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The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of leaves of botanicals in combination with wheat straw on the inhibition of microbial contaminants, growth and yield parameters as well as the nutritional parameters of Pleurotus florida. Five botanicals were used in this study namely Azadirachta indica, Eucalyptus globules, Phyllanthus emblica, Morus alba, Lantana camara and control-wheat straw and each treatment was replicated six times. Minimum time taken for complete mycelia run and minimum time for fruiting bodies formation were recorded in T1 (Neem + wheat straw) 13.67 days, 17.16 days and 20.50 days. While maximum number of fruiting bodies, yield (g/2 kg wet substrates) and biological efficiency (%) were recorded in T1 (Neem + wheat straw) 186.83, 992.32g, 175.22%, respectively. Maximum protein content (%) was recorded in T1 (Neem + wheat straw) 28.2% and maximum carbohydrate content (%) was recorded in T0 (Wheat straw) 40.9%.

Owing to the great loss of the seedlings due to damping-off disease thus an investigation was conducted under in vitro and in situ to observe the effect of Trichoderma viride, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Azadirachta indica leaf extract against Pythium aphanidermatum Maximum inhibition of mycelial growth of the pathogen by dual culture method was used with T. viride (38.8%) and T. viride + A. indica (32.9%). In situ condition, the maximum germination was recorded in P. flurorescens + A. indica (75.6%). Minimum disease incidence was observed in T. viride (4.0%), whereas maximum root and shoot length were recorded in T. viride + A. indica (2.95 cm) and P. fluorescens (10.03cm), respectively.

The dry bubble caused by Verticillium fungicola, is an important fungal disease of white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus). Eleven isolates of V. fungicola were collected from six states of North India in 2016. Molecular analyses based on RAPD was used to study the phylogenetic variations among the isolates of V. fungicola. Analysis of RAPD data was performed using five RAPD primers to evaluate the genetic variability. The result analysis showed that the genetic variability of the isolates was low and they were almost clonal. Relative correlations between geographical origins of isolates and molecular grouping were observed but there was no correlation between virulence assays and RAPD patterns.

Mancozeb @ 0.25% was effective in the inhibition of mycelial growth (85.2%) of Exserohilum turcicum. Among the bio-agents, Trichoderma harzianum was found effective in the inhibition of mycelial growth (64.1%) followed by T. viride with inhibition (58.7%). NSKE @ 5% was found effective in the inhibition of mycelial growth (54.4%) followed by aloe-vera @ 10% (40.0%) and lantana leaf extract @ 10% (17.7%). The plant extracts, potential biocontrol agent and fungicide found effective in vitro were tested against the turcicum leaf blight of maize under field conditions. Among, all the treatments, mancozeb @ 0.25% was found effective in the disease reduction (36.1%), followed by T. harzianum @ 2% (32.3%), T. viride @ 2% (29.2%). Plant extracts, NSKE @ 5% was found effective in disease reduction (23.5%) followed by aloe-vera @ 10% with (22.7%) and lantana leaf extract @ 10% (11.8%).

Carbendazim and nine selected organic and inorganic salt compounds, considered as common food additives, were evaluated for their activity against Geotrichum candidum, causal agent of tomato sour rot. The maximum inhibition of mycelial growth were recorded in carbendazim (82.9%) followed by sodium carbonate (43.9%), while minimum inhibition was recorded in magnesium sulphate (6.0%) as compared to control. Carbendazim was found most effective and five salts in vitro were tested in vivo. All tested salt compounds significantly reduced the disease severity. The lowest disease severity was recorded in treatment of carbendazim (63.6%) followed by sodium carbonate (73.8%) and highest disease severity was recorded in sodium thiosulphate (83.5%) as compared to control (100%). Physiological loss in weight was minimum in carbendazim (2.3%) and calcium carbonate (3.0%), as compared to control (8.0%). Highest lycopene content of tomato was obtained in sodium carbonate (5.04 mg/100g) followed by boric acid (4.49 mg/100g), as compared to control (5.05 mg/100g).