<div style="text-align: justify;">Anthracnose of green gram caused by Colletotrichum truncatum (Schwein.) Andrus &amp; W.D. Moore occurs severely in Indo- gangetic plains every year. Experiment was conducted for two consecutive years (2013 and 2014) to assess yield losses to develop yield loss models. The linear regression models were developed by two parameters i. e. percent yield loss and avoidable yield loss as dependant variable and area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) as independent variable. The two years pooled mean revealed that a drop of 0.3 to 0.33 qha-1 in pod yield and a drop of 0.16 to 0.20% in avoidable yield loss of pod yield due to every 1% increase in AUDPC. Three sprays of Propiconazole 25 EC (0.1%) at 10 days interval beginning from 20 days after sowing resulted in lowest anthracnose under moderate disease pressure and four sprays for high disease pressure resulted in highest pod yield of 5.17q/ha and 5.08q/ha respectively. Highest avoidable losses of pod yield and percent yield loss over potential yield due to anthracnose were 48.82% and 3.55% for three sprays and 49.74% and 1.77% for four sprays respectively. The result also showed that three sprays of fungicide (Propiconazole 25 EC @ 0.1%) resulted in minimizing the disease and maximizing the profit by high benefit cost ratio (B:C) ratio.</div>

Measuring and assessing the yield loss and yield loss model of green gram due to Anthracnose of green gram (Vigna radiata)

<div>Background: The present study is region specific carried out to see the relation of bean anthracnose with weather in Kashmir and also to assess the yield loss in bean vis-&agrave;-vis anthracnose. Such studies form basis for deciding disease suppressive crop geometry and also sowing date alterations besides helping in disease predictions. The yield loss study in particular reveals the importance of a disease before any management strategies are worked out. 
 
Methods: Epidemiology was conducted under natural epiphytotic conditions using a susceptible bean cv. Shalimar Rajmash-1 for recording disease development at weekly intervals. Yield loss assessment was also recorded on Shalimar Rajmash-1 where different disease levels were created by inoculating at different phonological stages after maturity the crop stand disease free. 
 
Conclusion: During cropping season, the incidence and intensity of bean anthracnose developed to the extent of 77.06 and 54.51 per cent, when average temperature, average RH and weekly rain fall ranged from 16.6-23.8oC, 62.2-76.5 per cent and 1.7-48.2 mm, respectively. However, the highest periodic increase in disease incidence (12.62%) was recorded during 24th standard metrological week which coincided with highest rain fall and the increase in periodic disease intensity was higher (&gt; 10%) when RH was above 70 per cent. The yield loss in bean vis-a-vis variable levels of disease as created by inoculating different unit population of bean plants at different phenological stages revealed significant and positive correlation of bean anthracnose and yield loss. Highest yield loss (68.42%) was recorded in populations where the disease started at 1st trifoliate stage which then reached maximum intensity of 81.09 per cent at physiological maturity. The terminal disease intensity in population where disease started at pod filling was significantly low (18.59%) and caused least yield loss of 10.95 per cent. The study reveals that bean anthracnose caused significant yield loss when it appeared at any stage upto flowering.</div>

Bean Anthracnose (Colletotrichum lindemuthianum) in Kashmir: Epidemiology and Yield Loss Assessment

Six genotypes viz., Palam Basmati-1, Palam Red Rice, HPR 1068, Arize 6129, HPR 2143 and Kasturi Basmati were evaluated to assess the crop/ yield losses by paddy leaf folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis at CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvidyalaya, Rice and Wheat Research Centre, Malan, during Kharif 2012. The leaf infestation (47.1%) at maturity stage was significantly lower in HPR 2143 as compared to other varieties. However, Kasturi Basmati was having significantly higher leaf infestation (77.2%) as compared to Arize 6129 (59.2%), HPR 1068 (57.7%), Palam Red Rice (57.0%) and HPR 2143 (47.1%) and was found at par with Palam Basmati-1 (73.3%).Yield data revealed that the grain yield was higher in protected plots as compared to unprotected plots irrespective of the varieties. The highest grain yield was recorded in protected plots of Arize 6129 (76.45 q/ha) followed by Kasturi Basmati (59.07 q/ha), HPR 1068 (57.15 q/ha), Palam Basmati-1 (56.52 q/ha), HPR 2143 (52.84 q/ha) and Palam Red Rice (46.22 q/ha). The grain yield varied from 35.26 to 53.40 q/ha in the unprotected plots. Assessment of yield losses revealed that the maximum per cent avoidable losses was found in Kasturi Basmati (37.9%) and least in HPR 2143 (11.9%).&nbsp;

Assessment of yield losses of rice caused by paddy&nbsp;leaf folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Guenee

<div>Background: Soybean anthracnose is currently a severe threat to India&rsquo;s soybean cultivation. There is limited information about estimated yield loss due to anthracnose and foliar fungicide application for its management. 
 
Methods: A novel fungicide, Picoxystrobin 7.05 per cent + Propiconazole 11.71 per cent (w/w) was evaluated for two consecutive years (2018 and 2019) in three different concentrations as a foliar application in combination with commercially available fungicides as standard checks to identify an alternative fungicide for management of soybean anthracnose disease. The yield loss was estimated from the data observed for two years in a row. 
 
Result: After three foliar applications of the novel fungicide, Picoxystrobin 7.05 per cent + Propiconazole 11.71 per cent w/w @ 0.20 per cent, the maximum disease control (PDC), the lowest disease index (PDI) and the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) were obtained. The maximum gross return was obtained following three foliar applications of Picoxystrobin 22.52 per cent (w/w) SC @ 0.08 per cent, but the maximum B:C ratio was estimated with foliar application of Hexaconazole 5.00 per cent EC @ 0.100 per cent. Anthracnose severity was found to be negatively correlated with soybean grain yield (r = -0.91). In every 1% increase in anthracnose disease severity reduced soybean yield by 115 kg per hectare.</div>

Evaluation of Novel Fungicide for the Management of Soybean Anthracnose Disease and Yield Loss Estimation

<div>Background: Aerial blight (Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn) and Anthracnose/pod blight (Colletotrichum truncatum) are important soybean diseases, affect most of the present varieties with varying intensity, in India. There are also few reports of resistance against both the diseases.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: To identify resistance, a set of 121 diverse soybean genotypes including six susceptible checks i.e. JS 93-05, JS 335, JS 72-280, Punjab 1, RKS 18 and VLS 58 were evaluated under high disease pressure field conditions during 2017, 2018 and 2019. Moreover, assessment of yield losses due to these diseases were also worked out in highly infected plants of susceptible checks. 
 
Result: It was observed that aerial blight (0.0-46.8 per cent) and anthracnose/pod blight (0.0-56.2 per cent) were affected soybean genotypes from R1 to R7 and V3 to R7 stages, respectively. The genotypes responded differently and showed absolute resistance to susceptible reaction. Out of 121 genotypes, only five genotypes i.e. JS 20-57, JSM 222, MACS 1407, PS 1611 and Cat 2126 B were found to be highly resistant against both the diseases. Per cent pod and yield losses were significantly correlated with varying severity of aerial blight (0.966** and 0.995**) and anthracnose/pod blight (0.957** and 0.995**), respectively. However, the highest yield loss of 41.0 and 64.8 per cent were recorded on 55.6 and 75.2 per cent disease index (at 90 days) of aerial blight and anthracnose/pod blight, respectively.</div>

<div>Identification of Sources of Resistance and Yield Loss Assessment for Aerial Blight and Anthracnose/Pod Blight Diseases in Soybean</div>

Background: Collar rot (CR) of chickpea instigated by Sclerotium rolfsii (Sacc.) is one of the most prevalent soil-borne pathogens and identified as one of the major production constraints in chickpea worldwide. Potential threat exerted by the pathogen is greatly influenced by soil moisture condition (SMC) and soil temperature (ST), which play a substantial role towards the development of host-pathogen dynamics and bring about havoc yield loss. This study was aimed to enumerate the role of soil temperature and soil moisture in the establishment of CR symptoms in chickpea under controlled environment as well as to determine the relationship between disease severity and yield loss. 
 
Methods: All the experiments were carried out at the Department of Plant Pathology, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (BCKV), Mohanpur, Nadia. One of the most popular chickpea variety Anuradha was used for two consecutive years (2018-19 and 2019-20) of experiment in the present study. This variety showed a moderately susceptible reaction against CR under natural epiphytotic conditions. 
 
Result: The result revealed ST being 25 to 30&deg;C and SM level of 80% is optimal for establishing CR incidence in chickpea. Correlation determined between disease severity and yield loss unveiled loss in yield could be from 0.13 q ha-1 with every 1% increase in disease severity.&nbsp;

Impact of Soil Moisture and Temperature on the Epidemiology of Collar Rot of Chickpea Caused by Sclerotium rolfsii (Sacc.) and Assessment of Yield Loss

<div>Background: Root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita is one of the main biotic constraints in reducing the quantity and quality of the cowpea crop in most of the growing areas of the world. The nematode produces galls on roots and disrupt the physiology of the plant by reducing crop yield and product quality and are therefore of great economic importance. 
 
Methods: Studies were conducted to estimate the yield loss of cowpea in field condition along with evaluation of few genotypes under net house condition against root knot nematode based on gall index, reaction response and number of egg masses/ 5 g of root at Directorate of Research, BCKV, West Bengal. Estimation of cowpea yield loss was conducted with the parameter of mean yield, percentage avoidable and increase in yield, Root Knot Index (RKI in 1-5 scale) and final nematode population reduction.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Under treated condition, cowpea yield was significantly increased ranging from 10.93 to 14.58% with 37.19 to 38.17% reduction of nematode population. The range of avoidable yield loss was 9.85 to 12.72%. In response reaction, 28 genotypes were found as moderately resistant. Local cowpea cultivar, Kashikanchan may be avoided at nematode infection area due to its high susceptibility and the moderately resistant genotypes may be suggested for the use in future breeding studies as a parental material to develop the root knot nematode resistant cultivars.</div>

<div>Estimation of Yield Loss of Cowpea, [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] with Reaction Response of Few Genotypes against Root Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White), Chitwood</div>

<div>Background: Weed populations reduce crop yields by influencing the pattern of crop growth and development throughout the season and by directly competing with the crop for limiting precious resources, like light, water or nutrients. A number of the factors that influence magnitude of crop yield losses from weed interference include the timing of weed emergence relative to the crop, weed density, pattern of weed growth and development. Weed management is one among the foremost critical factors influencing crop yield. By providing a window of weed-free growth early within the season, the size advantage that crop seedlings have over weeds can be utilized to reduce the intensity of direct competition for resources at the stages of crop development when yield is being determined. Weeds are identified as a significance drawback since they create biotic stress in realizing the genetic yield potential of this valuable crop. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was carried out during the rabi season of 2010-11 to 2014-15 at ICAR- National Research Centre on Seed Spices, Ajmer, Rajasthan to estimate the yield losses because of weed infestation and to work out the critical period for weed control (CPWC) in fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.). There were 14 treatments comprising of initial weedy periods of 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 days after sowing (DAS) and weed free period upto 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 DAS along with weedy till harvest (un-weeded check) and weed free till harvest (weed free check). The treatments were replicated three times in a randomized block design. 
 
Result: Maximum pod length (cm), number of pods/plant, number of seed/pod, test weight (g), seed yield (kg/ha), straw yield (kg/ha) and harvesting index (%) to the tune of 9.47, 41.2, 16.67, 12.60, 2297, 4954 and 31.73 were recorded at weed free throughout growth period. Weed infestation up to 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 DAS and weedy throughout growth period reduced the seed yield significantly to the magnitude of 567.3, 801.7, 913.3, 1253.3, 1393.7 and 1736.3 kg/ha. Yield losses in fenugreek increase from 2.95 kg/ha/day at 15 days weed infestation to 12.31 kg/ha/day at 135 days weed infestation. Maximum gross return (`104248/ha), net return (`67018/ha) were obtained at weed free throughout growth period with the B:C ratio 2.80 among the weed free treatments. The employment of response curves with weed free or weed competition period showed that seed yield of fenugreek&nbsp;were&nbsp;the highest with the field&nbsp;free&nbsp;from weeds throughout the growth period and the critical period of weed/fenugreek competition was 32 days after sowing and lies between 30-45 days after sowing. In regression approach for fenugreek seed yield and weed free or weed competition period the quadratic function was fitted to estimate the expected yields which had the high significant with the data recorded and have the highest values of R2. If we predict the seed yield losses based on the quadratic model for weed free period model, it declined from 42.04 at 0 DAS to 0.0% at 135 days. Similarly, weed infestation period model predicted the seed yield losses increased from 0.00 at 0 days weed infestation to 73.42% at 135 days. Critical period for weed competition in fenugreek was found to be 32 days after sowing. The CPWC is helpful for making decisions on the necessity for and timing of weed control.</div>

<div>Yield Losses Due to Weeds, Critical Period for Weed-crop Competition in Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)&nbsp;</div>

<div>Background: Soybean leaf blight has been viewed as a possible biotic stress responsible for decreasing yield potential of soybean in Kashmir over the years. Therefore, its etiology and recording associated yield loss were deemed necessary corresponding to baseline findings for deciding any chemical or non-chemical intervention in disease management.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Field and laboratory investigations were undertaken during crop periods of 2019 and 2020. Disease specimens were collected from various locations across valley and the pathogen was isolated on Potato Dextrose Agar medium. To identify the host range of soybean isolate, nine pulse crops were tested under controlled conditions (Tem. 22&plusmn;3&deg;C and RH&gt;80%). The relative yield loss and critical stage of chemical intervention were assessed by exposing soybean populations to disease at different phenological stages which created five different levels of disease in a field experiment laid in RBD with four replications. 
 
Result: Phoma sojicola (syn. Ascochyta sojicola) was associated pathogen of this disease of soybean in Kashmir. Typical disease symptoms on leaves comprised of roughly circular and brown lesions (up to 20 mm diameter) with concentric rings having interspersed pycnidia. Most often the diseased tissue fall apart and gives it a shot hole expression. Radial daily mycelial growth of the pathogen was 3.62 mm colony was grey olivaceous in the centre and light olivaceous towards periphery. Conidia were hyaline, oblong to ellipsoidal and 1-2 celled with average dimensions of 7.98 x 2.87 &micro;. Chlamydospores were brown olivaceous, globose to sub-globose with average dimensions of 16.89 x 9.30 &micro;. After artificial inoculation, Phaseolus vulgaris, Vigna sinensis, V. radiata, V. mungo, Cicer arietinum, Vicia faba and Cajanus cajan manifested disease symptoms after variable incubation periods of 8-13 days, while as Lens esculenta and Pisum sativum resisted the invasion. Early appearance of the Phoma blight (V-1 stage) in soybean can reach a terminal intensity of 67.16 per cent besides causing 51.72 per cent yield loss. Tolerable yield loss (5.63%) was achieved only when the crop was maintained disease free up to R-3 (beginning pod development) stage.</div>

​Phoma Blight of Soybean in Kashmir: Etiology, Relative Yield Losses and Critical Stage of Management Intervention

Background: Cowpea crop suffer from various stresses, both biological and environmental, that reduce their quality and yield, leading to significant economic losses. Stem and root rot caused by Macrophomina phaseolina is a major root disease responsible for yield losses of 50-55 per cent. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: A study was conducted by the Department of Plant Pathology, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad, Karnataka, India, during the rabi season of 2022-23 to assess the impact of Macrophomina phaseolina infection on cowpea yield in split plot design. Ten released cowpea genotypes (C 152, DC 15, DC 16, DCS 47-1, KBC 11, KBC 9, KM 5, PKB 6, PKB 4, IT 38956-1) were grown in plots that were both inoculated and uninoculated with M. phaseolina. 
&nbsp; 
Result: The disease caused an estimated grain yield loss of 19.64 - 43.74 per cent in all the genotypes. The moderately resistant genotype KBC 9 had the lowest grain yield loss (19.64%), while the farmer preferred genotype C 152 was susceptible to the root rot disease and had high yield loss of up to 43.74 per cent. among the genotypes, KBC 9 showed the highest reduction in stem and root rot incidence (78.22%), followed by IT 38956-1 (77.68%) while C 152 had the lowest root rot reduction (70.34%) when compared to pathogen inoculated plots. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of different yield parameters of cowpea genotypes shows that, first four components (PC-1 to PC-4) with Eigen values of 4.16, 1.47, 1.29 and 1.14, collectively explained 89.82 per cent of the total variance. PC-1 (46.32% variability) was primarily influenced by the number of pods per plant, root length, root nodules per plant and plant height. Seed yield was significantly (p&le;0.05) and strongly correlated to number of root nodules per plant (r=0.50) and root length (r=0.49).

Measuring and assessing the yield loss and yield loss model of green gram due to Anthracnose of green gram (Vigna radiata)

Bean Anthracnose (Colletotrichum lindemuthianum) in Kashmir: Epidemiology and Yield Loss Assessment

Assessment of yield losses of rice caused by paddy leaf folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Guenee

Evaluation of Novel Fungicide for the Management of Soybean Anthracnose Disease and Yield Loss Estimation

Identification of Sources of Resistance and Yield Loss Assessment for Aerial Blight and Anthracnose/Pod Blight Diseases in Soybean

Impact of Soil Moisture and Temperature on the Epidemiology of Collar Rot of Chickpea Caused by Sclerotium rolfsii (Sacc.) and Assessment of Yield Loss

Estimation of Yield Loss of Cowpea, [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] with Reaction Response of Few Genotypes against Root Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White), Chitwood

Yield Losses Due to Weeds, Critical Period for Weed-crop Competition in Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)

Phoma Blight of Soybean in Kashmir: Etiology, Relative Yield Losses and Critical Stage of Management Intervention

Yield Loss Assessment in Cowpea Genotypes due to Stem and Root Rot Caused by Macrophomina phaseolina