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Chili (Capsicum annum L.) is very valuable crop all over the world as well as Pakistan. It is commonly cultivated in subtropics and temperate regions. Damping off disease in chili caused by Pythium aphanidermatum is responsible for a potentially serious threat towards seedling mortality in both nurseries and field crop. The present study was designed to determine the pathogen of damping-off of chili and its management through chemicals in vitro. For this purpose, the pathogen was isolated from samples shown typical symptoms of damping-off on PDA media, purified and identified on the basis of morphological characteristics. To fulfill the Koch's postulate pathogenicity test was conducted. For the management of Damping-off disease of chili an experiment was designed where six fungicides were used i.e Contaf plus, Flint max, Score, Ellectus super, Fossil, Topsin M with three different concentrations (100, 150 and 200 ppm). to check their efficiency against isolated pathogen by using Poisoned food technique. Result showed that all the chemicals has excellent inhibition effect on growth of P. aphanidermatum at different levels, where Ellectus super expressed the best results to inhibit fungal growth (4.11mm) at 200 ppm concentration followed by Flint max (5.11mm) and Score (6.66 mm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red rot of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) caused by Colletotrichum falcatum is considered as the most destructive disease in many sugarcane growing countries. C. falcatum may decrease weight of cane by up to 29% and sugar loss by 31%. In this study, nine commercial fungicide formulations were tested in lab conditions: Shincar exhibited minimum fungal growth (4.13) followed by Nativo (15.62), Amister Top (26.19), Topsin M (37.64), Ridomil Gold (45.19), Allite (52.49), Score (59.44), Antracol (67.71) and Rovral (76.81) as compared to control. In green house Salicylic acid + KH2PO4 exhibited minimum disease incidence (10.40) followed by Salicylic acid spray (13.92) and KH2PO4 spray (20.25) as compared to control. In field Carbendazim spray exhibited minimum disease incidence (10.10) followed by Salicylic acid spray (21.60), carbendazim + Salicylic acid+ KH2PO4 drench (32.17), KH2PO4 spray (43.62), Carbendazim drench (51.19), Salicylic acid drench (58.49), KH2PO4 drench (65.52), Coragen (Chlorantraniliprole) drench (74.297) and micro-nutrients spray (82.854) as compared to control. Under lab conditions, shincar showed best result while in green house Salicylic acid+ KH2PO4 and in field condition carbendazim showed the best results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-derived nanostructures have revolutionized the arena of nanotechnology and "green" synthesis of nanostructures with strong characteristics is great challenge for researchers. In the present study, CuNPs and AgNPs along with their complex utilizing Moringa oleifera plant extract as reducing and stabilizing agent were synthesized. Different concentrations (0.25, 0.50 and 0.75%) of these nanoparticles were applied using Poisoned food technique to evaluate antifungal activity against Curvularia lunata in vitro, as well as in vivo to check the efficacy of exogenously applied nanoparticles to control against Curvularia leaf spot of brinjal for better outcomes and eco-friendly management. Under in vitro conditions, [Cu-Ag] NPs complex expressed maximum inhibition (13.862) comparatively to CuNPs with growth inhibition (21.809) and AgNPs with minimum growth inhibition (23.315); however, control showed maximum fungal growth (38.647). Under field conditions, spray with [Cu-Ag] NPs complex expressed determined reduction in disease intensity at different days' interval (7, 14, 21) with infection index value (16.183, 13.217 and 10.657) followed by CuNPs with infection index value (27.717, 24.740, 20.907) and AgNPs with infection index value (33.147, 29.153, 25.743) as compared with control showed maximum fungal growth with infection index value (35.243, 38.393, 40.750). The present research aimed to highlight the biosynthesized CuNPs and AgNPs as biological control against Curvularia leaf spot of brinjal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato production is significantly harmed by the interruption of fungal diseases. Alternaria solani is responsible for substantial yield losses in tomato crops grown in greenhouse and field conditions. Silver based green synthesized nanomaterials (AgNMs) are reported as best performers in various agricultural applications and proposed to be best alternatives in plant disease management. Two green based AgNMs at three different concentrations were evaluated against the incidence of A. solani and on the components of antioxidant defense system of tomato plants. Results of current study indicated that the application of green based AgNMs reduced the disease incidence of A. solani with significant increase in tomato production, ascorbate (ascorbic acid), photosynthetic pigments, flavonoids and antioxidant activity in the leaves of inoculated plants as compared to healthy ones. It is concluded that the application of green based AgNMs may be a viable approach for the management of early blight of tomatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus is the most valuable fruit industry in the world as well as in Pakistan, due to its different nutritional aspects. But this fruit industry is facing huge losses due to various biotic and abiotic diseases. Citrus gummosis caused by water loving fungus Phytophthora species is also one of the major diseases of citrus around the globe. This study was conducted to evaluate five different chemicals (Kasumin, Evito, Cabrio top, Topsin M, Kocide @ 100, 200 and 300 ppm concentrations) and three treatments of plant based nanoparticles (Silver, Copper and their combination @ 0.25, 0.5 and 1% concentrations) against Phytophthora spp. under lab conditions through poisoned food technique. Among fungicides, the least mycelial growth was observed by application of Evito at 300 ppm concentration followed Kasumin and Kocide at same concentration, whereas among nanoparticles combination of Silver and Copper nanoparticles was found most effective against the mycelial growth followed by solo application of silver and copper at 1 % concentration respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]