Varanasi: In a ground-breaking discovery, Prashant Singh and his research team from the department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University have identified two Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains that act as potent priming agents, significantly augmenting wheat protection against Spot Blotch (leaf disease). The teams research, marking the first-of-its-kind, reveals a remarkable inheritance of this priming effect to the progeny, providing a promising non-pesticide alternative for sustainable crop protection.The findings of this research have been published in the prestigious Q1/Q2 peer-reviewed journal- Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology, signalling the significance and credibility of the study.Singh said that the Spot Blotch, caused by the fungus Bipolaris sorokiniana, is a devastating foliar disease that poses a significant threat to wheat crops worldwide. Conventional methods of combatting the disease often involve the use of chemical pesticides, contributing to environmental concerns and raising questions about the sustainability of crop protection strategies. The researchers focused on identifying biological alternatives to chemical pesticides. Through rigorous experimentation, they isolated two specific PGPR strains that exhibited a remarkable priming effect on wheat plants, significantly enhancing their resistance to Spot Blotch.He said that the key breakthrough lies in the revelation that the priming effect is not only effective in the treated plants but is inherited by the progeny. This heritability factor suggests a potential long-term solution for wheat protection against Spot Blotch, reducing the dependence on chemical interventions. The discovery holds immense promise for sustainable agriculture by providing a non-pesticide alternative for managing the disease in wheat crops. With the inherited priming effect, farmers may be able to cultivate crops with enhanced resistance to the disease, reducing the need for chemical inputs and promoting environment friendly farming practices.Singh and his team are now exploring avenues for practical applications of their findings, with an emphasis on developing bio formulations that can be easily integrated into existing agricultural practices. We also published the following articles recentlyMann demands financial aid for farmers, MSP for alternative cropsPunjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has called for financial compensation to farmers who refrain from burning paddy straw and for a minimum support price (MSP) for alternative crops. He stated that the state government is willing to fund the gap if farmers earn less from growing alternative crops. Mann also mentioned that filing a First Information Report (FIR) against farmers is the last option, but the responsibility falls on everyone to address the issue of stubble burning. The civil and police administration has been instructed to take strict action against stubble burning.Do you know gut bacteria protects against diarrhoeal disease? Study findsA recent study from the University of East Anglia suggests that the bacteria in your stomach can impact the severity of a diarrheal illness. The research found that large species with fewer varieties of gut bacteria, such as primates, are more severely affected by cryptosporidiosis. Introducing more diverse gut bacteria can improve outcomes, including reducing diarrhea and the potential for the disease to spread. The study suggests that improving gut bacteria through diet, probiotics, and fecal transplant therapy could help target the disease. The research is particularly important as the disease is re-emerging and cases are increasing in the UK.Stubble burning: AAP demands special package, MSP on alternate cropsThe Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has called for the establishment of a fund to address stubble burning and the purchase of alternative crops on minimum support price (MSP) to promote crop diversification. The party has also urged the Centre to ensure that cotton and sugarcane are bought on MSP. The Punjab government has taken steps to manage crop residue and promote crop diversification, but the AAP believes that the Centre and Haryana should do more to tackle the issue of stubble burning. The Supreme Court has recently directed all governments to take measures to stop stubble burning and curb pollution.

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