A field investigation was carried out at the experimental farm of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, CSKHPKV, Bajaura (Kullu), Himachal Pradesh during kharif, 2022. The experiment was carried out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications comprising 12 treatment combinations of NPK fertilizers, biofertilizers (Azotobacter and PSB), organic and natural farming on chilli variety ‘Him Palam Mirch-2’. Different nutrient management practices significantly influenced NPK uptake and soil available N, P and K. The results revealed that treatment combination of 100% NPK + 10t vermicompost + Azotobacter + PSB recorded significantly the N (1.260%), P (0.156%) and K (1.387%) content in chilli stalk, N (1.870%), P (0.447%) and K (0.865%) content in chilli fruit, total uptake of N (132.34 kg ha-1), P (26.32 kg ha-1) and K (90.60 kg ha-1) by chilli crop. At the end of the experiment, treatment combination of 100% NPK + 10t vermicompost + Azotobacter + PSB recorded maximum available N in the soil while maximum P and K was recorded in treatment combination of 100% NPK + 10t vermicompost + PSB. Natural farming practice recorded lowest soil available N, P, nutrient content and uptake while organic farming practice recorded lowest value of soil available. Therefore, it can be concluded that the combined application of NPK fertilizers and organic inputs coupled with biofertilizers proved the best for NPK uptake and soil available N, P and K.

An experiment was conducted during 2017–18 in the aeroponic unit of ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute inShimla, Himachal Pradesh, to evaluate 3 potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivar’s, viz. Kufri Mohan, Kufri Lauvkarand Kufri Himalini growth and production behaviour under 2 different planting periods spaced 10 days apart duringthe autumnal season. The yield per plant and the total number of mini-tubers were shown to be strongly impactedby the planting season as well as the cultivar, according to the findings. The average number of tubers harvested was 32.7/plant in early (10th September) planting as against 21.2 mini-tubers/plant in late (20th September). Similarly, yield per plant was significantly higher (67.67 g/plant) with early planting than with late planting (35.99 g/plant). The production behaviour of the potato varieties under consideration varied significantly. The maximum yield/plant and mini-tuber numbers were recorded in Kufri Lauvkar (34.17 and 73.12 g/plant, respectively), which were significantly higher than the remaining 2 cultivars, which were statistically at par for both the number of yield/plant and minitubers. A delay in the planting of 10 days under aeroponics results in a significant reduction not only in the vigour of plants but subsequently in the number as well as weight of mini-tubers harvested. Thus, for attaining higher rates of multiplication under aeroponics during the autumn season, planting should not be delayed beyond 10th September in a hilly temperate wet zone.

Rice is the predominant staple crop in developing countries in which zinc i.e., one of the essential micronutrients required in small amounts (5-100 mg/kg) in plant is mostly found deficient. The experiment was conducted with different nutrient sources along with microbial inoculants in the kharif season, 2016 at the research farm of ICAR research complex for the Northeastern Himalayan region situated at Barapani, Meghalaya in split-plot with three types of nutrient management practices viz,. organic, integrated nutrient management and inorganic (RDF) in the main plot and three microbial inoculants viz., Azospirillum, zinc solubilizing bacteria and phosphorus solubilizing bacteria in a subplot in split plot design replicated thrice. Grain yield and Zn uptake was found highest in INM and Azospirillum+PSB+ZnSB. On the other hand, Zn content was found highest in organic source and in Azospirillum+PSB+ZnSB.

Ayurveda is one of the ancient and holistic system of Medicine. It is a system where principles of living and treatment are described in codified form. Rasashastra and Bhaishajya kalpana is a branch of Indian Alchemy and Iatrochemistry. In this branch number of herbo-mineral and purely herbal formulations are mentioned with wide range of dosage forms. It is not only a science of drug manufacturing but also the science of selection, identification, prevention and standardization. A good quality of products assures the anticipated results. The pharmaceutical preparations when prepared with proper scientific approach it can prove to be a boon for patients. Amavatari rasa and Rasnadi guggulu are amongst the important preparations, which have been mentioned in well-known rasa text Brihat yog tarangini and Bhaishjya ratnavali. Pharmaceutical study involves preparation of Amavatari Rasa and Rasnadi Gugglu according to classical method. All the raw materials were procured from the Pharmacy of N.I.A, Jaipur and Pharmaceutical procedures were carried out in the department of Rasa Shastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, NIA Jaipur.

Efficacy of seven insecticides buprofezin (0.04%), chlorantraniliprole (0.005%) fenazaquin (0.025%), imidacloprid (0.004%), spiromesifen (0.02%), thiamethoxam (0.05%) and cypermethrin (0.014%) was tested against sucking pests infesting okra at CSK HPKV Palampur during kharif 2018. Imidacloprid (0.004%) was found to be most effective treatment against A. gossypii and A. biguttula biguttula amongst all the insecticides followed by thiamethoxam (0.05%). For the remaining treatments, the decreasing order of efficacy based on the % reduction in aphid population was buprofezin, chlorantraniliprole, cypermethrin, fenazaquin and spriromesifen whereas in case of jassids the decreasing order of efficacy was cypermethrin, buprofezin, chlorantraniliprole, spiromesifen and fenazaquin. Imidacloprid treated plots resulted in highest fruit yield and incremental cost benefit ratio followed by thiamethoxam, buprofezin, chlorantraniliprole, cypermethrin, spiromesifen and fenazaquin.

Antimicrobial agents, such as antibiotics, are being used extensively in human and veterinary medicine, and often as part of routine agricultural production which has significantly contributed to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Following the socioecological interface, antibiotic-resistant genes are being bioaccumulated in the biosphere. Inadequacy and lack of stringent waste disposal facilities have evolved as a potential source of antimicrobial resistance dissemination. By processing waste from a variety of sources, Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) may constitute a hotspot for horizontal gene transfer between bacteria of diverse origins. There are multiple links between the human, animal, and environmental compartments that allow not only movement of the bacteria but also of Mobile Genetic Elements and the drugs themselves. Many of the known antibiotic resistance genes are found on transposons, integrons, or plasmids, which can be mobilized and transferred to other bacteria of the same or different species. Additionally, antibiotics have also been detected in sewage effluents, sewage sludge, and soil. Unarguably, the fate of antibiotics is an immediate addressable issue as it contributes to antibiotic-resistant pathogens and ecotoxicological consequences. Seemingly important, the emergence of antibiotics and its associated risks in the environment is estimated by Expected Introductory Concentration and Predicted Environmental Concentration. Concludingly, it is envisaged that the usage of antibiotics and its derivatives should be strictly monitored. Besides, insights into high-throughput bacterial diversity–based analysis utilizing tools of metagenomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics should be studied for the screening of resistomes and particularly the mobility of resistomes among different biotic resources should be plausibly identified to circumvent this massive outbreak of antibiotic resistance which is spreading by leaps and bounds.

Efficacy of a biopesticide and five natural products comprising azadirachtin, cow urine, darekastra, jeevamrit, vermiwash and tamarlassi were evaluated against sucking pests in okra at the CSK HPKV, Palampur during kharif, 2018. The aphid and jassid incidence was observed to undergo reduction with sprays and reached to 61.55 and 62.95%, respectively in azadirachtin after fifth spray. Darekastra, jeevamrit and vermiwash were moderately effective, with the least effective one being cow urine. The fruit yield and incremental cost benefit ratio was 1: 5.72 in azadirachtin (59.63 q/ ha).

Recalcitrant dermatophytoses are on the rise and recent publications have documented high minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) to TRB and squalene epoxidase (SQLE) mutations. However, literature correlating the laboratory the data with clinical response is lacking. This study was conducted to study the clinico-mycological profile of tinea corporis and cruris, including antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST) and SQLE mutation analysis and correlate these with clinical response to TRB. Skin scrapings of patients with tinea corporis with/without tinea cruris were subjected to species identification, AFST and SQLE gene analysis (on 15 isolates). KOH confirmed cases were started on TRB 250mg once a day (OD). If >50% clinical clearance was achieved by 3 weeks; the same dose was continued.(Group 1). If clinical clearance at 3 weeks was <50%, the dose was increased to 250mg twice a day (BD) (Group 2). If the response still remained below 50% after 3 weeks of BD, the patients were treated with itraconazole (ITR)(Group 3). Trichophyton interdigitale was confirmed on all 64 isolates obtained on culture. Forty four (68.7%) isolates had high (≥1 μg/ml) MICs to TRB. Six isolates were found to have aminoacid substitution Leu393Phe in SQLE protein, while one had the substitution Phe397Leu. The difference in modal MICs to TRB between the 3 clinical response groups (1.5157μg/ml, 5.0396 μg/ml and 20.1587μg/ml respectively for group 1,2 and 3) was highly significant. Clinical response was achieved in 68% of those resistant by MIC data, and 42.8% of SQLE mutation harboring isolates, by increasing drug (TRB) exposure. We infer that TRB resistance in dermatophytes has reached alarming proportions in our patients. Though improved outcomes were achieved with higher drug exposure, with the high failure rate seen in the study, the case for shifting to another class of antifungals as first line agent against dermatophytoses is strong.

Summary Geothermal reservoirs in India are of low to medium enthalpy type where surface temperatures vary from 80 to 105°C thus requiring a Binary Power Plant to convert their geothermal energy into electricity. Such generation of electricity through geothermal resource is preferable due to its eco-friendly nature whereas much environmental hazards are associated with the coal and nuclear projects.

Papaya fruit was used for the production of best quality powder by using low cost technology. Various treatments were standardized prior to drying of the shreds of papaya and among these treatment T2 i.e. by steam blanching of shreds for 3 minutes and dipping in 0.2 per cent KMS followed by immediate cooling. The pre-treated shreds were then dried in mechanical dehydrator at 55±2 °C and then converted into powder by grinding in mixer cum grinder. The powder prepared by treatment T2 had high β-carotene (4403.58 µg/100g) and ascorbic acid (55.48 mg/100g) content as compared to other pre-treatments. Further the powder was prepared by best selected pre-treatment and stored for six months. With increase in storage period of six months, there was very less degradation in nutritional components such as ascorbic acid (from 55.48 to 46.12 mg/100 g) and β-carotene (from 4400.73 to 3786.33 µg/100 g). After this the instant halwa mix was prepared by using papaya powder and sugar in a ratio of 1:1. It was found to have better nutritional as well as sensory attributes and was most acceptable by the panellist.

Sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn has recently noticed one of the most important diseases of rice on almost all the high yielding varieties in major rice growing area. In our study morphologically and molecu-larly characterized thirty rhizospheric isolates of Trichoderma (T. harzianum and T. virens) from different locations of Uttarakhand were evaluated for their mycoparasitic ability, disease (sheath blight) suppressing potential and inducing systemic resistance against Rhizoctonia solani. Maximum inhibition in hyphal growth (58.9 %) against R. solani was recorded with isolate PB 2 followed by PB 3 (53.4 %) in confrontation assay. Under glass house con-dition, minimum disease severity (13.6%) was recorded in the treatment where seeds were treated with PB 22 and this treatment also exhibited highest total phenol content (394 I¼l/g) 168 hours after pathogen inoculation. Total phenol content was also increased maximally (466 I¼l/g) before pathogen inoculation in the treatment where seeds were treated with PB 22. Moreover, high quality ISR activity was recorded with isolates PB 21, 3, 1, 4, 23, 2 and 16 as they reduced more than 34 percent disease and total phenol contents 456 I¼l/g, 449 I¼l/g, 442 I¼l/g, 440 I¼l/g and 440 I¼l/g, 438 I¼l/g and 431 I¼l/g were recorded for respective isolates indicated induction of resistance in paddy against sheath blight disease caused by R. solani.

The present study was undertaken to assess the response of eight pearl millet lines collected from ICRISAT, Hyderabad for salt tolerance in terms of physiological and biochemical traits. The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design in pots filled with soil having which have EC2 – 1.97 dS m in 3 replications at ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI), Karnal during Kharif 2015. Osmotic stress was imposed by applying saline irrigation water of ECiw 3, 6 and 9 dS m -1 along with best available water (BAW) having ECiw 0.6 dS m -1 (control). Out of 8 pearl millet lines, ICMB 07999 and 03222 lines showed mean RWC more than 75 per cent. Maximum electrolyte leakage was observed in ICMB 03222 (42.25 %) at ECiw – 9 dSm. Chlorophyll concentration was reduced with increasing salinity in all the lines and found maximum in ICMB 01222, ICMB 07999 and ICMB 06888 (37.5 μg ml) and minimum in ICMB 05888 (30.7 μg ml). Highest proline content was recorded in ICMB 07999 (6.38 mg g FW) at ECiw – 9 dSm. ICMB 9522 and ICMB 06111were found to be the promising ones maintaining lower Na/K with relatively higher yield at ECiw – 9 dS m in comparison to others.

Antioxidant rich natural juice blends of apple fruit were formulated owing to its high functional value due to the presence of bioactive compounds.Suitability of the juice blends prepared by blending of Apple and Jamun juice was evaluated.Blending of Apple and Jamun juice in 90: 10 proportions gave highest antioxidant activity and sensory acceptability.The blends were filled in pre-sterilized glass bottles, processed and stored up to 6 months at 25±5 o C and 4±2 o C temperatures.Quality evaluation of juice blends showed significant changes in ascorbic acid, total phenolics, anthocyanins and antioxidant activity upon ambient storage.The results indicated that Apple-Jamunnatural juice blends rich in bioactive compounds having high antioxidant potential can replace the synthetic beverages besides, shall also make available a variety of natural fruit and vegetable juice choices at reasonable expenses to the domestic consumers and export purpose.

The on farm trial was carried out to study the effect of nutrients sprays on growth, yield and fruit quality of apple cv. Royal Delicious under cold desert condition of Himachal Pradesh. Treatments comprised spray of boric acid (0.1%), urea (0.5%), boric acid (0.1%) + urea (0.5%), multiplex (250 ml/100 litre of water) and no use of nutrients (water spray). The highest growth in terms of shoot length was observed with spray of urea at 0.5% and the highest fruit set and yield were recorded with boric acid (0.1%) + urea (0.5%) followed by boric acid at 0.1%. The lowest growth, fruit set and yield were observed with control. The combination of boric acid (0.1%) + urea (0.5%) resulted in the highest fruit length, breadth and weight. The highest total soluble solids were recorded with boric acid 0.1% and the reducing and total sugars were the highest with control. The acidity was found maximum while total soluble solids, reducing and total sugars were recorded lowest with spray of urea 0.5%. The treatment comprising of boric acid (0.1%) + urea (0.5%) proved to be best in terms of fruit set, yield and quality parameters of apple followed by boric acid at 0.1% concentration.