Tomato is one of the major cash crops in the Golapar area of district Nainital in Uttarakhand (India), where farmers are facing the problem of diseases in tomato cultivation. In the present investigation, a survey of tomato fields in the Golapar area of Haldwani block was conducted. The survey revealed the occurrence of late blight, early blight, stem rot, and wilt diseases causing an average loss of 80% to tomato. To counter the above diseases, Trichoderma harzianum (Th43), Pseudomonas fluorescens (Pf173), Jas mycorrhiza (AMF), and the fungicide (Mancozeb) in different combinations applyed through soil application (SA), seedling treatment (ST), and foliar spray (FA) were evaluated for growth promotion and disease control in tomato at experimental and farmers' fields. The results of the study revealed that in experimental field, the maximum plant height (43.67 cm), highest number of branches (7.33) per plant, highest weight of fruit (47 g), highest number of fruits (39) per plant, minimum plant mortality (4% at 30 DAT and 3.2% at 30-60 DAT), minimum plant disease index (6.85), maximum total yield (256.00 q/ha), and marketable yield (246.67 q/ha) were observed in Th+Pf+JM (SA) + Th+Pf (ST) + Mancozeb (FS). At farmer's field, minimum plant mortality (7.31%) at 30 days after transplanting (DAT) (5.73%) in 30-60 DAT, minimum plant disease index (11.47), and maximum yield 249.91 q/ha were observed in Th+Pf+JM (SA) + Th+Pf (ST) + Mancozeb (FS) combination. So, it can be concluded that among all the treatments, integrated treatment comprising of soil application of T. harzianum, P. fluorescens, Jas mycorrhiza (AMF) + seedling treatment with T. harzianum and P. fluorescens + three foliar sprays of Mancozeb was found very effective in reducing the plant mortality, promoting the plant growth, and increasing the yield at experimental field as well as at farmers' fields.

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Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolic products of various fungi, mainly belonging to the genera Fusarium (Trichothecenes, Zearalenone), Aspergillus (Aflatoxin) and Penicillium (Ochratoxin) and can be found in almost 25% of the world’s agricultural commodities. These compounds are toxic to humans, animals and plants and therefore, efforts should be made to avoid mycotoxin contamination in food and feed. It has been estimated that at least 300 of these fungal metabolites are potentially toxic to animals and humans. In India 50% losses of agricultural commodities are due to postharvest losses. A number of physical and chemical approaches have already been taken to reduce the effect of mycotoxins, but due to certain limitations of physical and chemical strategies prompted search for other solutions to the mycotoxin hazards. Thus, there is an increasing public pressure for a safer and eco-friendly alternative to control these organisms. Consequently, a new approach is applied for managing mycotoxins through transformations that offer specific, efficient and eco-friendly way for detoxification of mycotoxins. This review aims to brings about the up-to-date management strategies mainly through transformation (genetic and bio) to pre-vent or reduce post harvest damages to the crops caused by storage fungi and the contamination of food and feed by mycotoxins. It will make aware of the new technologies or management methods for mycotoxins through transformation. The transformation methods may become the technology of choice, as they offer a specific, irreversible, efficient and environment friendly way of detoxification that leaves neither toxic residues nor any undesirable by-products.

Background Sheath blight of rice caused by Rhizoctonia solani is one of the most important diseases worldwide, causing considerable yield losses. The estimation of losses due to sheath blight of rice in India has been reported to be up to 54.30%. As a consequence of this fact, eco-friendly approaches were explored in this investigation. Results The pathogen R. solani was isolated from the infected sheath of rice plant, which was identified and characterized on the basis of morphology and through molecular Sequencing. The sequences of ITS were submitted to NCBI GenBank and the accession number allotted is SUB11543577. In dual culture best two potential isolates of biocontrol agents were selected Pseudomonas fluorescens (Pf27) and Trichoderma harzianum (Th47). Their different combinations with Herbal Kunapajala (HKJ) were tested in glasshouse, experimental field and farmers’ fields against sheath blight pathogen R. solani. The maximum plant vigor index was found in treatment combination P. fluorescens (27) + T. harzanium (47) + Herbal Kunapajala, seed treatment, soil drenching and three foliar applications. Minimum disease severity and incidence at 30 days after sowing (DAS) and 60DAS, maximum Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyase Activity (PAL), Polyphenol Oxidase Activity (PPO) and Peroxidase Activity (PO) were also recorded in the same treatment. In field experiment the maximum population of biocontrol agents after 60 days of transplanting cfu/g soil for Trichoderma spp. (32.33 × 104) and Pseudomonas spp. (36.33 × 104) in rhizosphere and in rhizoplane. Maximum cfu/g soil for Trichoderma spp. (24.67 × 104) and Pseudomonas spp. (24.0 × 104) was observed in treatment Th + Pf + HKJ [seed treatment + soil drenching + foliar spray]. At experimental and farmers field minimum disease severity, disease incidence at 60 DAT was recorded in treatment Th + Pf + HKJ [seed treatment + soil drenching + foliar spray] and was at par with the chemical treatment Carbendazim, but the maximum yield was obtained in the treatment Th + PF + HKJ [seed treatment + soil drenching + foliar spray] due to the maximum growth promotion activity. Conclusions Among various treatment seed treatment, soil drenching and three foliar sprays with combination T. harzianum (47), P. fluorescens (27) and Herbal Kunapajala was found very effective in reducing the disease incidence, disease severity and increasing growth promotion activity at all conditions. Therefore, the recommendation of this investigation could be exploited under bio-intensive disease management program for sustainable cultivation of rice.