Stabilizers are important component in manufactured products such as yoghurt. The addition of stabilizers improves body, texture, appearance, mouth feel and prevents technical defects such as synersis in yoghurts. In this study starch was extracted from plant sources (sweet potato, taro) with and without use of chemicals. Yoghurt was enriched with different levels of extracted starch. Yoghurt samples were analyzed for physicochemical and functional attributes such as pH, acidity, synersis, water holding capacity, viscosity, total solids and sensory profile. Use of chemically extracted starches at the level of 0.3-0.4% (Sweet potato) and 0.2-0.3% (Taro)   in yoghurt manufacturing showed better  results  in  terms  of  lowering synersis, increasing water holding capacity, viscosity and overall acceptability as compared to the yoghurt containing stabilizer i.e. gelatin 0.5% w/w. Use of starches did not significantly affect the sensory attributes. Yoghurt that contains sweet potato and taro starch at 0.5% gave excellent results for water holding capacity, viscosity and for all sensory attributes as compared to gelatin

Two field experiments were conducted at domar and sadar upzilla of Nilphamari district to find out an effective control measure against rhizome rot (Pythium aphanidermatam) disease of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rose). Each experiment consisted of nine treatments, where three fungicides (Ridomil, Metataf and Secure), three organic amendments (poultry refuse, mustard oilcake and saw dust burning) and two bio control agents (Trichoderma harzianum and T. viride) were tested. Fungicides were used as seed treatment and soil drenching and organic materials and bio control agents were used as pre plant soil amendments. All the treatments significantly decreased the incidence and severity of the diseases and increased germination, tiller number and rhizome yield. The most effective treatment was seed treatment (0.2%) and soil drenching (0.2%) with Ridomil gold. Seed treatment and soil drenching with Secure (0.1%) and soil amendment with poultry refuse (10 t/ha) were also found to be effective to control the diseases and to increase rhizome yield.

SUMMARY In N. Ireland Diaporthe perniciosa March is a common inhabitant of the dead wood of Bramley's Seedling apple trees, and its pycnospores, extruded throughout the growing season, are responsible for fruit infections which result in stalk‐end rots during storage. Pycnidia were produced in culture only after exposure to light, near‐UV radiation being particularly favourable. The carbon source in the medium influenced pycnidia production: high yields were obtained where mannitol was used. Only a‐spores germinated under the conditions tested, giving optimum germination at 25 d̀C. in a water film. No germination occurred at less than 98% R.H. Germ tubes and hyphae developed appressoria after germination on artificial surfaces but on apple skin most spores produced only a protuberance from which penetration hyphae developed directly. The cuticle and epidermal cells of apples of all ages were penetrated within a few days of inoculation. Intact surfaces and lenticels were penetrated equally. Susceptibility to further rotting increased with age of the fruit. Apples loaded with spores early in the season rotted later than similar apples loaded just before picking. Polygalacturonase was detected in sap expressed from rotted apples of various ages, the level of activity being correlated with the susceptibility of the fruit.