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<div style="text-align:left">Background: Parastromateus niger, is one of the important fish species from economic point of view in Gwadar, Balochistan-Pakistan. This study was carried out to determine the growth and fecundity of Parastromateus niger.</div>

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Methods: Growth of P. niger was determined by applying Le Cren formula while mean fecundity and relative fecundity of this fish was calculated by using equation of Yelden and Avsar.</div>

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Result: Relationship between fish weight and ovary weight was found as 0.384 and 0.898 respectively in 1st and 2nd year of research. Annual mean fecundity of P. niger was calculated as 43165.4 eggs with relative fecundity of 73.7 in 2017-18 and annual mean fecundity in 2018-19 was 39759.5 eggs with 50.2 relative fecundity. Value of R2 in first year of research between fecundity and ovary weight was 0.751, for mean fecundity and relative fecundity was 0.545, in term of fecundity and total length of fish was 0.60 and for fish total weight and fecundity was 0.596. Value of R2 between fecundity and weight of ovary was 0.951, with mean fecundity and relative fecundity as 0.968, between fish fecundity and total length was 0.578 and in case of fecundity and total body weight was found 0.809 in second year of research period.</div>
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Length-weight Relationship and Fecundity of Parastromateus niger from Gwadar Port Balochistan Province, Pakistan

<div style="text-align:justify">A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of dates of transplanting under different methods of cultivation on productivity of winter rice (Oryza sativa L.) and their effect on rice-niger (Guizotia abyssinica) relay system at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Shillongani Nagaon, Assam during kharif-rabi seasons in the year 2014-15 and 2015-16. &nbsp;Rice transplanted on 20 June recorded significantly higher yield attributes and grain yield of rice (59.19 q/ha) as compared to the later dates of transplanting, and it was followed by 5 July- transplanted rice. Transplanting on 20 June resulted in higher values in respect of yield attributes, yield of relayed niger, rice equivalent yield (REY) of rice- niger relay system (75.68 q/ha), NPK uptake by rice and niger as well as soil fungal and bacterial population after harvest of rice and niger. System of Rice Intensification (SRI) recorded significantly higher value of yield attributes and grain yield of rice (60.34q/ha) as compared to conventional method. In case of relayed niger, yield attributes, seed yield and REY were found higher under SRI method of rice cultivation. Under SRI method, higher uptake of NPK by rice and niger and higher soil fungal and bacterial populations after harvest of rice and niger were observed as compared to conventional method. However, conventional method of rice cultivation recorded significantly higher values of soil available N, P2O5 and K2O content at the end of two year-crop cycle over that of SRI.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Effect of dates and methods of winter rice (Oryza sativa L.) transplanting on relayed niger (Guizotia abyssinica) and soil health</div>

Background: Collar rot of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) caused by Aspergillus niger is a significant constraint in groundnut cultivation and responsible for huge economic losses in India including Rajasthan. 
 
Methods: By surveying of eight major groundnut growing districts of Rajasthan, India, one representative Aspergillus niger isolate from each district was established (ANBK-01= Bikaner, ANCH-02= Churu, ANDA-03= Dausa, ANJP-04= Jaipur, ANJL-05= Jalore, ANJD-06= Jodhpur, ANNG-07= Nagaur and ANSK-08= Sikar) for studying variability in the pathogen as well as to know the response of groundnut varieties to the highly virulent isolate. The colony and spore characteristics were observed for cultural and morphological variability. For resistance response to the disease, ten varieties (M-13, RG-633-9, RG-382, Girnar-2, RG-604, RG-578, Gajraj 10, RG-510, RG-632-1 and RG-644) were evaluated in the field for two consecutive years against a highly virulent Aspergillus niger (ANJP-04) isolate.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Our investigations cleared that all the isolates were showed cultural and morphological variability such as shape, colour and size of colony and size of conidia, conidiophores and columella. Isolate (ANJP-04) collected from Khejroli village of Chomu tehsil in Jaipur district showed maximum mycelial growth, conidia diameter, length and diameter of conidiophores and length and diameter of columella, early sporulation and found most virulent as it produced higher disease incidence (54.43%). Ten released varieties of groundnut in the field conditions, revealed that none of the variety was found completely free from the disease whereas RG-644, M-13 and RG-510 were found resistant while RG-604, Girnar-2, Gajraj-10 and RG-632-1 were found moderately resistant and rest were found susceptible to highly susceptible to the disease. Conclusively, it can be finalized that famers may cultivate these resistant varieties in areas where collar rot is a severe constraint. The conclusion of this study can also be utilized to screen varieties/genotypes of groundnut against highly virulent isolate for sustainability of breeding material to the disease effectively.

Variability and Virulence Analysis of Aspergillus niger Isolates Causing Collar Rot of Groundnut

Background: Aspergillus niger Van Tiegham is a filamentous, ubiquitous and cosmopolitan fungus, commonly known as &ldquo;black mould&rdquo; or black aspergilli. A. niger is responsible for causing diseases in plants, humans and animals. A. niger causes black mould disease during post-harvest stage of garlic bulbs. The potential of RAPD technique for identifying DNA marker related to the intraspecific diversification of the pathogen led us to instigate the genetic diversity within A. niger.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: A PCR-based technique, involving the random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD), was used for assessing genomic variability among the ten isolates of A. niger isolated from infected garlic bulbs. RAPD- PCR conditions were optimized for eight primers of series OPA and POC out of 40 total primers.&nbsp; 
 
Result: RAPD results were evaluated by a statistical software Minitab and a phylogenetic tree was prepared. The primer OPA-8, OPA-12, OPC-1, OPC-2, OPA-7 and OPC-18 showed 100 per cent polymorphism, among the A. niger isolates.

Molecular Characterization of Aspergillus niger Van Tieghem Isolates by Using Rapd Markers

<div>This study &nbsp;evaluated the nutritional and tannin contents of cooked Kepok banana corm, fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus niger. Corm meal was pretreated by steam for 1 hour at 102 0C before fermenting. The pretreated corms were inoculated with 10% (w/v) inoculum dose with additional nutrient mono-culture or co-culture. A completely randomized design with a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement was used to investigate two main factors: microbial strains and incubation time, with three subfactors each, resulting in nine treatment combinations and three replications. The microbial strain and incubation time significantly (P&lt;0.01) affected the nutrient content of fermented Kepok banana corms. The highest dry matter content (91.84%) was achieved by incubation with S. cerevisiae for 48 h, while 89.61% organic matter was obtained by fermentation with both S. cerevisiae + A. niger for 48 h. The highest crude protein content was 5.81%, which resulted from treatment with S. cerevisiae for 96 h, increasing the crude protein by 61% compared to the control (3.58% crude protein). Fermentation by the microbe consortium (S. cerevisiae + A. niger) for 72 h, produced maximum starch (35.54 g/100 g) and energy (3511 Kcal/kg) values. Thus, the fermented products are a potential source of energy, to be used as &nbsp;feed ingredients.</div>

<div>Evaluation of kepok banana corm fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus niger as feeds</div>

Fishes &nbsp;infected &nbsp;with &nbsp;Adenoscolex oreini appeared anemic &nbsp; and &nbsp;the &nbsp;abdomen viscera &nbsp;appeared &nbsp;red &nbsp;on &nbsp;opening &nbsp;the &nbsp;abdomen &nbsp;and &nbsp;the &nbsp;abdominal &nbsp;fluid &nbsp;was tinged &nbsp;red. &nbsp;On &nbsp;opening &nbsp;the &nbsp;intestine &nbsp;necrotic &nbsp;debris &nbsp;was &nbsp;present &nbsp;on &nbsp;the surface &nbsp;and numerous parasites were pesent. The histopathological alterations observed in the intestine of fish were (severe degenerative and necrotic changes in the intestinal mucosa as well as edema between submucosa and mucosa). In parasitized Schizothorax niger, hyperplasia of intestinal mucous cells and enhanced mucus secretion were also noticed. Cestode bodies were covered with an adherent mucus blanket. The &nbsp;analysis &nbsp;of &nbsp;the &nbsp;seasonal &nbsp;variation &nbsp;on &nbsp;the &nbsp;histological &nbsp;parameters leads &nbsp;to &nbsp;the &nbsp;conclusion &nbsp;that &nbsp;the distribution or the severity of the lesions observed &nbsp;in &nbsp;the &nbsp;these &nbsp;organs &nbsp;were &nbsp;not &nbsp;related &nbsp;to &nbsp;the &nbsp;seasons. Such &nbsp;information &nbsp;confirms &nbsp;that &nbsp;histopathological alterations &nbsp;are &nbsp;good &nbsp;biomarkers &nbsp;for &nbsp;field &nbsp;assessment, &nbsp;in &nbsp;particular &nbsp;in &nbsp;tropical areas &nbsp;that &nbsp;are &nbsp;naturally &nbsp;subject &nbsp;to &nbsp;a &nbsp;multiplicity &nbsp;of &nbsp;environmental &nbsp;variations. &nbsp;It &nbsp;must &nbsp;be &nbsp;emphasized &nbsp;that &nbsp;histopathology &nbsp;is &nbsp;able &nbsp;to &nbsp;evaluate &nbsp;the early &nbsp;effects &nbsp;and &nbsp;the &nbsp;responses &nbsp;to &nbsp;acute &nbsp;exposure &nbsp;to &nbsp;parasitic &nbsp;infections &nbsp;and chemical &nbsp;stressors.&nbsp;

Seasonal histopathological alterations caused by Adenoscolex oreini in Schizothorax niger of Kashmir valley

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Black mould rot of garlic caused by Aspergillus niger, is the most destructive disease in storage as well as in field conditions. The present investigation was carried out to evaluate bio-efficacy of antagonists and culture filtrates of Trichoderma spp., against black mould rot of garlic.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: For eco-friendly and effective management of black mold rot of garlic, eight antagonist and culture filtrates of&nbsp;six Trichoderma spp. were selected and screened by dual culture and poisoned food technique.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Among all the antagonistic fungus and bacteria, Trichoderma asperellum and its cultural filtrate were found effective.</div>

Bio-efficacy of Antagonists and its Culture Filtrates against Black Mould Rot [Aspergillus niger Van Tieghem] of Garlic (Allium sativum L.)

Background: Groundnut is an economically important edible oilseed crop. Groundnut suffers from seed, soil and foliar diseases. Among the groundnut diseases, collar rot is one of the economically important diseases. Collar rot is damaged regularly due to its seed and soil-borne nature. This disease is prevalent in almost all groundnut-growing states. Collar rot disease of groundnut is one of the most serious, destructive diseases and yield losses range from 13 to 52% and can be as high as 93.6% in some areas. Being mainly a soil-inhabiting pathogen, many environmental and soil factors are responsible for disease development. 
 
Methods: Field experiment was conducted for four years to find out effective control of collar rot of groundnut. Eight treatments including fungicides/bio agents along with control were laid in randomized block design with three replications. Efficacy of deep summer ploughing with mould board plough+Seed treatment with Tebuconazole followed by PGPR+Soil application of Trichoderma enriched in 250 kg FYM/ha at 35 and 80 DAS along with farmer practices as well as control was tested at ARS, Bikaner in RBD design during kharif season from 2017 to 2020 for management of collar rot diseases of groundnut.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The result of experiment revealed that deep summer ploughing with mould board plough+Soil application of Trichoderma @ 4 kg/ ha enriched in 250 kg FYM/ha+Seed treatment with Tebuconazole 2 DS @ 1.5 g/kg of seed followed by seed treatment with PGPR @ 625 g/ha of seed+Soil application of Trichoderma @ 4 kg/ha enriched in 250 kg FYM/ha at 35 and 80 DAS (T4) gave maximum germination (93.00%), minimum collar rot incidence (6.17%) and highest pod yield (4066.3 kg/ha) followed by deep summer ploughing with mould board plough+Seed treatment with Tebuconazole 2DS 1.5 g/kg seed followed by PGPR @ 625 g/ha of seed+Soil application of Trichoderma @ 4 kg/ ha enriched in 250 kg FYM/ha at 35 and 80 DAS (T1) where germination (89.30%), collar rot (7.04%) and with pod yield (3661.9 kg/ha). All the treatment significantly were superior as compared to control, where minimum germination (82.00), maximum collar rot incidence (15.59 %) and minimum pod yield (2125.1 kg/ha) were recorded. As regard to ICBR, in different treatments, maximum ICBR ratio (1:20.68) was recorded in treatment consisting (T4): Deep summer ploughing with mould board plough+Seed treatment with Tebuconazole 1.5 g/kg seeds+Soil application of Trichoderma @ 4 kg/ha enriched in 250 kg FYM/ha at 35 and 80 DAS followed by treatment (T1).

Management of Collar Rot Disease in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Caused by Aspergillus niger in Rajasthan Through Bio-control Agents

<div>Background: Aspergillus niger and A. flavus cause rotting, damping-off, loss in germination and toxification of oil seeds. Aspergillus is a common mold in tropical and Sub-tropical countries and causes aflatoxin contamination. A. flavus and A. niger were responsible for storage rot of groundnut. In addition to storage rot, aflatoxin contamination also leads to adverse effects on consumer health. Therefore, present study was conducted to estimate the impact of both A. niger and A. flavus on seed quality parameters of groundnut. 
 
Methods: Effect of major seed borne fungi A.niger and A. flavus on seed quality characters of thirteen different genotypes of groundnut was observed in the present study. All the seedling quality characters were measured as per ISTA guidelines.&nbsp; 
 
Result: On an average A. niger caused 25.14, 25.18, 43.99, 26.20 and 44.75 per cent reduction in seed germination, seedling length, seedling vigour index I, seedling dry weight and seedling vigour index II, respectively, over the control whereas A. flavus caused average per cent reduction of 22.38, 24.23, 41.18, 23.92 and 40.95 in seed germination, seedling length, seedling vigour index I, seedling dry weight and seedling vigour index II, respectively, over the control.</div>

Effect of Aspergillus spp. on Seed Quality Characters of Groundnut

<div>Background: This study hypothesizes that specific environmental conditions-particularly moisture and nutrient levels significantly influence the production of aflatoxins in Aspergillus niger isolated from paddy crops. Aflatoxins are toxic secondary metabolites with serious implications for food safety, especially in improperly stored grains. Understanding the metabolic responses of A. niger under such stress conditions is essential for designing effective storage and post-harvest management strategies. 
 
Methods: The dominant fungal strain, designated as Monika AN-03, was isolated from infected rice grains collected from local storage warehouses. The strain was identified at the species level as Aspergillus niger through 18S rRNA gene sequencing and the sequence was submitted to NCBI under accession number OR083359. Morphological characteristics of the strain were studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to confirm conidial structure. To analyze the metabolic profile, the strain was cultured under nutrient-rich conditions and metabolite extraction was carried out. Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) was employed to detect and quantify secondary metabolites, particularly aflatoxins. 
 
Result: The LC-MS analysis revealed distinct peaks corresponding to aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2, confirming the ability of A. niger strain AN-03 to produce mycotoxins under conducive environmental conditions. These findings highlight the strain&rsquo;s pathogenic potential and raise concerns about fungal contamination in storage environments. The data suggest that environmental stressors can activate specific metabolic pathways responsible for toxin biosynthesis, underlining the necessity for effective monitoring and environmentally sustainable control strategies in post-harvest grain management.</div>