Legume crops such as lentils, chickpeas, and soybeans are vital for human nutrition and soil fertility, particularly in regions like Bangladesh. However, the yield of these crops is frequently impacted by diseases, with foot and root rot, attributed to Sclerotium rolfsii, being a prominent concern. Conventional control measures have limitations, prompting the exploration of alternative strategies. This study evaluated the efficacy of Trichoderma asperellum, focusing on a native isolate MBCT10, in controlling foot and root rot in lentils, chickpeas, and soybeans. Laboratory experiments demonstrated MBCT10’s ability to suppress the radial mycelial growth of S. rolfsii, confirmed through molecular characterization. Field experiments revealed that T. asperellum treatment significantly increased seed germination rates over control conditions for foot and root rot susceptible three legumes varieties, viz. Lentil var. Binamasur-6 by 6.50%, Chickpea var. Binachola-3 by 10.17%, and Soybean var. Binasoybean-2 by 64.79%, respectively. Additionally, T. asperellum decreased foot and root rot incidence compared to control at 60 days after sowing (DAS) by 26.42% for Binamasur-6, 49.80% for Binachola-3, and 34.84% for Binasoybean-2. Treated plots exhibited higher plant height, pods per plant, seed weight per plant, and dry plant weight per plant for all three crops. These findings underscore the potential of T. asperellum isolate MBCT10 as a sustainable and effective biocontrol agent for managing fungal diseases in legume crops, thereby promoting environmentally friendly agricultural practices.

Extensive research has been conducted on creating compost from food waste by integrating various materials such as biochar and animal manure. Compost optimization often requires incorporating materials to enhance its effectiveness in promoting plant growth, rather than solely relying on food waste. However, there is a scarcity of studies assessing its effectiveness in practical applications until the compost is integrated with other materials. Hence, this study investigated the interaction between physicochemical characterization of organic food waste compost through its maturity and stability and aims to optimize the formulation of compost using food waste exclusively with its application effectiveness for sustainable approach of agriculture farming. In this work, a comprehensive investigation was conducted to explore the progression and characterization of this process. Compost produced from organic food waste was also evaluated for its maturity and stability using (i) structural characterization (scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Emmett and Teller (BET) surface area); (ii) spectroscopic analysis (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR); (iii) thermogravimetric (TG) analysis; and (iv) DPPH scavenging activity. To assess the practical applicability of the compost, a model involving the utilization of the compost on mung bean plants was employed for assessment. Our results on SEM, BET, FT-IR, and TGA indicated that the finished compost was stable and proved maturity only when incorporated with eggshells. The compost exhibited favorable physicochemical and structural characteristics, leading to successful practical application.

Ruminant production is a source for food production and has a role in Islamic observances. To develop ruminant production, it is a necessity to know the current status of domestic ruminant production. Thematic analysis was done on Livestock Statistics of Malaysia’s ruminant production and literatures of the status of ruminant production to understand the development state of Malaysia’s ruminant production. The result showed that there is a significant need for growth to achieve 50% self-sufficiency to reduce dependence towards importation while the per capita consumption is far from nutritional recommendation. The physical challenges include linear production, aging producer population and traditional farming. Moreover, there is an underlying epistemological clash hindering interest towards ruminant production. As such, there is a need for a development policy to improve interest towards ruminant production.

Transplanted (T.) aman rice (Oryza sativa L.) covers the largest cultivated area in Bangladesh while very little information on molecular level characterization of T. aman genotypes persists. The major aim of this study was to dissect molecular characterization and genetic diversity of 25 T. aman rice genotypes using twelve simple sequences repeats (SSRs) markers. The rice genotypes comprised local landraces that were collected from twelve districts of Bangladesh. A total of twelve SSR primer pairs covering all 12 chromosomes of rice were selected for the study. The molecular characterization, genetic diversity, population structure and principal component analysis (PCA) were estimated and the results revealed a total of fifty alleles across 12 loci ranged from 2 (RM411) to 7 (RM252) per locus. The maximum gene diversity exhibited in RM252 (0.7) while the minimum was in RM320 (0.15). The polymorphism information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.14 to 0.67 while RM252 and RM206 identified as the most suitable markers. Clustering based on unweight pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) analysis clustered 25 genotypes into six major clusters (I-VI) with similarity coefficient value of 0.34. Cluster V contained a maximum seven genotypes with 5 sub- groups. Again, the population structure displayed 3 populations namely population 1, 2 and 3. These populations were clustered into the 3 major groups in the Principle Component Analysis (PCA) 2D plot. Here, PC1 and PC2 contributed 32.7% variations. However, the overall hybridization suggested between the genotypes of the population 1 and 3, specifically between clusters I and cluster VI, and between the diverse parents such as, genotypes Bohi Trimota and Ranga, Bohi Trimota and Purple Rice-2, Bohi Trimota and Purple Rice-3. These diverse clusters and genotypes identified through SSR makers are lay foundation of molecular characterization of T. aman rice genotypes in Bangladesh and further marker-assisted studies will be suggested.

Consortia of 4 bacterial and 4 fungal hydrocarbon-utilizing isolates was analyzed in remediation of water
based oil fields. Bio-augmentation experiments (in situ) were tested in 16 triplicates (excluding the control). The results (after two months of bioremediation) showed that; A consortium of isolates of Pseudomonas
fluorescens-LR134300.1 and Aspergillus fumigatus-KU321562 was able to change the pH from strongly alkaline to almost neutral. A consortium of Kocuria rosea-MK648258 and Aspergillus niger-MK452260 isolates showed high biodegradation and high chloride tolerance. A consortium of Pseudomonas fluorescens LR134300.1 and Penicillium chrysogenum-MK696383.1 isolates showed the highest percentage of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) degradation and could degrade/utilize a range of carbon fractions from C6 to C36. A consortium of isolates of Kocuria rosea-MK648258 and Aspergillus flavus-MH270609.1 showed the highest lead-reducing capacity, while Bacillus subtilies-MK000710 and Penicillium chrysogenum
MK696383-KU321. The consortium extracts mineralized petroleum hydrocarbons as the sole source of energy and carbon, with mineralization rates statistically significant (Pandlt;0.05). The results of the Toxicity Characterization Leaching Procedure (TCLP) test showed that treating the drill cuttings with different consortia of bacterial and fungal strains proved to be a desirable disposal method.