Tomato leaf curl virus (TLCV) is one of the most devastating and widely distributed viruses in the tomato crop, transmitted through whitefly in nature. Disease incidence and severity of TLCV were monitored on four tomato varieties/lines. Tomato leaf curl disease was managed through three non-chemical treatments viz., compost, nutrient enrich compost and multi-nutrients. The incidence of TLCV was found in the range of 57% to 70%. Among all the tomato varieties/lines, VRI-49 was moderately resistant, Nagina and Money Maker were susceptible, and VRI-20 was found to be highly susceptible against TLCV. Compost (44.02±3.26c) was the most effective way to suppress the progression of disease severity. Environmental factors (Max. and Min. temperatures, Relative humidity and Rainfall) showed significant correlation with disease development. Treatments were able to suppress the disease development even in the presence of favorable environmental conditions. The increase in relative humidity increased the disease progression significantly.

The cocoa crop (Theobroma cacao L.) is known to be a host for several badnaviruses, some of which cause severe disease, while others are asymptomatic. Recently, the first preliminary evidence has been published concerning the occurrence of a polerovirus in cacao. We report here the first near-complete genome sequence of cacao polerovirus (CaPV) by combining bioinformatic searches of cacao transcript databases, with cloning from the infected germplasm. The reported novel genome has all the genome features known for poleroviruses from other species. Pairwise identity analyses of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and coat protein indicates < 60% similarity of CaPV with any reported poleroviruses; hence, we propose that the polerovirus isolate reported in this study is a novel polerovirus. The genome sequence information was also used to develop a multiplex RT-PCR assay, which was applied to screen a selected range of germplasms and to identify several infected clones. Although there is no evidence that this virus causes any severe disease, this new information, together with a robust diagnostic assay, are of strategic importance in developing protocols for the safe international transfer of cacao germplasms.

A great variable response was observed when PP-3 and PP-J encumbered with 116 populations of root knot nematode (RKN) at two different temperatures (25 ± 2°C and 30 ± 2°C) and concentrations (104 and 105 spores/ml). The PCR reaction amplified intergenic region between cytochrome oxidase subunit II gene (COII) and large subunit of rRNA gene (lrRNA) of the mitochondrial genome of different RKN species. The primer C2F3 and 1108 identified M. incognita with the highest frequency (52.6%) followed by M. javanica (36.8%) and M. arenaria (10.5%). The sizes of PCR products were 1.7 kb for M. incognita and M. javanica populations while populations of M. arenaria produced 1.1 kb fragment. The digestion with Hinf I yielded three different fragment length patterns on 1.5 % agarose gel. From current research it is concluded that intra-Meloidogyne genetic variability exist in RKN populations which have better encumbrance with P. penetrans.

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is an important annual oilseed crop in Asian countries. In August of 2017 and 2018, mature sesame plants (cv. TS-5) were found wilting in a field of the Ayub Agricultura...

| Millions of dollars have been spent annually on quarantines, prevention, eradication and management programs around the globe. The present study was coined to record the incidence of the disease in the Sargodha districts of the Punjab province. Furthermore, isolated bacterium from diseased samples was characterized morphologically and molecularly. The relative efficacy of commercially available antibiotics against the pathogen was evaluated in the lab and in field conditions. A systematic survey of randomly ten localities/sampling sites was conducted for a reliable estimation of citrus canker disease in District Sargodha of Punjab Province. Nine sampling sites showed 90 % the presence of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri and only one site was free of citrus canker disease. Total cellular DNA was isolated from freshly growing aqueous bacterial culture using CTAB protocol with modifications. Amplification of 581bp fragment from isolated DNA from bacterial isolates confirmed the presence of pathogen i.e. X. axonopodis pv . citri . The amplified PCR product was purified and further confirmed by sequencing which showed 100% similarity with 40 nucleotide sequences of X. axonopodis pv. citri submitted in NCBI. Relative efficacy of six antibiotics (Streptomycin sulphate, Oxytetracycline, Cefalexin, Kasugamycin, Kanamycin and Levofloxacin USP) against colony growth of X. axonopodis pv. citri was evaluated at 50, 100 and 150 ppm using disc sensitivity technique. Streptomycin sulphate was found most effective to inhibit the colony growth of the bacterium. Streptomycin sulphate and Oxytetracycline were evaluated against the disease in field conditions. Streptomycin sulphate was found relatively most effective as compared to the Oxytetracycline.