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Among the 250 Methylobacterium isolates studied, 11 were able to grow in Nitrogen-free methanol mineral salts medium. Out of the eleven isolates, except MV10, 10 isolates had the nodA gene. ARA and presence of nifH gene confirmed the ability of isolate MV10 to fix biological nitrogen. Plant infection tests conducted with Crotalaria sp. confirmed the inability of isolate MV10 to nodulate Crotalaria sp. The presence of a functional nifH gene and absence of a nodA gene differentiate this isolate from the other 15 species so far described in the genus Methylobacterium and suggest that it is a new species.

Diversity of Pink-Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs (PPFMs) in phyllosphere of cotton, maize and sunflower was determined based on differential carbon-substrate utilization profile and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA data. Results indicate that six diversified groups of PPFMs are found in these crops. Sunflower and maize phyllosphere harbor four different groups of methylobacteria while cotton has only two groups.

The effect of different rootstocks on eggplant growth, fruit yield, and fruit quality were studied by comparing grafted plants with nongrafted ones under low cost polyhouse. The present investigation was carried out in the year, 2014-15, Experimental Farm, Department of Vegetable Science, College of Horticulture and Forestry (CAU) Pasighat. The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomised Design with 8 treatments (four wild Solanum species and two eggplant genotypes) and four replications. The seedlings of eggplant genotypes with pencil thickness were grafted with wild Solanum species by cleft method. The non-grafted plants were used as control. The highest survival rate observed in plants grafted with Solanum torvum followed by Solanum surathense. The plant morphology, reproductive and yield parameters were significantly affected by grafting. Control plants recorded minimum plant height with least number of leaves per plant. Furthermore, fruit weight, fruit yield, days to fruit maturity and rooting behaviour of plant were influenced positively by grafting. All grafted plants showed superior rooting and highest number, length, fresh weight and dry weight of roots were recorded in Solanum torvum followed by solanum khasianum. Based on mean performance, grafted plants of Solanum torvum and Solanum khasianum found to be superior for plant growth and yield attributing characters without effecting fruit quality. So, it can be concluded that grafting in eggplant is quite successful and alternate method of production.