Rice is one of the most extensively cultivated and economically significant crops
worldwide. However, bacterial blight, is caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, poses a
significant threat, leading to considerable yield losses. The rising challenge of antibiotic
resistance among bacterial pathogens in plant, including Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae,
underscores the need to explore sustainable alternatives to synthetic chemicals. This study
investigates the phytochemical composition and antibacterial activity of leaf extracts from six
medicinal plants: Azadirachta indica, Melia azedarach, Pongamia glabra, Lawsonia inermis,
Mentha piperita, and Ocimum basilicum. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of
bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, cardiac glycosides, phenols,
and saponins in varying combinations. The antibacterial activity was evaluated using the
well-diffusion method at 10 per cent and 20 per cent concentrations. Among the aqueous
extracts, Pongamia glabra demonstrated the highest antibacterial potential, with a zone of
inhibition (ZOI) of 11.83 ± 0.10 mm at 20 per cent concentration, corresponding to a relative
per cent inhibition (RPI) of 73.96 per cent and an activity index (AI) of 0.74. Melia
azedarach followed, exhibiting a ZOI of 10.25 ± 0.22 mm (RPI = 64.06%, AI = 0.64).
Similar trends were observed with methanolic extracts, where Pongamia glabra and Melia
azedarach showed the strongest activity. The positive control (Streptocycline, 100 ppm)
produced a ZOI of 16.00 ± 0.45 mm, validating the experimental setup, while the negative
control Dimethyl salphoxide (DMSO) showed no inhibitory effect. The results highlight the
potential of locally available medicinal plants, particularly Pongamia glabra and Melia
azedarach, as eco-friendly anti-microbial agents against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae.

Seed production is a critical practice for ensuring the self sufficiency of good quality seeds to the farming
community, thereby to the nation. This study examined farmers’ overall knowledge of rice seed
productions and its success determinants using data collected from 180 rice seed producers across all the
three zones of Telangana state. The empirical analysis, based on binary logistic regression, identified the
success determinants of knowledge gain in rice seed production. The findings revealed that perceived
market orientation, mass media utilization, extension contact, and risk orientation were driving factors to
gain the knowledge on quality seed production in rice. However, majority of the farmers reported lacking
updates on seed supply under the programme. Limited technology choices and inablility to sell their
produced seed as seed in the market, leading them to sell it as grain for immediate cash flow for next crop
season. Furthermore, farmers indicated that absence of buy-back system for seed at farmer level in the
study area. Farmer-to-farmer selling of seed is hardly possible due to lack of trustworthiness among
farmers in study area. Thus, from a policy perspective, the findings suggest a shift toward demand-driven
extension services,rather than the existing supply driven approach, sucha drift would likelt enhance
Farmers’ satisfaction increase their involvment in seed production programmes, and utilmately improve
the knowledge of seed production techniques. To address the key challenges of the study such as limited
market access, lack of trust, and inadequate extension services, the study contributed by suggesting that
strengthening market orientation, fostering trust among farmers, and implementing demand-driven
extension services can enhance seed production knowledge, promoting long-term sustainability and self-
sufficiency.

The present study was undertaken to estimate the shelf life studies of quick cooking dhal (QCD)
developed from PJTSAU red gram dhal varieties i.e., TDRG-4, RGT-1 and WRG-122. The
storage stability of the dhals were studied by analyzing moisture, free fatty acids and peroxide
values for a period of 6 months (180 days) using standard procedures on 0 th day, 90 th day and
180 th day. All the three varieties of university i.e., TDRG – 4, RGT – 1 and WRG – 122 are
suitable for preparation of quick cooking dhal, a convenience product.

Farmers in rain-fed areas are highly vulnerable to the impact of climate change due to their
dependence on agriculture, therefore adoption of climate-smart interventions is important in these
areas. The technology demonstration component (TDC) of the National Innovations in Climate
Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project deals with demonstrating proven interventions for adaptation
of crop and livestock production systems to climate variability. It is therefore important to measure
the perception of farmers towards climate-smart interventions as it may affect the implementation
of the climate-smart interventions of technology demonstration component of the NICRA project.
The present study made an attempt to develop the scale to measure the farmers perception on
climate-smart agricultural interventions. The scale construction consisted of construct validity,
content validity and internal consistency reliability. To maximize the theoretical meaningfulness and
practical utility of the scale, the aspects of construct validity was considered at all stages of the scale
construction process. Relevancy weightage (RW) and mean relevancy score (MRS) was measured
to assess the relevancy of items on the scale. Factor analysis was done for psychometric evaluation.
Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) grouped the items into three key factors. In Confirmatory Factor
Analysis (CFA), factor structure of the model was used to confirm to relationship between items
and factors. Further, the Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) and Standardized
Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR) were used to assess the model fit. Cronbach alpha was used to
assess the reliability of the scale. A total of 26 items were retained. The scale developed was found
to be reliable and valid.

The effect of different nutrient management practices on microorganisms and soil enzyme activities in groundnut
rhizosphere was investigated in the present study. This research faced challenges such as variability in soil microbial
populations under different farming systems and the difficulty of isolating effective biocontrol agents. Despite these
challenges, the study provides significant contributions by identifying specific bacterial isolates with potential
antagonistic effects against foliar pathogens and offering insights into the efficacy of nutrient management practices.
The effect of different nutrient management practices on microorganisms and soil enzyme activities in groundnut
rhizosphere was investigated in the present study. Depending on the present farming trend, the microbial distribution
in soil practices with natural farming, organic farming, conventional farming and farmer’s practice was analyzed. A
total of twenty soil samples at different intervals were collected from different types of management practices under
groundnut at Zonal Agricultural and Horticultural Research Station (ZAHRS), Hiriyur, Karnataka, India.Three years
pooled data revealed that, Among the different nutrient management practices at harvest stage, the chemical farming
practice (RPP) showed higher number of bacteria, (42.07 x 10-5cfu g-1 soil), fungi (13.22 x 10-4cfu g-1 soil),
actinomycetes (8.07 x 10-3cfu g-1 soil) and beneficial organisms viz., Rhizobiumsp,Azotobactersp, PSB,
Pseudomonassp(11.16,12.08, 8.33 and 13.43 x 10-5cfu g-1 soil respectively) and Trichodermasp (2.25 x 10-4cfu g-1
soil).Similarly, soil enzyme activities viz., dehydrogenase (90.35 µg TPF g-1 soil day-1), Urease (35.65 µg NH4+ g-1
soil 2 hr-1) acid and alkali phosphatase (20.54 and 16.18 µg PNP g-1 soil) compared to other practices. A total of
thirty twobacterial isolates.e. eight isolates from each practice were selected based on their morphological and
biochemical characteristics and tested their antagonistic effect on groundnut foliar pathogen Alterneriaporri under in
vitro dual culture bioassay technique.Out of that, only seven isolates from different practices were inhibited foliar
pathogen Alterneriaporri. The maximum inhibition ofpathogen by NA-2 isolate from natural farming practices (47.02
%), followed by Azo-2 isolate from organic farming practice (46.30 %), NA-1 isolate from chemical farming
practices (41.11 %) and PSB -1 isolate from organic farming practice (40.74 %). These seven isolates were identified
at the species level based on the 16S rRNA gene. Molecular identification based on 16S rRNA gene revealed seven
species belonging to Pseudomonas, Serratia, Azotobacter, and Bacillus genus.

Pink boll worm, Pectinophora gossypiella became serious pest on BG II cotton hybrids globally
causing huge economic losses in cotton even during later stages of crop growth. Understanding the
genetic background and diversity of insect pests can aid in understanding their evolution in changing
environments, hence aiding in effecting their management in an agricultural ecosystem. In the present
investigation, the population genetic structure, distribution, and genetic diversity of  P.gossypiella  in
cotton growing zones of India using the partial mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase-I (COI) gene was
addressed. Results revealed a total of 9 haplotypes (17.64%) identified from 51 individual sequences
distributed in 16 populations belonging to different cotton growing zones of India. Diversity analysis of
COI sequences revealed low genetic diversity (0.000 to 0.01066), high haplotype diversity (0.800), low
nucleotide diversity (0.002), negative Tajima D (-0.670) values and high gene flow. This data on
population genetics indicate populations of pink bollworm are genetically similar and Hap5, as an
ancestral haplotype from which other haplotypes have evolved suggests that the migration and dispersal
over long distance and invasiveness are major factors.

The survey was undertaken in Western Uttar Pradesh during the year 2018, specifically focusing
on the two districts, Saharanpur and Muzaffarnagar, and two blocks from each district were
shortlisted on the basis of large numbers of sugarcane growers in terms of area and production.
The main purpose was to evaluate how well sugarcane growers understand IPM practices and
recognize the elements impacting IPM practice adoption. A random selection procedure was
used to carefully choose 240 sugarcane growers from 16 villages, with 15 respondents chosen
from each village. The selection of the villages was made randomly. The respondents were
approached directly to gather the research data. The findings indicated that a significant portion
of the respondents possessed knowledge of cultural methods viz., partially aware (55.97%), fully
aware (34.93%), and remaining were not aware followed by the mechanical method of pest
control. This study provides a useful way to enhance crop yields, leading to a higher economic
impact. One of the major challenges was that local farmers lacked awareness of IPM techniques,
making it challenging to obtain comprehensive data. There was considerable diversity in farming
practices throughout the region, creating inconsistencies in IPM adoption and complicating data
analysis and generalization. Awareness and effective execution of IPM strategies lead to
improved pest management programmes. Biological controls, resistance cultivars, and less
reliance on chemical pesticides are a few possible strategies. This investigation was regional
focused, mainly on Western Uttar Pradesh, a major sugarcane-producing state of India. The
geographical conditions offer a vision how local conditions impact the thoughtfulness and
adoption of IPM techniques. This study has made significant contributions by improving IPM
adoption among sugarcane farmers, bringing policy recommendations to the table along with
promoting and enhancing sustainable agriculture in Western UP.

This comprehensive review provides an in-depth exploration of sericulture, delving into
the biology of silkworms, the various species involved, and the cultivation techniques of
mulberry plants, which are crucial for silk production. It underscores the transformative impact
of nanotechnology in modernizing traditional sericulture by enhancing mulberry propagation,
optimizing feeding efficiency, and promoting silkworm growth, development, and survival. The
use of nanomaterials and nanofertilizers emerges as a promising strategy, significantly boosting
mulberry leaf yield, aiding in tissue repair within silkworms, and improving cocoon
characteristics, resulting in higher-quality silk fibers. Additionally, this study highlights the
therapeutic benefits of nanomaterials in combating silkworm diseases, demonstrating their
potential to strengthen immune responses and increase survival rates among infected
populations. It also emphasizes the importance of carefully regulating nanomaterial dosages to
prevent oxidative stress and potential cellular damage in silkworms. By championing green
nanotechnology's sustainable and eco-friendly methods, the review illustrates its potential to
reshape sericulture into a more environmentally responsible and economically feasible industry.
This study addresses the critical challenge of leveraging nanotechnology's potential in sericulture
by tackling its toxicity, environmental, and economic limitations. Lastly, the study calls for
ongoing research to better understand the ecological effects of nanotechnology, aiming to
enhance its advantages while minimizing any negative impact on the ecosystem and silk
production methods.

Agriculture, historically pivotal and stable, faces pressing challenges amidst global population
growth and dwindling natural resources. To meet these challenges sustainably, agriculture must
integrate social inclusion, health, climate resilience, and environmental stewardship into cohesive
strategies. Nanotechnology plays a crucial role here, with applications such as nanofertilizers,
nanopesticides, and nanosensors optimizing nutrient delivery, enhancing pest control, and
monitoring soil health. These advancements promise to mitigate the adverse impacts of
conventional agricultural practices, ensuring food security while promoting environmental
conservation. Nanotechnology is rapidly emerging as a crucial tool in modern agriculture, poised to
become a significant economic driver. This science manipulates materials at the nano-scale,
revolutionizing agricultural production, processing, storage, packaging, and transportation. By
employing novel chemical agents and delivery systems, nanotechnology enhances crop productivity
while reducing reliance on bulk agrochemicals, thus facilitating precision farming and addressing
challenges like weed management and environmental contamination. Nano-herbicides and metal
nanoparticles offer innovative solutions to persistent agricultural issues, demonstrating promising
results in improving crop yields and sustainability. In India, the widespread use of pesticides,
weedicides and fertilizers has raised environmental and health concerns, prompting the
development of nanopesticides, nano-herbicides, and nano-fertilizers. These nano-sized
formulations offer improved efficacy and reduced environmental impact compared to conventional
fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, though concerns persist about their long-term effects post-
application. Despite its potential, the adoption of nanotechnology in agriculture faces challenges,
including concerns over nanoparticle toxicity and regulatory frameworks. Additionally, the high
cost of nanomaterials, limited farmer awareness, and the need for specialized infrastructure pose
significant barriers to widespread implementation. Research efforts focus on understanding
nanoparticle interactions with plants at molecular levels, aiming to unlock their full potential in
enhancing crop resilience and productivity. However, further advancements are needed to bridge

the gap between laboratory research and practical field applications, ensuring responsible and
effective deployment of nanotechnologies in agriculture.

The primary fruit piercing moths of genus Eudocima and Rhytia cause havoc to many
fruit crops. The studies on morphometry of life stages and adult food preference of Eudocima
materna (Linnaeus, 1767) and Eudocima phalonia (Clerk) will help to investigate the vulnerable
stages of the life cycle to formulate the management practices. The studies were carried out in
the laboratory at room temperature of 25 0 C±2. The larvae of both species are fed with leaves of
Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy) where whereas adult feeds ripening fruits. Eggs hatching were
observed at night hours and in the early morning and hatching completes in 3.42±0.30 and
3.27±0.15 days respectively for E. materna and E. phalonia. In both species, five and six instars
were observed. The instarwise (5 instars) mean head capsule width of male larva of E. materna
measured 0.52±0.01, 0.95±0.02, 1.55±0.04, 2.62±0.14 and 4.23±0.03 mm, respectively and in
female it was 0.51±0.02, 0.96±0.04, 1.49±0.03, 2.37±0.05, 4.16±0.05 mm, whereas the male and
female larva with six instars recorded 0.51±0.01, 0.97±0.04, 1.51±0.06, 2.17±0.06, 2.89±0.05,
4.33±0.06 mm and 0.50±0.01, 0.96±0.03, 1.46±0.04, 2.23±0.09, 2.90±0.0 and 4.20±0.0 mm
respectively. Similarly, mean body length of the male larvae of E. materna had five and six
instars recorded 6.94, 12.16, 23.40, 43.70, 68.10 mm and 7.27, 10.32, 17.25, 25.75, 47.89, 74.86
mm, respectively. Likewise, the females having five and six instars measured 7.08, 13.62, 22.65,
40.75, 70.85 mm and 6.95, 11.0, 19.40, 26.6, 45.5, 72.0 mm, respectively. Increased larval
width was noticed from 4-6 larval instars in both the sexes of E. materna. The mean length of the
pupa developed from five and six instars ranged from 30.96 – 32.0 mm. The instarwise
(5 instars) mean head capsule width of the male and female larva of E. phalonia was 0.56, 1.09,
1.86, 2.97, 4.35 mm and 0.56, 1.14, 1.95, 3.12 and 4.44 mm, respectively whereas the larva
undergoing six instars were 0.55, 0.96, 1.63, 2.42, 3.69, 4.55 mm and 0.56, 0.96, 1.56, 2.53,
3.71, 4.67 mm, respectively. Similarly, the mean body length of male larvae had five instars was
6.72, 14.48, 27.14, 46.0 and 83.17 mm and in the female it was 6.57, 14.42, 26.15, 49.3, and
83.27 mm whereas in male and female larvae had six instars was 7.0, 13.6, 22.8, 33.14, 45.5,
82.33 mm and 6.73, 14.16, 25.06, 33.43, 46.5, 82.66 mm, respectively. As that of E. materna
increased larval width was noticed from 4-6 th instars. The mean length of the pupae ranged from
33.70–34.40 mm. The adult feeding preference in descending order during first and second
season of E. materna was guava > apple > mandarin > grapes > banana > tomato > pomegranate
> brinjal and guava > apple > grapes > mandarin > pomegranate > banana > tomato > brinjal
respectively whereas in E. phalonia its was guava > mandarin > apple > grapes > pomegranate >
tomato > banana > brinjal and guava > mandarin > apple > grapes > pomegranate > tomato >
banana > brinjal etc.