Plants, being sessile, are continuously exposed to varietal environmental stressors, which consequently induce various bio-physiological changes in plants that hinder their growth and development. Oxidative stress is one of the undesirable consequences in plants triggered due to imbalance in their antioxidant defense system. Biochemical studies suggest that nanoparticles are known to affect the antioxidant system, photosynthesis, and DNA expression in plants. In addition, they are known to boost the capacity of antioxidant systems, thereby contributing to the tolerance of plants to oxidative stress. This review study attempts to present the overview of the role of nanoparticles in plant growth and development, especially emphasizing their role as antioxidants. Furthermore, the review delves into the intricate connections between nanoparticles and plant signaling pathways, highlighting their influence on gene expression and stress-responsive mechanisms. Finally, the implications of nanoparticle-assisted antioxidant strategies in sustainable agriculture, considering their potential to enhance crop yield, stress tolerance, and overall plant resilience, are discussed.

The existing resistance genes against white rust disease are often ineffective due to racial variation of the causal fungal pathogen, Albugo candida. Therefore, new sources of resistance effective against multiple races are needed for durable resistance. Large-scale phenotyping of advanced introgressed (ILs), mutant, and resynthesized (RBJ) lines of Brassica juncea L., under artificial inoculation at cotyledonary and true leaf stages, against thirteen diverse isolates of Albugo candida and simultaneously at the adult plant stage under multi-location field evaluation from 2019–2022, revealed significant differences in white rust reactions. Amongst 194 introgressed lines, three lines, namely ERJ 39, ERJ 12, and ERJ 15, and three lines among 90 resynthesized and 9 mutant lines, including RBJ 18, DRMR 18-36-12, and DRMR 18-37-13, were identified as potential sources of resistance against multiple isolates at all three developmental stages of the plant. Furthermore, correlation and principal component analysis revealed a positive correlation between white rust resistance at true leaf and adult plant stages for ILs as well as mutant and RBJ lines. These novel sources of host resistance will play vital roles are required for the mustard improvement program and to establish a strong genetic and molecular foundation for identifying white rust resistance linked marker(s), QTLs, or gene(s) for sustainable disease management in India.

Root and stem rot disease is a serious problem for papaya cultivation in the Gangetic plains of India. Typical symptoms were observed during 2014-16 from Bihar, India at flowering and fruiting time in March and April with the incidence up to 40-50% (Gupta and Choudhary, 2015). Symptoms appeared as yellowing and drooping of leaves along with browning and rotting of roots which often extended up to the trunk. Isolations were made from blackened roots and stems on potato dextrose agar and further purified by single spore isolation method. Two isolates PFS01 and PFS02 were grown on PDA and morphologically characterized. Hyphae were branched, septate and produced monophialides. Macroconidia were slightly curved with pointed apex, 2 to 4 septa, measuring 17.8 to 24.7 (avg. 21.2) X 3.3 to 4.2 (avg. 3.7) µm (n = 40). Microconidia were ellipsoid in shape with rounded ends, 0 to 2 septa, measuring 3.8 to 4.6 (avg. 4.2) X 2.2 to 2.5 (avg. 2.3) µm (n = 40). The fungus produced both thick-walled intercalary and termin...

Bakanae disease caused by Fusarium fujikuroi is emerging in India. In this work, fungicides and biocontrol agents were evaluated as seed, seedling treatment, and foliar spray(s) against bakanae disease in rice under field conditions. Carbendazim (50% WP) was found to be the most effective fungicide for seed and seedling root dip treatments. Soil drenching with 0.25% carbendazim (50% WP) 5 days before transplanting of seedlings was effective for large scale treatments. Foliar spray of 0.1% tebuconazole 50%+ trifloxystrobin 25% w/w (75 WG) significantly reduced the percentage of infected seeds (7.17%) compared with the control (32.50%). The minimum disease incidence (31%) was observed when seeds were treated with Talaromyces flavus. Individual treatments were integrated in the form of six management modules and evaluated under the field conditions of New Delhi (India) and Pusa Bihar (India) with the susceptible cultivars ‘Pusa Basmati 1121’ and ‘Pusa 1176’. Bakanae disease incidence was lower in the modules tested compared with the inoculated control or the individual treatment. The most favorable results at two locations achieved the lowest disease incidence of 7% and 2.41%.

High incidence of stem rot in rice (Oryza sativa L.) caused by Sclerotium hydrophilum was observed in Eastern Gangetic plains of India including eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar states in rice-wheat...