Background In India, severe yield and economic losses in sericulture were reported due to mulberry root rot disease. Since the disease was caused by complex soil-borne pathogens with wide host range, an attempt was made to develop actinobacteria based biological management strategy to mitigate it. Results As a result of continuous screening for anti-fungal actinobacteria, 2 novel and potent isolates (M11 and M12) belong to the rare genus, Actinoalloteichus were obtained from mulberry rhizosphere. Both isolates were gram positive, grayish, aerobic and produced good amount of melanin pigment during sporulation. They exhibited excellent anti-fungal activity against mulberry root rot pathogens viz., Macrophomina phaseolina, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Fusarium solani, Sclerotium rolfsii and Rhizoctonia solani. In addition, these melanogenic isolates grew in wide temperature and pH ranges. Their multi-stress tolerance ability/polyextremophilic nature was exposed when amending regular growth medium with excess concentration of salt and alkali. In addition, the potent isolates also showed tolerance to carbendazim (up to 1000 ppm) and UVB irradiation (up to 180 min at 10 cm distance). Conclusion The present study focused on the identification and characterization of melanogenic actinobacteria, further made it potential candidate that could be incorporated in eco-friendly, integrated disease management strategies against complex mulberry root rot pathogens.

Aims: To record the occurrence of mulberry root rot disease, epidemiology, interaction of weather and soil parameters with the soil-borne pathogens in Western zone of Tamil Nadu during 2019-2020. Study Design: Survey. Place and Duration of Study: Surveyed in Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts of Tamil Nadu. Laboratory experiments were carried out at Department of Sericulture & Department of Plant Pathology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore between July 2019 and Jan 2021. Methodology: Per cent disease incidence of root rot was recorded in all surveyed gardens. To analyze the soil and weather parameters, the composite soil samples were subjected to textural analysis and weather data were collected from TNAU Agro Climate Research Centre. To predict soil temperature for all surveyed locations, the model regression equations were derived. The correlation analysis was done between per cent disease incidence, weather and soil parameters. Results: The highest disease incidence was recorded in Nallampalli block of Dharmapuri district (54 per cent) whereas the lowest in Udumalaipettai block of Tiruppur district (0.06 per cent). The infected mulberry root samples yielded complex of soil-borne pathogens including Macrophomina phaseolina, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Fusarium sp., and pathogenicity was proved. The results revealed that root rot incidence was recorded in all types of cultivars, significantly in ruling variety V1 irrespective of its age, soil type, spacing, and irrigation method. Soil parameters like texture, temperature and moisture content were found to augment the disease. Per cent disease incidence had significantly positive correlation with the weather factors like air and soil temperature whereas negative correlation with relative humidity and rainfall. Conclusion: Synergism of abiotic stress factors hinders the mulberry plant health and increases its susceptibility to the soil-borne pathogens.

This Article, The Position of The Tamils of Pondicherry during the French rule, which deals with the short stories of Vishwasan, who is one of the most important tamil short story creators, is based on the short stories of The Cycle, Security, Brother Oro and Business of The Universe. It also examines the difficulties faced by the inequalities of caste and religion and the racist activities of the French rulers, especially when Pondicherry was under the control of the French in the 16th and 19th centuries. This article also deals with the tragic history of the exile of tamil people by using their ignorance and poverty to foreign countries for tea plantation industries.