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Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM), plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) and root-knot nematode survive in the rhizosphere and perform the same niche. AM and PGPRs play positive role in roots while nematode oppose it. Nematode damages the root system, which reduces the nutrient uptake specially phosphorus (P) while AM help to uptake. PGPRs are another symbiotic micro-organism helpful to mycorrhizal survival and colonization. AM and PGPRs can defeat the soil borne diseases like root-knot disease which lead to increasing mycorrhizal colonization and nutrient uptake. On this basis current work emphasizes the effects on mycorrhizal colonization and P uptake in presence of PGPRs along with root-knot nematode infection in tomato plants.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have potential to control soil-borne diseases including plant-parasitic nematodes. First, the effects of dual inoculation of mycorrhiza (Rhizophagus irregularis) and two stains of pseudomonads (Pseudomonas jessenii strain R62 and Pseudomonas synxantha strain R81) on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. PT-3) growth were tested. Further, the physiological and biochemical changes caused by these beneficial organisms during infection by the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita were studied. The experiment was conducted under glass house conditions and carried out up to one month after nematode inoculation. Plants treated with dual or individual inoculation of AMF and PGPR showed significantly enhanced plant growth and reduced nematode infection. In addition, they exhibited potent activity of phenolics (28 %) and defensive enzymes i.e. peroxidase (PO; 1.26 fold), polyphenyloxidase (PPO; 1.35 fold) and superoxide dismutase (SOD; 1.09 fold) while a significant reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA; 1.63 fold) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2; 1.30 fold) content was recorded when compared to the nematode-infected plants. These findings indicate the feasibility of AMF and PGPR individually or in combinations as potential biocontrol agents for the management of root-knot nematodes.

In present study, a total of 104 bacteria and 96 actinomycetes were isolated from rhizosphere plant root of finger millet (E leusine coracana ) from Almora district of Uttarakhand, India. Isolates were characterized using microscopic and morphological methods followed by their biochemical test. Based on functional tests, four most promising isolates were identified using 23S rDNA primers as Streptomyces labedae (SB-9), Streptomyces flavofuscus (SA-11), and 16S rDNA primers as Pseudomonas poae (KA-5), and Pseudomonas fluorescens (KB-7). Influence of Glomus intraradices (G.I.) singly and along with actinomycetes and Pseudomonas spp. were evaluated under irrigated and water deficit conditions. Out of eight treatments studied in this study, a higher significant increase in plant height with S. labedae SB-9 + G.I and P. poae KA-5 + G.I were recorded. In well watered and water deficient conditions, maximum shoot dry matter content was recorded in P. Poae + P. flurosence + G.I and S. labedae + S. flavofuscus + G.I inoculated plants in comparison to their respective control. Under in vitro condition, P. poae KA-5 produced higher amount of indole acetic acid (IAA) among the selected isolates. Anti-oxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and accumulation of free proline content in leaves were maximum in P. Poae + G.I inoculated plants under water deficit condition. In the presence of Streptomyces and Pseudomonas spp. a better mycorrhizal infection was observed in treated plant roots. This investigation support mutual symbiosis of Streptomyces and Pseudomonas strains with G. intraracides which had synergic effect on finger millet cv. Korchara plant under irrigated as well as under water stress condition. Keywords: Glomus intraradices , Streptomyces , Pseudomonas , anti oxidants, plant growth promotion, IAA production

Root-knot disease poses a worldwide problem to agriculture; hence, several environmentally hazardous chemical nematicides are being used to control it. Rhizobacteria could be one of the important biocontrol agents which can replace these chemicals. This study focused on the effect of bacterial cell-free culture filtrate against Root-knot nematodes. Experiment was conducted to observe the effect of different dilutions of cell-free culture filtrate on Meloidogyne incognita under laboratory and in greenhouse conditions. In laboratory, toxicity effect of filtrate was recorded on second stage juveniles (J2), 100% mortality was recorded in all treatment above the 75% concentration. In greenhouse, all the growth and nematode induced parameters were significantly differed after culture filtrate treatment to the tomato plants. The finding indicates the capability of fluorescent Pseudomonad's culture filtrate as a powerful biocontrol tool for the management of Root-knot nematodes.

The largest continent, Asia, which harbored some of the world's oldest civilizations, constitutes one-third of the earths land area. The physiography of central Asia is dominated by the mightiest ranges: the Himalayas, Hindukush, Kunlun, and Tien Shan. The distribution and abundance of rodents in Asia indicate a broad pattern which, in a way, corresponds to the terrain physiography and bioclimate of the region. Periodic as well as sporadic outbreaks in the rodent populations enhance their numbers menacingly. Such outbreaks can be caused either by failure of monsoon, by favorable reproductive conditions after a fairly long spell of climates, or can be associated with flowering of bamboo in forests. Quantified information on actual damage caused by rodents to agricultural crops in China is not available; however, 10% loss in field crops is reported. Rodent damage to grasslands and fodder crops is very severe, especially in the arid tracts.

The availability of anticoagulant rodenticides, particularly that of the second generation, has generated ample hope that, by their use, rodent populations can be reduced below the threshold level, thereby substantially reducing the losses incurred by these pests. The acute toxicant, zinc phosphide, still remains the most used and popular rodenticide in most parts of the world. In a control operation, zinc phosphide baits are recommended for distribution in the fields on three consecutive days. When poison baits are exposed to the rodent populations, some of them consume a lethal quantity and succumb, whereas those which ingest only a sublethal dose of poison survive the poisoning. The bait shyness and poison aversion phenomena, due to ingestion of various poisons, persist for varying durations in different species and with different rodenticides. Even after acquiring considerable knowledge about phenomena of bait shyness and poison aversion, we know very little about how to overcome them with a view to enhance success of control operations.

Manufacturing of protein/enzymes by biotechnological methods may contribute to develop new protein/enzyme preparations useful in various sectors of industry. Microbial enzymes released in growing medium and difficult to isolate. In this study, a rapid method has been developed for isolating extracellular proteins from cultured nutrient broth. After removing the bacterial cells from cultured broth through 0.4mm filter paper and dissolved proteins recovered by precipitation with 5% trichloroacetic acid (TCA). Sodium dodecyl sulfate - polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis of the isolated crude enzymes from bacterial cell free culture filtrate showed the presence of different bands in the electrophoretic field.

Lycopersicon esculentum is a widely grown vegetable crops throughout the world and it is highly affected by root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.); globally more than 27% yield losses in tomato is due to their infections. As the inoculums level increases, the absorption, translocation and photosynthesis rate decreases in the host plants; it means damage caused by nematodes is directly proportional to the number of second-stage juveniles (J2) which are penetrating and establishing in the host roots. In this aspect, the present study focused on the effect of different inoculums on the tomato plants. The study reports that with increased intensity of root-knot nematode infection, the plant growth and biomass were highly reduced. Key words: Tomato, root-knot nematode, inoculum, growth, infection.

Root-knot disease caused by Meloidogyne spp. poses a worldwide threat to agriculture as well as environment due to excess use of chemical nematicides for its management. Recently, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have achieved importance as biocontrol agent for the managements of root-knot disease. In this aspect, the present study was focused on the effect of AMF (Glomus intraradices) against root-knot disease of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) caused by Meloidogyne incognita. Observations of G. intraradices against M. incognita were taken at 10, 20 and 30 days after M. incognita second stage juveniles (J2) inoculation on tomato roots, which were pre-colonized by G. intraradices. A significant effect was observed on plant growth (length and biomass) and nematode induced (root galls, egg masses, egg and adult females) parameters in nematode inoculated G. intraradices colonized plants as compared to non-colonized plants at all the three harvesting periods. The finding of present study indicates the potential of G. intraradices as a potential biocontrol tool for the management of root-knot disease and can be used in the place of environmentally hazardous chemical nematicides. Key words: Arbuscular mycorrhiza, root-knot disease, nematicides, biocontrol, management.

Fruit is a ripened ovary it may either fleshy or nut and divided into cultivated as well as wild categories Wild fruits are worldwide distributed and mostly found in the part of earth where anthropogenic activities are no or negligible The use of Himalayan plant species for food and medicine has been known for a long time Uttarakhand is one of these places which is suitable for wild edible fruiting plants because of their difficult geography and climatic conditions and awesome taste of fruits which are attracted by their people as a rich source of their nutrition Wild edible plants are very important for the well being of rural populations in the region not only as sources of supplemental food nutritionally balanced diets medicines fodder and fuel but also for their income generating potential Large numbers of wild fruits along with their edible values also used in medicine and many other wild fruits viz Rubus ellipticus Fragaria times ananassa Prunus persica Myrica esculentaetc have high nutritive quality and used by the local peoples for the different edible products Such wild plants might be explore for their nutritional and medicinal properties and need to conserve for biodiversity maintenance

Rice is one of the widely consumed staple foods among the world's human population. Its production is adversely affected by high temperature and is more pronounced at flowering stage. Elucidating elevated temperature stress-related proteins as well as associated mechanisms is inevitable for improving heat tolerance in rice. In the present study, a proteomic analysis of heat-sensitive rice genotype, IET 21405 was conducted. Two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and MALDI-TOF/MS-based proteomics approaches revealed a total of 73 protein spots in rice leaf. The protein profiles clearly indicated variations in protein expression between the control and heat treated rice genotypes. Functional assessment of 73 expressed proteins revealed several mechanisms thought to be involved in high temperature including their putative role in metabolism, energy, protein synthesis, protein transport/storage, etc. Besides these, some proteins are expected to involve in photosynthesis, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, glycolysis and other proteins for energy production. The proteins identified in the present study provide a strong basis to elucidate gene function of these proteins and to explain further the molecular mechanisms underlying the adaptation of rice to high temperature stress.

Soil is an excellent niche for the growth of microorganisms which includes plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs). PGPRs have great potential for plant growth promotion as they control pest and disease and have been considered important in sustainable agriculture. PGPRs induce and/or synthesize various growth-promoting and biocontrolling chemicals which are useful for sustainable agriculture and environment. These chemicals are phytohormones, antibiotics, enzymes, etc., which react with the soil and provide better health to the plants. PGPRs directly or indirectly circulate their products to soil for better soil health which further enhance the soil immunity followed by influencing plant growth, productivity, and yield. Soil immune system works strongly by the activities of soil microbes which are considered as a heart of soil. These soil microbes are responsible for increasing soil fertility and productivity which are considered important for sustainable agriculture.

The basic function of soil microorganisms is the decomposition and transformation of organic materials, which are derived from the plant residues. Thus, soil microbial communities play a critical role in ecosystem processes. Soil microbial activities, populations and communities are governed by environmental variables and agricultural system. The conventional agriculture has an important role in improving food productivity. The earthworms have been modifying soil characteristics for millennia wherever they are found world-wide, it has only been recently that soil scientists described vermic horizons and even vermisols, where earthworm influence on soils reaches dramatic proportions. The earthworm body, both internally and externally, is the site of metabolic processes, at this level, microbial activity is enhanced. The increase of soil porosity in organic system indicated the decrease in soil bulk density which promotes the soil microbial activity.

The article Mycorrhizal colonization and phosphorus uptake in presence of PGPRs along with nematode infection, written by Ishwar Prakash Sharma and A. K. Sharma, was originally published electronically on the publisher’s internet portal (currently SpringerLink) on 20 September 2018 with open access.

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