Salinity is one kind of abiotic stress that hinders crop productivity, especially in the coastal region. The present study focused on the salinity-tolerance of a bacterial isolate identified as Enterobacter sp. based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and its growth-promoting potential in the rice cultivar MTU1010 (a high-yielding, short-duration variety) under the salinity stress. The isolate could tolerate NaCl up to 900 mM, but increased cell size was observed under the salinity stress. It was sensitive to neomycin and streptomycin at 100 ppm concentration and positive for indole acetic acid, siderophore, and amino-cyclopropane carboxylate deaminase production. The results of greenhouse experiments revealed that the isolate KUSP04 inoculation increased rice seed germination rate, and bacteria inoculation in the potting soil promoted the shoot and root fresh weight by 96.26% and 25.32%, and shoot and root length by 37.75% and 35.42%, respectively as compared to the control set. KUSP04 inoculation mitigated any adverse effects of salinity stress, and increments of shoot and root fresh weight 137.44% and 427.20%, and shoot and root length 36.14% and 47.78%, respectively, were observed under 100 mM salinity level as compared to their uninoculated counterparts. In addition, the inoculation improved the chlorophyll content of the tissues of the rice seedling and reduced oxidative stress by expressing antioxidant enzymes like ascorbate peroxidase and catalase and reducing the proline content of the inoculated plants. All the data suggested that Enterobacter sp. KUSP04 could be potentially used as a bio-inoculant in salinized agricultural lands to increase rice productivity.

Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus spp.) are the most preferred ones among the edible mushrooms due to their ability to grow quickly and productively in various lignocellulosic media their versatility, and absolute ease of cultivation and their nutritional value especially as source of protein. It is cultivated throughout the world for producing flavoring and aromatic as well as medicinal stuff lignin and phenol degrading activities antimicrobial activities and antioxidants immune enhancing activities and producing secondary metabolites like terpenoids, alkaloids, and phenols. The infestation assessment of different mushroom flies Sciarid and  Phorid noticed at different growth stages spawn run stage (counted externally and internally), Pinhead stage(1^st flush, 2^nd flush, 3^rd flush), fruiting body (harvesting stage). The five insecticides and plant products were used against spawn run stage, Pin head stage and fruiting body. The highest reduction of Sciarid and Phorid flies by application of  T7-Cotton plug+ diflubenzuron 25 WP is followed by T1-Chlorpyriphos 20 EC and T2-Malathion 50  at spawn run stage both externally and internally.the infestation of Sciarid and   Phorid  flies controlled at Pin head stage(1^st flush, 2^nd flush, 3^rd flush) and fruiting body by T7-Cotton plug+ diflubenzuron 25 WP and T4-Dichlorovos 76 EC is followed by  T5-Imidacloprid 17.8 SL . The highest yield obtained by application of T7-Cotton plug+ diflubenzuron 25 WP is followed by T1-Chlorpyriphos 20 EC and T2-Malathion 50.

An investigation was conducted to assess the invitro effect of Trichoderma asperellum isolates on inhibition of plant pathogens Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporum, Sclerotium rolfsii and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, and plant growth promotion with respect to wheat, cabbage, mustard and chilli. T₃(NI) (72.96%, 59.21%, 54.82% and 56.81%) gave the highest levels of inhibition followed by a colchicine treated mutant T₂(MU) with (65.15%, 46.07%, 47.34% and 50.11%) inhibition. T. asperellum demonstrated significantly higher plant growth stimulation activity in all the crop seeds compared to control and were statistically equivalent with each other. However, the T. asperellum isolates did not record any difference with respect to germination percentage of cabbage and vigour index of wheat. The three T. asperellum isolates showed variation on radial growth at different pH levels tested, T₁(MC) and T₂(MU) isolates recorded the maximum radial growth in pH 7 and T₃(NI) isolates recorded the highest radial growth in pH 6. At pH 7, all three T. asperellum isolates produced the most biomass (fresh weight and dry weight).

An investigation was conducted to assess the invitro effect of Trichoderma asperellum isolates on inhibition of plant pathogens Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporum, Sclerotium rolfsii and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, and plant growth promotion with respect to wheat, cabbage, mustard and chilli. T₃(NI) (72.96%, 59.21%, 54.82% and 56.81%) gave the highest levels of inhibition followed by a colchicine treated mutant T₂(MU) with (65.15%, 46.07%, 47.34% and 50.11%) inhibition. T. asperellum demonstrated significantly higher plant growth stimulation activity in all the crop seeds compared to control and were statistically equivalent with each other. However, the T. asperellum isolates did not record any difference with respect to germination percentage of cabbage and vigour index of wheat. The three T. asperellum isolates showed variation on radial growth at different pH levels tested, T₁(MC) and T₂(MU) isolates recorded the maximum radial growth in pH 7 and T₃(NI) isolates recorded the highest radial growth in pH 6. At pH 7, all three T. asperellum isolates produced the most biomass (fresh weight and dry weight).

An investigation was conducted to assess the invitro effect of Trichoderma asperellum isolates on inhibition of plant pathogens Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporum, Sclerotium rolfsii and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, and plant growth promotion with respect to wheat, cabbage, mustard and chilli. T₃(NI) (72.96%, 59.21%, 54.82% and 56.81%) gave the highest levels of inhibition followed by a colchicine treated mutant T₂(MU) with (65.15%, 46.07%, 47.34% and 50.11%) inhibition. T. asperellum demonstrated significantly higher plant growth stimulation activity in all the crop seeds compared to control and were statistically equivalent with each other. However, the T. asperellum isolates did not record any difference with respect to germination percentage of cabbage and vigour index of wheat. The three T. asperellum isolates showed variation on radial growth at different pH levels tested, T₁(MC) and T₂(MU) isolates recorded the maximum radial growth in pH 7 and T₃(NI) isolates recorded the highest radial growth in pH 6. At pH 7, all three T. asperellum isolates produced the most biomass (fresh weight and dry weight).

Cashew is an important tree crop in western part of West Bengal. The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the pathogen that causes cashew leaf spot and blight disease in the western part of West Bengal during the Rabi and Pre-Kharif seasons. Four different types of leaf spot and blight symptoms (Sym 1, Sym 2, Sym 3, and Sym 4) caused by Pestalotiopsis have been found during a field survey. During this research, Syms 1 and 4 were shown to be the most common amongst them. The Sym-1 isolate was identified as Pestalotiopsis sp. by molecular method through  sequencing of ITS (with primers ITS1 and ITS4) region. Among the different isolates, sym-1 exhibited the longest middle cell, apical cell, basal cell, apical appendages, and basal appendages, along with the greatest conidial length and width across the symptom types. A hierarchical cluster analysis based on conidial morphology of four Pestalotiopsis sp. isolates demonstrated that sym-1 was distinctly different from the others, forming a separate cluster (cluster-1), while the remaining isolates were grouped together in cluster-2.The average relative humidity and the maximum and minimum temperatures were shown to be the important predictors associated with the  predictions of Pestalotiopsis leaf spot and blight disease risk or no-risk condition in cashew. The conjoint influence of temperature between 21 to 24°C and the average relative humidity more than 80% was found to be highly congenial for incidence and spread of  Pestalotiopsis leaf spot and blight disease of cashew in lateritic region of West Bengal. The Binary Logistic Regression model excelled the multiple regression model for successful prediction of disease risk and no risk period.

Leaf spot disease samples from Sapota were collected and pathogens isolated using the hyphal tip method, pathogenicity proven in both pot culture and moist blotter paper methods. The isolate Neopestalotiopsis protearum was identified using symptoms, cultural features, morphology, and pathogenicity tests. The inhibition research of thirteen chemical fungicides and nine botanicals was conducted against the pathogen using the poison food technique. Chemical fungicides inhibited pathogen growth in a wide range; however, Mancozeb 50% + Thiophanate Methyl 25% WG, Azoxystrobin 11% + Tebuconazole 18.3% w/w SC, Fluxapyroxad 167 G/L + Pyraclostrobin 333 G/L SC, Hexaconazol 4% + Zineb 68% WP, and Azoxystrobin 18.2 w/w + Cyproconazole 7.3% w/w SC were found to be the most effective fungicides, completely inhibiting (100%) the growth of test fungus at their respective tested concentrations. Compared to the other botanicals tested, ginger and garlic significantly inhibited N. protearum mycelial growth (100%). Karanj and neem reduced mycelial growth by 35.56% and 34.07%, respectively, while periwinkle, lemongrass, and jatropha did not significantly inhibit mycelial growth.

Lawsonia inermis L. is cultivated as hedge plant throughout India and a commercial crop in certain states of India. Leaves of Lawsonia inermis L. are extensively used as medicine and dye for skin, hair, fingernails and temporary tattoos on skin. It is naturally and abundantly found in Western Ghat region of Maharashtra state, India. Recently, a new black powdery mildew disease on leaves of Lawsonia inermis L. caused by Meliola spp. has been firstly observed in Ratnagiri Districts of Maharashtra state, India. Further, as part of Western Ghat disease spread can be recorded from the three districts of Maharashtra state namely Ratnagiri, Raigad and Shindhudurg. Hence this is here for the first time from India recorded that the Henna (Lawsonia inermis L.) plant is new host for Meliola spp.

Black rot of coffee caused by the fungus Koleroga noxia Donk. is one of the major disease which causes yield loss up to 20-30% and infects both arabica and robusta coffee cultivars. Presently carbendazim 50% WP @ 0.6% was recommended for management of black rot as an alternative to this fungicide is required to avoid the development of fungicide resistance by the pathogen. Hence, different fungicide molecules viz., carbendazim 50% WP, tebuconazole 25% EC, hexaconazole 75% WG, propiconazole 25% EC, pyraclostrobin 133 g/l + epoxiconazole 50 g/l, propineb 70% WP, copper oxychloride 50% WP, carbendazim 12% + mancozeb 63% WP, zineb 68% 

Rhizoctonia bataticola (Taub.) Butler {Pycnidial stage: Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid} is a soil inhabiting fungus which is a serious threat to more than 500 plant species. Although considerable research related to ecology of Rhizoctonia has been done, it still appears to be a potential pathogen causing severe losses in various crops. Bio-control association also stimulated plant defensive mechanisms induction 

Fungal blight has been seen as an emerging disease in common bean in the valley of Kashmir for the last few years and during survey of important bean growing areas viz. Sopore, Pattan, Baramulla, Chadura, Mazhama, Khansahib, Newa, Pampore and Tral during 2017, the intensity of Ascochyta blight was devastating varying from 10.82 to 25.37 per cent around flowering. The blight symptoms manifested by the crop revealed light to dark brown lesions on leaves with concentric zones (Fig.1). Morphology of the pathogen (Table-1) revealed that it produced pycnidia (88×122 µ), usually irregularly scattered, and occasionally arranged concentrically (Fig.2). Conidia were generally one septate, hyaline, oval to oblong and 8-11.8 µ (10.12 µ) ×3.2 µ (plate-c). Blight symptoms in bean are reportedly caused by Phoma exiguadesmaz. var. exiguadesmaz(syn. Ascochyta phaseolorum Sacc.), P. exiguadesmazvar. diversispora(Bubak) (syn. P. diversisporaBubak) and A. boltshauseriSacc. Petr. (Boerema et al., 1981; Schmit and Baudoin, 1992).Crossan (1958) and Alcorn (1968) found that most two-celled conidia of A. phaseolorum(P. exigua var. exigua) were within the range of 7-12 x 2·5-5 µ. Boerema (2004) reported that P. exiguavarexigua produced 75–200 µ pycnidia, 4-7 x 2-3.5 µ aseptate and 7-10 x 2.5-3.5 µ septate conidia. Bardaset al. (2008) found that bean isolate of P. exigua var. exigua produced one septate conidia of 2-3 x 5-10µ dimensions.Earlier, Boerema (1981) reported that it produced 150 µ pycnidia and 5-7 x 2.5-3 µ conidia. While as the conidial dimensions of P.exigua var. diversipora were 5-9.8 (6.8) x 2.3-3.2 (2.7) µ. According to Boerema (2004), A. Boltshauseri produced 30-70 µ micro-pycnidia, 3.5-9 x 1.5-2.5 µ aseptate conidia and 11 x 3.5 µ septate conidia

The distribution of aeromycoflora in the indoor and outdoor environment is closely related with the climatic conditions like, temperature, rainfall, relative humidity as well as the nature of the mycoflora and location. The aeromycological survey was conducted in the indoor and outdoor environment of Barpeta town of Assam. The field experiments were carried out to study the occurrence of indoor and outdoor aeromycoflora for three months Jun-Aug, 2018. The experimental results showed that a total of 525 outdoor air spores (including pollen grains) and 242 indoor air spores were found in three months. Highest number of air spores were recorded in the month of Jun (190/88) and followed by July (178/82 and August (157/72 in both outdoor indoor environment respectively. The most dominant outdoor air spores were the species of the genus Aspergillus (56) Rhizopus (51) Mucor (45), Fusarium (43),  whereas, in case of indoor spore is  Rhizopus (38), and followed by Aspergillus (32), Mucor (31), and other species were found less frequently. The air quality of both indoor and outdoor environment is very important issue, because it is related to the fungal contamination of our foodstuff and various skin and respiratory problems.