Bell pepper is widely cultivated in India, but Fusarium wilt threatens its productivity. In July 2025, 35–40
Infestation by Meloidogyne incognita severely affects plant growth by disrupting root function and inducing physiological stress. Current study evaluated the efficacy of Bacillus aryabhattai on nematode-infected Solanum lycopersicum under in vivo conditions. Tomato plants treated with bacterial cells and culture supernatant were assessed 45 days post nematode exposure. This infection affects plant growth and photosynthetic pigment contents while increasing oxidative stress, as displayed by upraised hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, along with alterations in antioxidative activities like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), ascorbate peroxidase (APOX), guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione and ascorbic acid. Progressive accumulation of phenolic compounds further reflected activation of plant defence responses. Application of B. aryabhattai alleviated nematode-induced stress by improving plant growth, reducing root damage and lowering oxidative stress markers. Treated plants also exhibited improved photosynthetic pigment levels and enhanced antioxidant defence responses. Confocal observations further indicated reduced cellular damage in bacterially treated seedlings. The present findings therefore suggests that B. aryabhattai application can enhance stress tolerance and defence response in tomato plants under nematode infestation, supporting its potential role in root-knot nematode management.
Damping-off caused by Pythium ultimum, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum is a major constraint in bell pepper nursery production. A compatible consortium of Trichoderma atroviride (UHFTA002), Bacillus sp. and Actinomyces sp. was evaluated against these pathogens under pot culture conditions. Dual culture tests showed no antagonism among the three bioagents, confirming their compatibility. The consortium alone gave the highest disease control (88.94
Tulips (Tulipa spp.) are economically and ornamentally important geophytes that remain highly susceptible to diverse phytopathogens. While bulb- and root-associated diseases of tulip have been extensively characterised, foliar diseases remain comparatively underreported, particularly in the Kashmir Himalaya. In this study, we report, for the first time, Irpex lacteus Fr., a white-rot basidiomycete conventionally associated with wood decay, as the causal agent of leaf rot of tulip at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. Affected leaves exhibited irregular brown to dark-brown lesions that progressively enlarged, coalesced and developed into necrotic, collapsed areas of tissue. Symptomatic leaf tissue was subjected to fungal isolation and characterised using cultural, microscopic, and molecular approaches. ITS sequence analysis revealed 99.1
Forest diseases pose a major threat to forest ecosystems worldwide, causing tree mortality, ecological degradation, economic losses, and challenges to forest health management. Early and accurate pathogen detection is therefore essential for limiting disease spread and enabling timely management interventions. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a rapid molecular diagnostic technique that amplifies target nucleic acids under isothermal conditions, eliminating the need for a conventional PCR thermocycler. This feature makes LAMP suitable for both laboratory-based and field-deployable pathogen detection. This review examines the principles, primer design, molecular mechanisms, detection methods, and applications of LAMP in forest pathogen diagnostics. Particular emphasis is placed on its application to fungal, oomycete, nematode, bacterial, phytoplasma, and selected insect-associated targets relevant to forest health. Published studies indicate that LAMP can provide high analytical sensitivity and specificity while offering rapid amplification, simple operation, low equipment requirements, and considerable potential for field deployment. However, assay performance depends on appropriate target selection and primer design and may be influenced by sample quality, inhibitory substances, carry-over contamination, and inadequate validation. This synthesis critically compares LAMP with conventional PCR, quantitative PCR (qPCR), reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR), recombinase-based amplification methods, and CRISPR-assisted diagnostic approaches. It also summarizes reported assay performance, including sensitivity, specificity, detection limits, and field-validation status. Recent advances in portable and quantitative LAMP, multiplex detection, simplified sample preparation, lyophilized reagents, smartphone-assisted readouts, and LAMP–CRISPR platforms are also discussed. Key research priorities include standardized assay validation, improved contamination control, field testing across diverse environments, commercialization, regulatory acceptance, and integration with digital and portable diagnostic technologies. Overall, LAMP represents a promising tool for the early detection, surveillance, and management of forest pathogens, particularly in settings where rapid testing is required and access to conventional laboratory infrastructure is limited.
