An interesting aspect of nanotechnology is the remarkable size-dependent physico-chemical properties of nanomaterials that have led to the rise of synthesis procedures for nanomaterials across a range of sizes, shapes, and chemical compositions. This chapter will concentrate on the different methods such as electron irradiation, laser ablation, and chemical reduction, biological methods, photochemical methods; microwave processing, chemical vapour condensation (CVC), arc discharge, hydrogen plasma-metal reaction, and laser pyrolysis in the vapour phase. This chapter will also include the various characterization techniques for the conformation of nanomaterials such as UV-visible spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, and electron microscopy (e.g., transmission electron microscopy [TEM], scanning electron microscopy [SEM], and atomic force microscopy [AFM]).

Grape plants (Vitis vinifera L.), like other major horticultural crops, suffer from attacks by plant pathogenic nematodes. These parasites are a serious burden for viticulturists all over the world and lead to reduced vine vigour and crop yield. The major nematode parasites infesting grapevines include Meloidogyne spp., Pratylenchus spp., Criconemella spp., Tylenchulus spp., Helicotylenchus spp., Heterodera spp. etc. Besides these genera, some nematode genera like Xiphinema, Paralongidorus and Longidorus are known to transmit viral diseases in grapevines, as they act as vectors to many viruses e.g. grapevine fanleaf virus. These pathogenic nematodes are becoming an important element affecting vine health, vigour and productivity. The present paper provides a brief overview of the diversity of phytoparasitic nematodes parasitizing vineyards, some viruses transmitted to grapevines via these parasitic nematodes and also outlines the management practices like crop rotation, hot water treatment, use of biological agents as well as use of organic amendments in controlling phytoparasitic nematodes in general.

Echinococcus granulosus is known to cause echinococcosis in dogs and hydatid disease or cystic echinococcosis in ruminant animals and accidentally in humans. Dogs have a crucial role in the transmission of zoonotic parasites in the Kashmir valley, as they frequently come into touch with humans. Cysts developed as a result of this condition are diagnosed using a variety of procedures, including computed tomography, ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The adoption of contemporary immunodiagnostic techniques, on the other hand, has improved the diagnosis of intestinal echinococcosis on a larger scale, allowing epidemiological studies to be conducted on a larger number of people. In the present study, the prevalence of echinococcosis infection in dogs was determined by examining faecal samples collected from different districts of the Kashmir Valley. An immunodiagnostic test, sandwich ELISA, was used for coproantigen detection of Echinococcus granulosus infection in dogs. A total of 476 faecal samples were tested, out of which, 48 samples were found to be positive in sandwich ELISA, which were mostly collected from different districts of the Kashmir valley and the collection sites included streets, playgrounds, open fields, parks, etc. of the Kashmir valley.