Fifty four genotypes including four checks were grown in a RBD with three replications during Rabi 2010-11 at Vegetable Experimental Research Farm, Nauni, Solan HP to estimate the parameters of variability and association of important characters with yield in garden pea. Analysis of variance showed significant differences among the genotypes for all the morphological characters under study. The genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation were high for total soluble solids, total sugars, pod yield per hectare and total phenols. High heritability estimates coupled with high to moderate genetic gain observed for pod yield (kg/plot), node at which the first flower appear (number), number of pods per plant and total Phenols (g/100g). Pod yield was positively correlated with number of pods per plant, pod length (cm), number of seeds per pod and shelling percentage thereby indicating that the selection based on these traits could be effective for improvement of green shelled peas yield.

Crucifers are popular temperate vegetables and occupy important place among vegetables in India as well as in the world. India is the second largest producer of crucifers in the world. These crops are affected by many diseases during the growing period which reduce the yield as well as the quality of the produce. Amongst all the diseases, black rot caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. eampestrls (Pam.) Dowson is the most destructive one causing heavy losses. The disease affects primarily above ground parts of the plant at any stage of growth and causes high losses, in yield and quality especially in tropical and subtropical regions during the rainy season. All vegetables in the cruciferous family, including broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, kale, mustard, radish, rutabaga, and turnip are susceptible to black rot. Many cruciferous weeds such as Shepherd's Purse, wild mustard, and yellow rocket are also known to be hosts of this pathogen. The pathogen is seed borne and also survives in the infected plant debris as well as cruciferous weed hosts. The disease can be managed through cultural practices, resistant hosts, seed treatment with hot water and antibiotics, fungicides, biological control as well as chemical control methods.

The bioagents like Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) and Biocontrol Agents (BCAs) play a crucial role in plant growth promotion, nutrient uptake and suppression of biotic and abiotic stresses. Different researchers have applied these bioagents by various means either through seed treatment or through soil application to prevent various plant diseases. Thus, these non-chemical environment friendly tools can be exploited to enhance crop production.

The effect of seed biopriming with different bioagents including plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR-1), rhizobial biofertilizer (Rhizobium strain B1) and biological control agent (Trichoderma viride) was observed on plant growth, seed yield and incidence of diseases in French bean cv. Contender conducting a field experiment during kharif season in the year 2017 and 2018. Under field conditions in both the years, field emergence (95.18 %), plant height at 30 days after sowing (34.09 cm), plant height at final harvest (56.99 cm), days to pod harvest (52.33), harvest duration (18.67), pod length at final harvest (16.83 cm), number of pods per plant (20.17), dry pod weight (2.72 g), pod yield per plant (38.64 g), number of seeds per pod (7.17), seed yield per plant (20.76 g), seed yield per plot (875.33 g), seed yield per hectare (23.34 q), 100 seed weight (34.19 g), quality of harvested seeds were recorded significantly higher after seed biopriming with PGPR-1+ Rhizobium strain B1 (T4) as compared to carbendazim seed treatment and untreated control. This treatment combination also reduced the incidence of major diseases like, Rhizoctonia root rot and Angular leaf spot significantly as compared to carbendazim seed treatments and untreated control. It can be concluded from the present investigation that seed biopriming of French bean cv. Contender with PGPR-1+Rhizobium strain B1 @ 109cfu/ml for 8 hours was an effective treatment which significantly improved plant growth, pod yield, seed yield, seed quality and seed vigour and reduced disease incidence as compared to seed treatment with carbendazim @ 0.2% as well as untreated control under field conditions.

An investigation was carried out during