Fusarium nivale (Fr.) Ces. a recently reported fungus of mango malformation disease (MMD)is a predominant and virulent fungus in mango orchards of Sindh, Pakistan. In the current study in vitro and in vivo attempts were made with commercial fungicides to reduce the severity of F. nivale. Mycelial growth of F. nivale was significantly inhibited at low and high doses of Thiophanate methyl and Fosetyl- Aluminium. Metalaxyl+Mancozeb and Mancozeb also reduced growth of fungus at their high doses (6.830 and 11.900mm), respectively, as compared to Copper oxychloride (18.083 mm) and control (40.750 mm). Thiophanate methyl and Fosetyl- Aluminium significantly reduced infection in Desi, Almas and Dusheri to 16.60 and 19.00%; 17.60 and 19.80%; and 20.60 and 22.00% after first spray, with decreased percent of malformation 72.33 and 68.33%; 71.11 and 67.54%; and 67.81 and 65.62% and over untreated control. The second spray of Thiophanate methyl and Fosetyl- Aluminium fungicides completely inhibited infection of F. nivale, and 100.0% reduction in malformation disease in Desi, Almas, and Dusheri as compared to Metalaxyl+Mancozeb (78.73, 73.84, 72.64%) and Mancozeb (73.65, 73.69, 69.41%), Copper oxychloride and in control. The application of Thiophanate methyl and Fosetyl- Aluminium would be useful in integrated management of MMD.

Gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera Hubner is known to be a major constraint of chickpea production which causes serious economic loess. The management of this pest in any crop is always been challenge to the growers, famers and researcher. Thus, present study evaluated some promising entomopathogenic fungi for the sustainable management of H. armigera to minimize the economic loss in chickpea. Five different fungal isolates viz; Beauveria bassiana, Trichoderma virens, Trichoderma hamatum, Trichoderma koningii, and Paecilomyces sp. were used as entomopathogenic against gram pod borer, through dipping and poison food methods under laboratory conditions. The entomopathogenic potential of different fungal strains revealed significantly (P<0.05 = 0.0000) highest mortality with B. bassiana (46.67%) follo wed by T. koningi (23.33%), T. virens (11.11%) and T. hamatum (8.33%) through dipping method. In case o f poison food method significantly highest mortality was recorded with T. koningi (20%) followed by B. bassiana (6.66%) after 24 h. The mortality with B. bassiana after 96 h was become higher (41.667%) compared with other strains. No mortality was recorded with Paecilomyces sp. and control (dipped in simple water) in both methods. It is obvious that microbial control agents are very effective and the promising entomopathogenic fungi of current study are hoped would be helpful for eco-friendly and alternative to chemical pesticides for sustainable management of H. armigera in chickpea.

Okra yellow vein mosaic virus (OYVMV) is one of the most destructive diseases of okra plant. In the current study, effect of okra yellow vein mosaic virus (OYVMV) was assessed on plant growth and yield in naturally infected crop under agro-ecological conditions of Hyderabad district. The virus showed the significant reduction in plant height, number of leaves, flowers, fruits, and over all pickings and yield of all the locations wherever the crop was examined in the district. The significant reduction in plant height (48.67 cm) in infected plants as compared to healthy plants (62.96 cm) was recorded. Similarly, significant difference in the flowers formation per plant at all four locations was recorded in diseased (0.912) and healthy (2.165) plants. Fruit weight was also significantly reducing due to the disease prevalence at all four locations (73.25 g) as compared to healthy observed fruits (91.50 g). Interestingly, on overall basis there were more numbers of leaves (20.66) in infected plants as compared to healthy one (16.33). It is obvious from the results that virus (OYVMV) showed significant increase in number of leaves but reduced plant height, flowers, fruits and yield at all four observed locations, thus, pathologists and breeders are advised to work more on evaluation of resistant varieties using advanced molecular tools. The growers are also advised to adopt preventive as well as curative control measures so that the yield losses may be decreased.

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