yield and nutrient content in grain. These results clearly indicate the role of micronutrient formulation in enhancing the growth, yield and nutrient content of cowpea.</div>

Evaluation of Micronutrient Mixture as Seed Treatment and Foliar Nutrition in Grain Cowpea

<div>Background: Sarpagandha is an indigenous medicinal herb of Indian continent. It has many medicinal properties. Due to increasing demand of Sarpagandha, its exploitation is increasing continuously but for lack of cultivation, this plant has been listed in endangered category. Commercially, it is propagated through seeds but the main barrier of seed propagation is its irregular and low germination. Hence, the current study was undertaken to study the effect of growing media and seed treatment methods on seed germination and seedling growth of Sarpagandha to eliminate the inhibitory effect of the hard stony endocarp. 
 
Methods: Seed germination and seedling growth experiments of Sarpagandha were carried out with following different seed treatments, T1 (Control), T2 (Water soaking for 24 hours), T3 (water soaking for 48 hours), T4 (Water soaking for 24 hours + cotton cloth wrapping for 24 hours), T5 (GA3 200 ppm), T6 (FYM treatment for 24 hours), T7 (FYM treatment for 48 hours), T8 (Hot water treatment) and T9 (Cow dung treatment for 24 hours). Experiment was laid out in CRD. The data recorded on the various parameters were analyzed at 5% level of significance by using ANOVA. 
 
Result: Results indicated highest germination percentage (51), lowest mortality percent (49), minimum days for initiation of germination (23), minimum days taken for germination completion (33), highest speed of germination (3.77), maximum vigour index (1441.44), highest root (11.27 cm) and highest shoot length (17 cm) in T5 (GA3 200 ppm) followed by T3 (water soaking for 48 hours). Indicating, T5 (GA3 200 ppm) to be best seed treatment for higher germination and subsequent seedling growth of Sarpagandha (Rauvolfia serpentine L.).</div>

<div>Germination Behavior of Rauvolfia serpentine (L.) Seeds with the use of Different Seed Treatments</div>

<div>Background: Brown bast is one of the most serious threats to natural rubber production. It is estimated that brown bast leads to an approximately 15-20% decrease in latex yield production. There is currently no effective method to control this problem and an effort to overcome this problem is in progress by the natural rubber producing countries. 
 
Methods: This study evaluated the effect and the most suitable rate and frequency of Rejuvenator application to cure brown bast (latex dryness) and improve latex yield. The Rejuvenator treatment was applied to the selected tree with two different treatment frequencies (every 3 days and every 6 days) and three different Rejuvenator concentrations (5 g/L, 10 g/L and 5 g/L). The Rejuvenator was applied 5 times. Data on latex yield and brown bast cure were then recorded 1 month after the application of the last treatment. The treatments used were T1: No Rejuvenator, T2: 5 g/L of Rejuvenator, T3: 10 g/L of Rejuvenator, T4: 15 g/L of Rejuvenator.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Of all the treatment used, T3 (10 g/L) resulted in higher production of latex yield and Hevea bark nutrient concentration (g/t/t) than control. It also gave the highest nutrient content in the bark tissue. The findings of this study reveal that the optimum concentration and frequency of Rejuvenator application were established at 10 g/L every 6 days. More so, the findings explain that inadequate nutrients can be attributed to the brown bast syndrome in rubber plantation which can be prevented with the use of a rejuvenator to the tree&rsquo;s bark.</div>

Application of Different Rates and Frequencies of Rejuvenator for the Treatments of Brown Bast Syndrome on Hevea brasiliensis

Bio-efficacy of various treatment schedules, viz T1 (phorate + chlorpyriphos + imidacloprid + cartap hydrochloride), T2 (imidacloprid + acephate + chlorpyriphos + cypermethrin), T3 (phorate + chlorpyriphos + azadirachtin + &nbsp;Bacillus thuringiensis var. Kurstaki), T4 (Bacillus thuringiensis var. Kurstaki + &nbsp;azadirachtin ), T5 (phorate + &nbsp;imidacloprid + chlorpyriphos + cypermethrin), T6 (phorate + azadirachtin + Bacillus thuringiensis var. Kurstaki) and T7 (control) were evaluated against Agrotis ipsilon (Hufner) and mole cricket, Gryllotalpa africana, P.de. Beau. in single potato variety, Kufi Chandramukhi during rabi season of two potato-growing years in 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 from November to February. The percentage of plant (shoot) damage was found low in T1 (5.82 &ndash; 5.87%), than by T3 (6.12 &ndash; 6.49%), T2 (6.86 &ndash; 6.92%), T5 (7.31 &ndash; 7.62%), T6 (8.21 &ndash; 8.81%), T4 (8.61 &ndash; 9.32%) and T7 (10.70 &ndash; 11.13%) respectively. Similarly percentage of tuber damage of potato was noted highest in T7 (34.29 &ndash; 43.90 %) and it was lowest in T2 (13.15&ndash;15.66 %). &nbsp;Maximum marketable yield (t/ha) of potato tubers was obtained in T2 (26.28&ndash;26.80 t/ha), which was succeeded by T1 (26.19 &ndash; 26.92 t/ha) than other treatments and it was recorded minimum in control T7 (11.17&ndash;12.69 t/ha). Maximum cost-benefit ratio (CBR) was recorded in T5 (1:2.03 &ndash; 1:2.04) while it was found minimum in T6 (1:1.11 &ndash; 1:1.17). Among the different treatment schedules T5 and T2 were most effective in increasing marketable yield of potato tubers and reduction of soil pest incidence over control T7 and also over other treatments.

Assessment and evaluation of different treatment schedules against&nbsp;plant and tuber damage caused by soil pests on potato

<div>Background: 6-furfuryloaminopurine (KT) is the first compound to be identified as a cytokinin. Despite that there are many studies related to KT but the mechanism of KT in resisting immunosenescence remains unclear. The objective of this study is to investigate the influences of KT on the immunity of thymus in rats by detecting the apoptosis and the proliferation index (PI). 
 
Methods: We firstly established an aging rat model by subcutaneously injecting D- galactose (D-gal, 125mg/kg&bull;BW) in the dorsal neck of Sprague Daly rats (SD rats); then the rats were divided into KT treatment groups (three groups for different doses of KT), aging model group (without KT treatment) and young control group. The rats in KT treatment groups were treated with different-dose KT and the key indices including the changes of the number of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood, the apoptosis of thymus lymphocytes.&nbsp; 
 
Result: KT could increase the number of the peripheral CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes of the aging rats while decreased the apoptotic rate of thymocytes and increased PI Index.</div>

<div>Influences of 6-furfuryloaminopurine on Peripheral T Lymphocyte Subpopulations and Apoptosis of Thymus Lymphocytes of Aging Rats</div>

Background: Cytauxzoonosis is an emerging and fatal disease of wild and domestic cats in India. Till date no chemotherapy has proved successful in achieving hundred percent survival. In this study we aimed to evaluate various therapeutic strategies to suggest an effective and safe drug combination for clinical management of domestic cats naturally affected cytauxzoonosis. 
 
Methods: The domestic cats presented at VCC, Bihar Veterinary College, Patna, Bihar were screened on the basis of clinical symptoms of cytauxzoonosis irrespective of their age, sex or breed. The disease was confirmed by peripheral blood smear and Polymerase Chain Reaction test. Informed consent was taken from the cat owners before inclusion in this study. The confirmed cases were randomly divided into two treatment protocols, imidocarb dipropinate group (T-1) and doxycycline, clindamycin and metronidazole group (T-2). In group T1 imidocarb was given @ 3.5 mg/kg deep intramuscular which was repeated after 14 days. While cats in group T2 received doxycycline @10 mg/kg PO sid for 14 days, clindamycin @ 12.5mg/kg PO sid for 14 days and metronidazole benzoate@ 25 mg/kg PO sid for 7 days. A separate group of six healthy cats, negative for microscopic and molecular tests was taken as a control (T-3). 
 
Result: It was found that both treatment protocols cleared erythro-parasitemia and brought clinical remission within 14 and 21 days of treatment in cats of group T1 and T2 respectively. However, improvement in morbidity and hemato-biochemical parameters were more rapid in imidocarb treated cats. No serious side effects or mortality could be recorded in cats that received the treatment protocols used in this study.&nbsp; But none of these treatment protocols could sterilize the infection and rendered the cats as carrier for life.

Comparative Efficacy of Imidocarb Dipropionate and Doxycycline, Clindamycin, Metronidazole Combination for the Treatment of Cytauxzoonosis in Domestic Cats

<div style="text-align: justify;">Today, the ecosystem is being rapidly destroyed due to habitat loss, animal hunting, road construction, raising of transmission lines, general pollution, and agricultural activities, in addition to many other factors, all of which directly and indirectly affect wildlife. By necessity, rehabilitation units are available for the care and treatment of wild birds and mammals in need of life support. This paper discusses data collected regarding the treatment and rehabilitation of wild mammals and birds brought to the Center for Wildlife Conservation and Rehabilitation at Van Y&uuml;z&uuml;nc&uuml; Y&yacute;l University from 2009-2016. During the course of the present study, total 145 wild animals including 117 birds and 28 mammals. Out of the total treated, 96 wild birds and 21 wild mammals recovered, 12 birds and 4 mammals died without responding to treatments, whereas 9 birds and 3 mammals were euthanized. Additionally, of the 96 birds and 21 mammals that recovered, 15 birds and 6 mammals were determined to be unable to survive in their natural habitats, and were sent to zoo gardens or wildlife conservation and rehabilitation centers. The remaining 96 animals that fully recovered were released back into their natural habitats.</div>

Treatment and Rehabilitation of Wild Birds and Mammals

<div>Background: Post-harvest losses in Carica papaya are attributed to multiple factors, including suboptimal harvesting practices, improper handling, inadequate storage conditions, inefficient packaging and transportation and the incidence of post-harvest pathogens. The implementation of effective post-harvest management strategies is essential to mitigate these losses, thereby enhancing fruit quality, ensuring nutritional availability and improving economic returns for producers. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: The research was undertaken at the Department of Post-harvest Technology to investigate the post-harvest interventions to enhance the shelf life and quality of papaya. The harvested red lady papaya fruits went through various postharvest treatments: T1-Hexanol (1%), T2-Hexanol (2%), T3-Chitosan (1%), T4-Chitosan (2%), T5-Salicylic acid (1 mm), T6-Salicylic acid (2 mm), T7-Potassium schoenite (1%), T8-Potassium schoenite (2%), T9-Control. They were stored in corrugated fibreboard boxes with 5 per cent ventilation at room temperature and periodically analyzed for physiological and biochemical parameters until the end of shelf life.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Result: In the study, post-harvest application of 2 mm salicylic acid significantly modulated the physiological and biochemical responses of Carica papaya (L.), reducing weight loss and respiration rate while enhancing TSS, reducing, non-reducing sugar content and ascorbic acid levels. Despite temporal variation across storage intervals, this treatment consistently delayed ripening and extending the shelf life to approximately 15.98 days and preserving overall fruit quality of papaya fruits.</div>

Innovative Post-harvest Treatments to Enhance the Shelf-life and Quality of Carica papaya

The study was conducted in crossbred Frieswal bulls (Holstein&ndash;Friesian X Sahiwal) during an outbreak of FMD and 24 FMD-affected animals were randomly divided into two groups&ndash;homeopathic treatment group and allopathic treatment group&ndash;consisting of 14 and 10 animals, respectively. &nbsp;Animals in the homeopathic treatment group were treated with Sulphur 200C @ 20 drops orally once, Kalium iodatum 200C @ 20 drops orally twice a day for 3 days. &nbsp;Calendula mother tincture was used for washing and topical application over the oral and foot lesions. Animals in the allopathic treatment group were treated with intramuscular injections of strepto-penicillin twice a day for 3 days, meloxicam once a day for 3 days along with washing of oral and foot lesions with potassium permanganate (1:1000) followed by topical application of 2% boroglycerine over the oral ulcers. The animals were closely inspected for 12 days for recording clinical signs. The mean rectal temperature in the animals of homeopathic treatment group was significantly (p&lt;0.05) lower than those of the allopathic treatment group on days 2 and 3 post treatment. Appetite score improved significantly (p&lt;0.05) in homeopathic treatment group as compared with allopathic treatment group on day 3 post treatment. Healing scores of oral mucosal lesion were significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher in the homoeopathic treatment group than that in the allopathic treatment group on days 2, 3, and 5 post therapy. Healing of foot lesions was significantly (p&lt;0.05) better in the homeopathic treatment group than that in the allopathic treatment group on day 3 and 5 post treatment.

Combined Application of Trichoderma longibrachiatum T(SP)-20 and Trichoderma asperellum T(AR)-10 in the Management of Stem Rot of Groundnut

Evaluation of Micronutrient Mixture as Seed Treatment and Foliar Nutrition in Grain Cowpea

Germination Behavior of Rauvolfia serpentine (L.) Seeds with the use of Different Seed Treatments

Application of Different Rates and Frequencies of Rejuvenator for the Treatments of Brown Bast Syndrome on Hevea brasiliensis

Assessment and evaluation of different treatment schedules against plant and tuber damage caused by soil pests on potato

Influences of 6-furfuryloaminopurine on Peripheral T Lymphocyte Subpopulations and Apoptosis of Thymus Lymphocytes of Aging Rats

Comparative Efficacy of Imidocarb Dipropionate and Doxycycline, Clindamycin, Metronidazole Combination for the Treatment of Cytauxzoonosis in Domestic Cats

Treatment and Rehabilitation of Wild Birds and Mammals

Innovative Post-harvest Treatments to Enhance the Shelf-life and Quality of Carica papaya

Comparative efficacy of homeopathic and allopathic treatments against Foot and Mouth disease in cattle