Colchicum luteum is currently a rare and threatened medicinal plant species in the Kashmir Himalaya. Due to the subsequent increase in anthropogenic pressure on medicinal plant species, it is imperative to understand the phytosociological and conservational status of the plant in its natural habitat. The objectives of this study were analysed in year 2018–2019 on the phytosociological data, viz. density, frequency, and abundance, as well as the rhizospheric soil microbial diversity of C. luteum in disturbed and undisturbed areas of the Kashmir Himalaya. We examined the distribution pattern, phytosociological data, and conservation status of C. luteum by analysing ecological features like abundance, frequency, and density in all three selected locations in Kashmir, Northern India and were found maximum values at Undisturbed areas. The highest values of density (3.24 ± 0.69 m²), frequency (57.77 ± 13.55%), and abundance (5.49 m²) were recorded at undisturbed site Harwan. The total bacterial count (CFU) and Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM) spore population from the rhizospheric soil of C. luteum were also analysed, with higher bacterial count i.e., Pseudomonas, Azatobacter, Rhizobium and PSB were (26.2 ± 0.648) (21.88 ± 0.675) (30.11 ± 0.576) and (14.11 ± 0.671) and VAM spore population (g⁻¹) of soil recorded 6.36 ± 0.550 at undisturbed areas viz. Harwan. The bacteria and fungi are likely keystone organisms that form an interface between soils and plant roots. Mutualistic associations with host plants have been observed in various natural and agricultural ecosystems. The present findings could be helpful in formulating conservation strategies for C. Luteum threatened and endangered medicinal plant present in North western Himalayan regions. The plant in disturbed areas that are affected by anthropogenic activities like tourism, grazing, deforestation, urbanization, transport etc. impacts on phytosociological and soil microbial patterns in the area. Because of these abiotic pressures, causes a reduction in plant cover in forest regions, soils become exposed, affecting soil microbial health. Therefore, the study shows the necessity for best practices for medicinal plant and forest management that provide effective monitoring and regulation of human activities in the offshore forest regions and avoid the intrusion of existing reserves.

The large genetic evolution due to the sexual reproduction-mediated gene assortments and propensities has made Venturia inaequalis (causing apple scab) unique with respect to its management strategies. The resistance in apple germplasm against the scab, being controlled for by more than fifteen genes, has limited gene alteration-based investigations. Therefore, a biological approach of bacterial endophyte community dynamics was envisioned across the apple germplasm in context to the fungistatic behavior against V. inaequalis. A total of 155 colonies of bacterial endophytes were isolated from various plant parts of the apple, comprising 19 varieties, and after screening for antifungal behavior followed by morphological, ARDRA, and sequence analysis, a total of 71 isolates were selected for this study. The alpha diversity indices were seen to fluctuate greatly among the isolation samples in context to microflora with antifungal behavior. As all the isolates were screened for the presence of various metabolites and some relevant genes that directly or indirectly influence the fungistatic behavior of the isolated microflora, a huge variation among the isolated microflora was observed. The outstanding isolates showing highest percentage growth inhibition of V. inaequalis were exploited to raise a bio-formulation, which was tested against the scab prevalence in eight apple varieties under controlled growth conditions. The formulation at all the concentrations caused considerable reductions in both the disease severity and disease incidence in all the tested apple varieties. Red Delicious being most important cultivar of the northwestern Himalayas was further investigated for its biochemical behavior in formulation and the investigation revealed different levels of enzyme production, chlorophyll, and sugars against the non-inoculated control.