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The strains of Trichoderma harzianum were assessed for their effect on chickpea growth and control of charcoal rot caused by Macrophomina phaseolina in greenhouse assay. T. harzianum strain 25-92 significantly increased the fresh and dry weights by 50-63% and 24-42%, respectively, whereas strain 29-92 increased the fresh weight of chickpea cv. Radhey and Vishwas by 12-30% but not the dry weight in the absence of M. phaseolina. A marked increase in root length was caused by both the strains. In M. phaseolina infested pots, number of lateral roots and branching decreased with nonsignificant change in weight. Significant (P = 0.05) reduction in charcoal rot disease was observed in the pots amended with T. harzianum at all the concentrations. Moreover, 60-40% reduction in disease was recorded after 14 and 28 days in chickpea varieties Radhey and Vishwas. The resistant variety Vijay does not show significant disease. The reduction in disease was more pronounced at higher inoculum concentrations of T. harzianum (10 7-10 8 cfu/g). Overall, Trichoderma strain 25-92 improved plant growth and reduced damage in presence of the pathogen. Besides disease control the growth promoting properties of the strain improve the efficacy for commercial application.

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Background and Aims: Epidural steroid injections (ESIs) with or without local anaesthetics have been used for the past several years for the treatment of back pain, especially for radicular symptoms. The aim of this prospective study was to compare the efficacy of midline with parasagittal approach for interlaminar ESI in the management of symptomatic lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. Methods: Sixty patients (aged 20–60 years) with pain pattern consistent with lumbar radiculopathy caused by lumbar intervertebral disc herniation and who did not respond to conservative treatment were included in the study. They were randomly divided in two groups of 30 each: group I (MILESI, n = 30) consisting of midline interlaminar ESI, and group II (PSILESI, n = 30) consisting of parasagittal interlaminar ESI. They were administered a combination of 80 mg of methylprednisolone acetate (40 mg/ml) and 6 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine (total volume of 8 ml). Pain, patient satisfaction, and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were assessed at different time intervals before and after the procedure for up to six months. Results: The improvement in pain score after ESI was statistically significant in both the groups at all intervals of time, with no significant difference between the two groups. The mean pain score was <3 from two weeks onwards after the injection. The pain score decreased by more than five points and it was around two points at the end of the six-month study period. Around 50% of patients in both groups had excellent satisfaction. Conclusion: Both techniques were effective in providing good analgesia. Pain relief and improvement in disability were clinically better with the parasagittal interlaminar approach.