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Biofumigation is an environmentally benign and promising technique for suppressing soil borne pathogens. The objective of the study was to find out the efficacy of biofumigation with Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L., var. Pusa Mahak) against Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc., causing collar rot disease in betelvine (Piper betle L.). Culture of S. rolfsii, isolated from collar rot infected betelvine tissue, sclerotia of S. rolfsii and the culture of Trichoderma sp. T-Nam, a native isolate, were separately exposed to different doses of macerated fresh mustard leaf (MFML) of four phenotypic stages, without any contact. The saprophytic colonization ability of the pathogen and the collar rot disease incidence were studied in soil system under different doses of biofumigation, both alone and in combination with soil amendment with Trichoderma. The mustard leaves showed best biofumigation activity at 50% flowering stage, with IC99 values (99% inhibitory concentration) of 2.49 g and 3.86 g MFML per 127 ml air space for S. rolfsii mycelial growth inhibition and sclerotial germination inhibition, respectively. The native isolate, Trichoderma sp. T-Nam, was highly tolerant to such biofumigation treatment (IC99 value of 9.46 g MFML per 127 ml air space). The significant (p

The study was conducted to know the knowledge and adoption level of plant protection measures against blast disease among 80 respondent paddy growers in the blocks of North and South 24 Parganas of Sundarbans. About 48.75% of the respondents had medium knowledge. Majority of the respondents (75%) knew about blast disease of rice and its key identifying symptom. The 67.5% farmers were having the knowledge about the fungicides used against the disease (Tricyclazole 75 WP, Carbendazim 50 WP, Hexaconazole 5EC), and 22.5% of the farmers knowing about the recommended dose of fungicide application. The 28.75% of the respondents also knew that the fungicide should be applied at the first appearance of the disease. Further, it has been found that the adoption level of plant protection measures against blast disease of rice was medium (47.5%). Nearly 53.75% of the respondents practicing rice cultivation were in the middle age group of 31-50 years. Most of the respondent had either 0.13-0.27ha (22.5%) or 0.40-0.67ha (37.5%) landholding wherein they were practicing rice cultivation. Almost all the respondents (100%) possessed Knapsack or hand sprayer for fungicide application. Climatic vagaries, lack of knowledge about to the number of sprays and concerning technology application, non-availability of fungicide on time, lack of facility at the nearby place were the major constraints as expressed by 95, 83.75, 85, 90, and 95 per cent of respondents, respectively. The high cost of chemicals and expensiveness and non-availability of labour during peak cropping period were also the major constraints as expressed by 60 and 83.75 per cent of the respondents, respectively. There was a significant relationship between age, education, landholding, social, mass media and participation in extension activities with knowledge and adoption levels of the farmers of the Indian Sundarbans.

The book “Emerging Trends in Agriculture: Prospects and Opportunities” is in the field of science and technology deals with modern agro-horticultural development, their problems and possibilities. Rapid global urbanization is one of the major factors driving the course and evolution of agricultural research. Food preferences have shifted as per capita income in developing countries has increased, as have occupational shifts and global linkages. These developments, together with rising population pose a challenge to agriculture for producing more and better-quality food. Agriculture’s output can be increased by using traditional farming techniques, however this has a limit. The environmental threat posed by reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides for productivity and pest management, respectively, are the key limitations impacting worldwide food supply.

Cucurbitaceous crops are prevalent vegetables among the farmers for their wide adaptation from arid climates to the humid tropics and well known for fetching good economic return and nutrition in our food supplements. Various biotic constraints such as insect-pests and other invertebrate and vertebrate pests are the significant constraints in the sustainable production of cucurbits. Many pests have expanded their host horizon, developed resistance to pesticides, and emerged as major pests due to the changes in cropping pattern, injudicious use of pesticides, climate change, introduction of high yielding varieties, and various cultivation changes practices. In this context, the study related to proper identification and taxonomic position, distribution, seasonal abundance, biology, economic importance, nature, and symptoms of damage caused by the pest complex of cucurbits is worth to be learned along with their possible managements.

Among the vegetables, cucurbits form one of the largest groups with their wide adaptation from arid climates to the humid tropics. The family Cucurbitaceae consists of about 825 species in around 118 genera. In Asia, nearly 23 edible major and minor cucurbits are grown and consumed. They are grown mainly in summer and rainy seasons in India and even in winter in some parts of southern and western India as both annual and perennial crops. Important genera of this family are Lagenaria, Momordica, Luffa, Cucurbita, Cucumis and Citrullus. Cucurbits are actively used as traditional herbal remedies for various diseases such as anti-inflammatory, antitumor, hepatoprotective, cardiovascular and immunoregulatory activities. Due to their low carbohydrate content and the ability to supply of certain amount of minerals and vitamins, it is highly recommended for diabetics. As the cucurbit species are mostly unisexual and male and female flowers are borne separately, the pollination and fruit setting are governed by insect pollinators. Spray of plant growth regulators helps a lot in modifying sex expression and inducing femaleness. Being viny crop, cucurbits require special attention regarding crop management. This chapter unfurls basic know-how about cucurbits including its cultivation protocols.

Weed is any wild plant that grows in an unwanted place, especially in a garden or field where it prevents the cultivated plants from growing freely. It competes with the desired crop for moisture, nutrients, light and space and thus can reduce yield of vegetable crops up to 37%. The agricultural crops in general are infested with a variety of weeds depending upon soil type, agro-climatic zone, season and particular crop species. Out of over 800 weeds documented in India, 200 are considered as major weeds, out of which only 80 are considered as serious. Cucurbits are vine crops, which are sometimes grown over bower or trellis, thus they are less prone to weed growth. They also surpass weed growth by the spreading vines at later stages of plant growth. But, severe weed infestation in early 20 days can pose serious threat to crop stand. So, to have a better crop stand, the crop field has to be kept weed free during the early growth period. Similarly, management of weeds of cucurbits at later part of crop growth is also important for better air circulation for the crop and easy harvesting. Weeds belong to many families varying in physiology, morphology and habits of growth. For easy interpretation and management, weeds are categorized into three major groups, i.e. Broad leaf, Sedges and Grasses. Due to diversity of weed species, a single method of weed control is not enough to make a crop field weed free. Judicious management of weed needs long-term strategy and integration of different sustainable methods. This chapter deals with detailed weed control methods applicable for cucurbitaceous vegetable cultivation.

The technology of plant breeding for pest and disease resistance is the secondary objective of a total breeding programme in addition to yield and quality. Host plant resistance to insect pests and diseases is an underutilized pest management strategy in vegetable production. Increased pressures to reduce pesticides and changes in technology now increase the economic viability and possible role of host plant resistance in vegetable pest management, which reflected in the relatively recent release of several insect-resistant varieties and breeding lines. Like other vegetables there is ample opportunity to exploit this technology in managing several biotic stresses in cucurbits. But, care should be to monitor the status of pests for minimizing the threats of resistance breaking biotypes. For development of new resistant varieties and to make it available to the growers dynamic breeding programme is of utmost necessity.

Abiotic stress or abiotic disease is differently known as non-parasitic, non-infectious or inanimate disease. Abiotic stresses are one of the primary roots of crop failure. It may be due to uncongenial climatological and edaphological conditions. It includes nutritional and physiological disorders, environmental pollution and radiation from nuclear weapons. Different industrial and chemical pollutants can also be responsible for the disease. Defective agricultural practices like the excess application of fertilizers and pesticides cause symptoms of chemical injury on hosts. Abiotic stresses lowered the production in terms of both quality and quantity of cucurbits as well as it may aggravate the severity of some biotic diseases. In this chapter, an effort has made to accumulate such abiotic stresses and their possible management options in a comprehensive manner.

One of the key impediments for the cultivation of cucurbit vegetables is the pathogenic infestation. Besides, some abiotic causes are also involved in lowering crop yields in terms of both quality and quantity. Cucurbits are suffering from different kinds of pre- and post-harvest biotic stresses like fungi, bacteria, virus, phytoplasma, nematodes, etc. The abiotic factors are related to excess or deficient supply of nutrients, adverse edaphological and climatological conditions, etc. Some of the economically important and destructive diseases are downy mildew, powdery mildew, damping-off, fruit and vine rot, cottony leak, gummosis, Phytophthora blight, anthracnose, Cercospora leaf spot, phoma blight, collar rot, charcoal rot, Fusarium wilt, white rot, root knot, bacterial wilt, watermelon bud necrosis and leaf distortion virus, mosaic, phyllody, etc. Most of the diseases are of national importance and cause significant losses of the crops. A comprehensive catalogue on biotic diseases of cucurbits and their eco-friendly management strategies are presented in this chapter.

The field experiments were conducted during Rabi season of 2014-15 and 2015-2016 in Birbhum district under Lateritic Red and Undulating Agro-climatic region of West Bengal to find out the field efficacy of different fungicides against late blight of potato (cv. Kufri Jyoti). During 2014-15, among seven fungicides, Chlorothalonil 75% WP at 2 g/litre of water was recorded more efficacious. In 2015-16, three fungicides were evaluated in different doses to standardize the effective dose of Ethaboxam 40% SC and its bioefficacy in field condition against late blight of potato. Foliage and tuber infection were significantly lower and tuber yield recorded higher in Ethaboxam treatments when applied at 1.33 ml/litre of water. There were no significant differences between two different doses (1 ml and 1.33 ml/ litre of water) of Ethaboxam. Among eleven fungicides tested, Ethaboxam were also recorded superior in case of seed-tuber treatment-cum-spraying experiment.

Aim: To develop method for rapid and simple laboratory evaluation of fungicides against Phytophthora infestans, the causal pathogen of late blight of potato. Study Design: Descriptive statistics and analysis of variance. Each treatment was replicated thrice. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Plant Protection, Palli-Siksha Bhavana (Institute of Agriculture), Visva-Bharati, India in February, 2014. Methodology: Small portion of potato leaf tissue from advancing margin of late bight lesion is placed on water since Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary grow well in water producing hypha and sporangium. Using this property, performance of fungicides on mycelial growth and sporangia production/formation was assayed by placing a small bit of infected leaf tissue in different Short Research Article Mondal et al.; JSRR, 4(2): 168-173, 2015; Article no. JSRR.2015.019 169 concentration of fungicides. Results: Among the seventeen fungicides tested, chlorothalonil, fenamidone + mancozeb and tricyclazole inhibited mycelial growth and sporangia production but dimethomorph, tebuconazole + trifloxystrobin inhibited sporangia production only. Metalaxyl + mancozeb totally inhibited mycelial growth at higher concentration. Conclusion: This method can be useful for evaluating and comparing performance of different fungicides and even same formulations of a fungicide, produced by different companies within a very short time period. The experimental work can be completed within 48 –72h if late blight infected leaves are available.

In India, clubroot caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae Woronin has been present on cabbage and cauliflower crops (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata and botrytis) for nearly 80 years in the Eastern Himalayan Darjeeling Hills of West Bengal and South Indian Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu. Since the early 1980s, P. brassicae has spread rapidly on the most popular cultivars of cultivated yellow sarson (Brassica rapa L. var. trilocularis (Roxb.) Kitam.) and Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) grown in the red and lateritic soils (Alfisols) and the Terai regions situated in the Himalayan foothills of the northern part of West Bengal State. Soils of both regions are acidic in nature (pH 5.3–6.7). Clubroot on tori sarson (B. rapa L. ssp. toria) is reported from the neighbouring Odisha State. The sporadic occurrence of the disease on cole vegetables is also reported from northeast Himalayan states such as Manipur Nagaland Sikkim and Mizoram. At present, clubroot disease is endemic only in West Bengal State. T...

Sclerotinia rot of Ocimum sanctum caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum has been recorded for last three years during winter season (2011–2014) at Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal. The disease appeared in first week of December and progress of the disease continued up to the end of February. Drooping of leaves in one or more young twigs was the first symptom of the disease. Light brown discolouration on the twig and presence of white sclerotia might be associated with the initial symptom. Gradually more and more twigs were affected followed by death and drying of the infected twigs. In humid condition, prominent cottony white mycelia developed on the affected tissue. Towards end of February many plants became dead. Black matured sclerotia were found on the dead branches. On artificial inoculation the causal organism, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum infected fifty plants indicating that the pathogen did not have host specificity. But susceptibility of seventeen plants (Capsicum annum var. grossum, Trichosanthes dioica, Cucurbita pepo, Abelmoschus esculentus, Raphanus sativus, Trigonella foenumgraecum, Amaranthus tricolor, Portulaca oleracea, Pachyrrhizus erosus, Ipomoea batatas, Lathyrus sativus, Ricinus communis, Allium sativum, Foeniculum vulgare, Carica papaya, Chrysanthemum indicum, Chenopodium album) is recorded first time in India.

Mangroves are salt tolerant group of tropical plants that generally grows in the inter-tidal zones of land and sea. The Sundarbans is the world's largest mangrove forest covering Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta of India and Bangladesh. It protects the coastline of Bangladesh, and West Bengal of India from different environmental catastrophes and act as means of livelihood for numbers of people of both the countries. The population of mangrove species is declining rapidly due to continuous deforestation by the wood pirates, mafias and some other causes. Mangroves are normally propagated by seeds which are usually vivipary in nature. Seeds are buoyant and hence short and long distance dispersal occurs by tidal water. Attempt was made to propagate some of the true mangrove plants artificially. Nursery was raised collecting seeds in different ways. Vegetative propagation like cutting and layering were also tried and proved successful but tedious and time consuming. Seedlings from the seeds are better option for reproduction of the endangered species as well as for other species. Community involvement is a major factor in restoration of mangroves as different livelihood activities like bagda meen (seeds of tiger prawn- Penaeus monodon) collection, crab collection, fishing from the brackish water; establishment of brick industry and funeral place in river/coast bed, and conversion of river bed for other livelihood activities not only kills many seedlings but also posed a severe threat to the mangroves. Suitable propagation technique in proper time, particularly during August to October, with active participation of adjacent village people may protect this unique mangrove forest.

Incidence of Foot rot disease of Elephant foot yam [Amorphophallus campanulatus Blume, syn: A. paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson] caused by Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. is common in West Bengal. Occasionally it causes severe damage of the crop. When Plaster of Paris used on the diseased tissue in standing crop, it showed strong adverse effect on mycelial growth and survival of sclerotia. White mycelia and sclerotia produced on disease tissue lost their viability. Plant with small lesion grew normally indicating that the disease was checked without causing any phytotoxic effect. Plaster of Paris of commercial grade (CaSO4.½ H2O), available in synthetic bag in hardware shop. In laboratory test on viability of sclerotia, Plaster of Paris showed similar adverse effect. Eight fungicides (Indofil M-45, Bavistin, Blitox, Vitavax Power, Kavach, Curzet, Krilaxyl MZ) used in this test reduced sclerotial germination. Vitavax Power (Carboxin 37.5% + Thiram 37.5% WP) totally inhibited sclerotial germination. Kavach (Chlorothalonil 75%) and Krilaxyl MZ (Metalaxyl 8% + Mancozeb 64%) reduced germination upto 95%. Application of Plaster of Paris at three different doses at the base of the plant (2.0, 5.0 and 10.0 grams/plant) did not cause any phytotoxic symptoms like necrosis, epinasty, hyponasty, wilting, leaf tip injury, leaf surface injury, vein clearing, rotting at collar region on six different crops i.e. elephant foot yam, groundnut, brinjal, chilli, basella and radish. Hence, it may be incorporated in Integrated Disease Management (IDM) programme.