Shimla, Jan 29 (IANS) Scientists Sunday claimed that trials on vegetable crops in varied temperatures of Himachal Pradesh have been successful with the use of a newly identified fungus.

Field trials on cauliflower, capsicum and tomato crops in Kangra and Kullu districts have been successful with the use of acultivable mycorrhiza-like fungus Piriformospora indica, Amity Institute of Training and Development director general K.S. Bains said in a statement here.

He said more than 125 farmers were provided free samples of the fungus for use in crops cultivated on 150 ‘kanal’.

“The trials in both these places have been successful and the crop yield, quality and productivity has increased manifold due to the fungus,” he said.

The institute said the National Centre of Organic Farming, a wing of the agriculture ministry, has recommended the use of this fungus in all crops, especially in horticulture, grain and vegetables.

Bains said the scientists of Amity at its campus in Noida in Uttar Pradesh have discovered the fungus.

He said the institute would provide free samples of the fungus to the apple growers in the hills state to increase content and quality of the crop.

The institute has appointed the Lahaul Potato Society in Manali, a group of farmers known for growing disease-free, pest-resistant seed potatoes in the Lahaul Valley, as its nodal agency for promotion of the fungus among farmers.

Agriculture is the mainstay of people in the hill state, providing direct employment to about 71 percent population.