French bean seed samples were collected from different parts of Tamil Nadu including both tropical and temperate region including four cultivars viz., Arkakomal, Premier, Rajmash DPU 88-4 and Watex. The variety Watex was found to maximum per cent seed infection of C. lindemuthianum with more discolorations. Among the various techniques adopted for detection, agar plate method was found to be best and yielded maximum per cent seed infection. Direct correlation was obtained between seed discoloration and per cent seed infection. The pathogen was found to be present mostly in seed coat and cotyledon and rarely in embryonic axis. The artificial inoculation of 45-day-old plants resulted in maximum disease incidence, resultant seed infection and minimum seed yield /plant and 100 grain weight.

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Soybean seed is classified as “poor storer” as it loses viability under warm and humid conditions and is invaded by storage fungi. The seed of soybean variety PS 1347, obtained from Breeder Seed Production Centre, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar was used for storage study. Root length (cm), shoot length (cm), seedling fresh weight (g) and seedling dry weight (g) decreases with the increase in seed storage periods. Out of all chemical treatments, Flowable thiram @ 2.4 ml/kg (T2) and Polymer + vitavax 200 @ 2g/kg seed (T5) were found effective to maintain Seedling root length, shoot length, seedling fresh weight and seedling dry weight by producing vigorous seedlings. Seeds stored in cloth bags exhibited higher seed infection than in seed stored in polythene bags, irrespective of seed treatment and period of storage. Treatment T4 (Vitavax 200 @ 2 g/kg seed)and T5(Polymer + vitavax 200 @ 2 g/kg seed) exhibited minimum percent seed infection of Aspergillus flavus. Cloth bag was not found safe for longer storage of soybean seeds under ambient storage at Pantnagar.

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Oyster mushroom is one of the most important edible mushrooms cultivated in India. The nutritional parameters in present investigationof oyster mushroom species viz., P. florida, P. flabellatus, P. ostreatus, P. sapidus, P. sajor-caju and P. eryngiiwere tested. The Pleurotus species grown on wheat straw substrate showed maximumamount of moisture (88.73 %)in P.flabellatus, ash (1.20 %) in P. sajor-caju, protein (3.54 g) in P. sapidus and carbohydrates (5.47 g) inP. flabellatus. In other way finger millet straw showed maximum amount of moisture (88.25 %) in P. ostreatus, ash (1.18 %) in P. florida, protein (3.33 g) in P. ostreatusand carbohydrates(5.13 g) in P. ostreatus.