Abstract:The present investigation involves 29 diverse bell pepper genotypes for variability studies and 14 promising lines (11 lines and 3 testers), 33 F 1 and 1 standard check for combining ability studies. The objective of the study was to assess the nature and magnitude of genetic variability among the bell pepper genotypes for yield and other horticultural traits and to identify the potential parental lines and cross combinations suitable for the protected environment based on the estimation of general combining ability and specific combining ability. A wide range of variability was observed for most of the characters studied. The genotypes viz., Kashmir Sel-1 (L 2 ), DARL-10 (L 9 ) and UHFSP(Y)-11 (L 11 ) for marketable fruit yield per plant and Kashmir Sel-1 (L 2 ), UHFSP(Y)-11 (L 11 ) and DARL-01 (L 5 ) for earliness were good general combiners and these may be included for exploiting hybrid vigour or development of purelines. On the basis of specific combining ability effects and per se performance, the crosses viz.,

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Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) an important spice crop grown in different states of India especially Himachal Pradesh, a hilly area situated in northern Himalayas. Pythium and Fusarium are the main fungus which affect the crop in a drastic manner. Ginger rhizome diseases are both rhizome seed and soil borne and their chemical management leads to notorious effect on environment and ecosystem. Therefore, an attempt to work out for isolation of Pythium and Fusarium sp. (major pathogens causing ginger rot) from Sirmaur and Solan areas of the state and research emphasized on non-chemical management of these fungal diseases. Hot water treatment of ginger rhizomes at different temperatures excluded the maximum rhizome borne inoculum through eradication. Among the biocontrol agents T. harzianum was found more effective for pathogenic fungal inhibition recorded as (50.28%) followed by T. hamatum (44.94%) and Streptomyces sp. (40.11%).