<div>Background: Soil Fungi play a vital role in maintaining the soil health. Such Microbial communities offer stability and greater yield in agro-ecosystems. The current study was aimed to evaluate the diversity of rhizospheric fungi present in the Banana plantation site and estimate the values of the selected physico-chemical parameters of the soil. 
 
Methods: Soil samples were collected from the two selected sites i.e. Site MK and Site ZB, from Nagaland State, India During the month of October 2019. Soil temperatures, pH, Moisture, organic carbon and Available Nitrogen were measured by standard protocols. Fungi were isolated in Potato dextrose agar and Rose agar plates following serial dilution method. Plates were incubated at 25&plusmn;1&deg;C for 5-7 days. Fungal colonies were observed and transferred to appropriate identification media and identified with the help of literature. 
 
Result: A total of 19 different fungal isolates were recorded from the two sites. It was observed that the Genus Aspergillus was dominant in both the sites.</div>

<div>Fungal Diversity and Physico-chemical Parameters of Rhizospheric Soil from Banana Plantation Sites at Nagaland, India</div>

Background: Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) is highly nutritious and economically important fruit crop, cultivated worldwide is severely affected by fruit rot disease, leading to significant yield and economic yield loss.Present study aimed to provide the first report of fungal pathogens associated with strawberry fruit rot, which cause significant losses in India. Overall, the research provides valuable insights into the fungal pathogens responsible for strawberry fruit rot in India. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the disease and offer a foundation for effective field control measures against the disease. 
 
Methods: Survey and sampling (triplicate) of infected strawberry fruits were conducted from 2020-2023 across various sites of Gorakhpur division. The data analysis was performed by using R software. Isolation of fungal pathogen was done by Agar Plate methods and standard blotter technique. Morphological characterization was performed based on colony morphology and microscopic characteristics. 
 
Result: More than 350 symptomatic strawberry fruits were collected from 3 different cultivation sites, from which 211 fungal strains were isolated and morphologically identified as 15 different species. Among them, Botrytis cinerea, accounted for a higher proportion of all the strains present, comprising 64.6 % loss of fruits; followed by Colletotrichum spp. (17.4%,), Rhizopus stolonifer (9.6%), Fusarium spp. (4.6%) and rest of the isolated fungi like, Phytopthora spp., Mucor mucedo., Saccharomyces cerevisiae., Penicillium spp., Aspergillus spp., Alternaria spp., Cladosporium spp and Curvularia spp caused 3.6% loss of fruits respectively. All isolates were found to be aggressive on both wounded and unwounded strawberry fruit.

Fungal Diversity Associated with Strawberry Fruit Loss in the Gorakhpur Division, U.P. India

Background: Medicago sativa, Medicago truncatula and Trifolium rubens are legumes widely distributed in Algeria. These species hold ecological and agricultural significance and serve as a natural resource for combating desertification and as livestock fodder. 
 
Methods: Comparative investigations of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization in the roots of these leguminous species were conducted. The physicochemical and microbiological attributes of AMF&rsquo;s infectious potential were explored for all three species. The presence or absence of endomycorrhizal structures was assessed in these species. 
 
Result: The mycorrhizal infectious potential of the flora was significantly enhanced in the case of Medicago truncatula when compared to Trifolium rubens. Mycorrhization occurred at a frequency exceeding 80% in all three species. The impact of legume mycorrhizal fungi colonization on soil physicochemical properties was examined, revealing alterations in soil biological fertility, particularly in terms of phosphate and nitrogen content. Medicago truncatula exhibited a more pronounced positive influence on soil physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics when compared to Medicago sativa and Trifolium rubens. Consequently, these herbaceous species can be employed as nurse plants (facilitators) or as bio-fertilizers.

Assessment of Mycorrhizal Fungal Diversity in Legumes (Medicago sativa, Medicago truncatula and Trifolium rubens) from Algeria and Their Influence on Soil Physicochemical and Microbiological Properties

Background: Weed management during growing season has been a serious problem for many years. Worldwide, a 10% loss of agricultural products can be attributed to the competitive effect of weeds, despite their intensive control. Dactyloctenium aegyptium and Chenopodium album L. is an annual weed of cultivated fields.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: This investigation was done in 2020-2021. Root parts of both weeds Dactyloctenium aegyptium and Chenopodium album were collected from a nearby area, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut. To determine the antifungal potentials of both weeds Dactyloctenium aegyptium and Chenopodium album root extracts were determined by the food poisoning method against fungal phytopathogens. Methane, Ethyl acetate, Butyl alcohol, Benzene and Water-soluble root extracts of both weeds at different concentrations (5%, 10% and 15%) were used against fungal phytopathogens growth in laboratory conditions and also used on fungal infected related attributes of Bengal gram in a pot culture experiment in 1:10 ratio. Antioxidants of both weed extracts were done by DPPH, FRAP and ABTS methods. 
 
Result: Findings showed that application of 15% concentrated extracts has maximum antifungal effects against Fusarium oxysporum and Sclerotium rolfsi (70-80%). In the pot experiment, we find that at increased concentrations of methanolic extract (15%) infected Bengal gram crops show high effectiveness against fungal phytopathogens and improve different parameters such as germination, plant physiology and morphological characteristics. However, higher concentrations of methanol extract promoted these parameters and reduced fungal growth in both in vivo and vitro conditions Results of this study reported highly significant suppressive effects of higher concentrations (10% and 15%).

In vitro and in vivo Effect of Weeds (Root) Extracts on Soil Borne Fungal Phytopathogens and Fungal Infected Legume Crop Bengal Gram (Cicer arietinum)

Background: Soil fungal communities significantly contribute to the health and productivity of plants, with their compositions influenced by plant disease presence at various altitudes. This study compares the variations in soil fungal diversity between healthy and diseased duku (Lancium domesticum Corr.) plantations in Jambi, Indonesia. 
 
Methods: This study examines the potential fungal indicators on soil health, concentrated on four sites representing various altitudes: Kumpeh (10,32 m asl), Rano (5,80 m asl), Koto Rami (623,46 m asl) and a location of the Diseased site (194,01 m asl). The fungal communities were analyzed using DNA sequencing and the NCBI ITS RefSeq database. 
 
Result: The dominant fungal phyla across all sites were Ascomycota, most abundant in the low-altitude from Kumpeh and Basidiomycota, primarily present in the high-altitude from Koto Rami. Mucoromycota and smaller groups like Zoopagomycota were also identified. The high-altitude site at Koto Rami showed high water content and organic matter, which may have supported a unique soil microbial community. The low-altitude site at Rano exhibited a neutral pH and well-balanced Phosphorus levels, both of which encourage fungal activity. In contrast, the low-altitude samples from Kumpeh displayed higher levels of Calcium and Magnesium, low organic matter and a sandy texture, which may have restricted the fungal community. In the Diseased site, stress was detected as indicated by reduced moisture levels and heightened microbial activity, suggesting that certain microbes might adversely affect plant health. Overall, increased moisture and good organic matter in the soil can enhance fungal growth, while a neutral pH, adequate phosphorus and suitable soil texture can facilitate fungal diversity. 
&nbsp;

Comparative Analysis of Soil Fungal Profiles in Healthy and Diseased Duku (Lansium domesticum Corr.) Plantations at Different Altitudes in Jambi Province, Indonesia

<div style="text-align: justify;">Genetic diversity among 54 genotypes of field and garden pea of India were studied using 30 RAPD primers. A total of 168 amplicons were scored, of which 154 were polymorphic revealing 89.3% of polymophism. Out of 30 RAPD primers tested, 22 primers produced clear and reproducible bands. The number of products generated by these primers ranged from 04 to 14 with primer OPU-17 giving maximum (14) and primer OPC-08 giving minimum number of amplicons (04). Genetic similarity estimates based on the binomial data using Jaccard&rsquo;s coefficient ranged from 0.34 (Kaza-2/IC-218991) to 0.89 (IC-209118/IC-209123) with an average similarity index of 0.54 exhibiting considerable diversity among the pea genotypes studied. The dendrogram showed clear pattern of clustering according to the source of germplasm. This study indicated that Himalayan region germplasm exhibited higher diversity.&nbsp;</div>

Diversity analysis of pea genotypes using RAPD markers

<div>Background: Intercropping and mixed cropping based on two or more different crops have been widely used in Insect Pest Management to manage the population density of insect pests in various crops like maize with soybean, sorghum with soybean and sunflower with soybean. Genotypic diversity is the mixture or combination of various varieties/lines/genotypes of a crop. It decreases the insect-pests population by unfitness of crop to them due to intraspecific diversity such as mixture of susceptible and resistant varieties. Also, it increases the natural enemy population more due to longer period of flowering, availability of wide diverse food, more movement of herbivores etc. This concept has also been used successfully to manage insect-pests in maize, wheat and potato. In India, this connect is used in very small scale in crop. The objective of this study was to determine effects of genotypic diversity by comparing the population densities of major insect pests between monoculture of single variety and mixture of varieties. 
 
Methods: To test the effects of genotypic diversity on soybean insect-pest and their natural enemy population an experiment was laid in kharif 2018 and 2019 at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Soybean Research, Indore. All recommended agronomic package of practices were followed for raising of crop. Randomized block design with three replication having plot size of 9 rows of 5 meter row length was used. Totally 20 treatments were chosen for this experiment and out of 20 four treatments namely, T1, T6, T11 and T16 were the treatments of four varietal mixture treatments of almost similar maturity duration and agronomic traits and rest of treatments were of sole varietal treatments. Observations were made on insect-pests from 10 selected plants in each plot on three leaves selected at top, middle and lower portion of plant. 
 
Result: Effects of genotypic diversity in soybean revealed that for whitefly management T11 (NRC-86, JS-335, JS-2098 and RKS-45) was found most effective treatment. In case of mite, thrips and treehoppers management T1 (JS-9560, JS-20-34, MAUS-47 and MAUS-1460) was found most effective treatment. For leafhopper and mealy bug T6 (JS-9305, JS-2029, RVS-2001-4 and Dsb-28-3) was found most effective treatment. While for spittlebug T16 (NRC-37, JS-9752, RSC-1046 and RKS-113) was found most effective treatment. So, genotypic diverse treatments were found more effective than their respective sole varietal treatments.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

​Effects of Genotypic Diversity on Insect-pests of Soybean

<div style="text-align:justify">Modern intensive monocropping system is becoming unproductive, pest ridden, loss incurring, and resource depleting and hence turning out to be untenable. Lack of discrimination in input use by farm managers and overall poor management are accelerating degradation and desertification processes, and loss of biodiversity particularly add in endangered regions. &nbsp;While, properly designed diverse and strategically located tree/seasonal crop based land use systems can contribute to ecologic services by mitigation land degradation, climate change and desertification, while conserving natural resources and biodiversity. Besides providing, diverse goods and services, on-farm diversity can be considered as an adoptive strategy in areas climatically and biologically vulnerable. Being a potential C sink, tree based land use systems can also mitigate negative impacts of CO2 emission. As green belt/bank these have an important role in maintaining air, water and soil quality in mining and industrial areas. The so-called cellulosic feedstocks can be grown on marginal land, enhance soil fertility by promoting the growth of various soil organisms, and provide a climate- friendly source of energy. There are plenty of underexploited but potential plant species which can find niche in the existing agroecosystems with substantial addition to total production while contributing sufficiently to ecological services. These needs to be identified and useful models are developed for specific situations.</div>

On-farm crop diversity for sustainability and resilience in farming - A review

Background: Trichoderma&nbsp;species&nbsp;are&nbsp;biocontrol&nbsp;fungi&nbsp;of&nbsp;great&nbsp;significance&nbsp;in sustainable agriculture&nbsp;soils worldwide. Despite their global importance,&nbsp;little is known about&nbsp;the genetic diversity of local strains, particularly those from&nbsp;extreme&nbsp;habitat&nbsp;Iraqi desert soils.&nbsp;The&nbsp;study&nbsp;utilizes&nbsp;precise molecular techniques (PCR/ ITS analysis),&nbsp;avoiding&nbsp;classical&nbsp;identification&nbsp;constraints, to explore the genetic diversity of&nbsp;Najaf and Karbala&nbsp;Trichoderma isolates.&nbsp;Through&nbsp;comparisons&nbsp;with&nbsp;worldwide&nbsp;records&nbsp;(National center for biotechnology information, NCBI), the research aims&nbsp;at&nbsp;understanding&nbsp;local biodiversity and&nbsp;determining&nbsp;their&nbsp;prospects&nbsp;for sustainable agricultural applications. 
 
Methods: Fungal isolates from desert soils were molecular identified using PCR, amplifying the ITS genetic region with the ITS1-ITS4 primers. Resulting DNA sequences were compared to the NCBI database through BLAST to identify &nbsp;species. Phylogenetic analysis was carried out using MEGA-X. Distinct isolates were identified and accession numbers were assigned. This molecular approach successfully enabled assessment of genetic diversity within&nbsp;Trichoderma&nbsp;spp. populations. 
 
Result: Genetic analysis revealed two novel, previously unregistered isolates:&nbsp;T. reesei&nbsp;(4) and Trichoderma harzianum&nbsp;(5)&nbsp;, which were then deposited in NCBI under the accession numbers PV112458 and PV114821, respectively. The other identified species,&nbsp;Trichoderma viride&nbsp;(3), Trichoderma longibrachiatum&nbsp;(1) and Trichoderma harzianum&nbsp;(2), were also recorded in NCBI, with the accession numbers PV113441, PV114839 and PV114819, respectively. 
&nbsp;

Genetic Diversity of Trichoderma spp. Isolated from Soils in the Iraqi Environment

<div>Background: The variety of indigenous duck germplasm contribute maximum to the poultry industry in India, besides chicken population. In southern part of India, the available duck genetic resource, particularly Arni ducks (comprises of Sanyasi and Keeri ducks) of Tamil Nadu, has its own characteristics with innate potentiality of higher productivity without any input system of management. Genetic characterization and diversity of indigenous duck genetic resources has not been properly studied. In the present study, the genetic diversity of Arni ducks with other indigenous and exotic duck germplasm were analysed with microsatellite markers.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Genomic DNA was isolated from the blood samples of six duck populations. Molecular characterization was carried out with duck specific FAO recommended microsatellite markers. The genotyping of ducks was done based on the size of 4324 PCR amplicons of 23 microsatellite loci, which were subjected to capillary electrophoresis using automatic sequencer. 
 
Result: A total of 222 alleles in six duck populations across 23 microsatellite loci with a mean of 9.65&plusmn;0.95 alleles were found. Kuttanad duck variety had the highest number of alleles (139) followed by Sanyasi (136), Keeri (129), Muscovy (118), Assam (91) and White Pekin (78) ducks. The mean observed number of alleles was 6.04&plusmn;0.59, 5.91&plusmn;0.76, 5.61&plusmn;3.17, 5.13&plusmn;0.44, 3.96&plusmn;0.76 and 3.39&plusmn;0.40 in Kuttanad, Sanyasi, Keeri, Muscovy, Assam and White Pekin ducks respectively. The overall mean polymorphism information content (PIC) values among the six duck populations was 0.6269. &nbsp;In most of the duck populations, the mean PIC value was more than 0.5 except in Assam (0.4815) and White Pekin (0.3725) ducks. The observed heterozygosity was the highest in Keeri ducks (0.5217) and lowest in White Pekin ducks (0.2766), while, the mean expected heterozygosity was the highest in Sanyasi (0.5628) and lowest in White Pekin (0.4038) ducks. The variations in the observed and expected number of alleles, differences in PIC of various microsatellite loci might be attributed to the genetic variability of the duck populations, number and type of microsatellite primers utilised for analysis and the genetic diversity of the duck breeds under study. Higher FST value indicates the substantial degree of breed differentiation among the studied duck populations.</div>