Sample Heading

Sample Heading

Division of Crop Protection

Primary tabs

 Genesis

The Division of Crop Protection had come into existence in August 2020 after merging the erstwhile Divisions of Entomology & Nematology and Plant Pathology based on QRT recommendation.  Earlier Divisions of Entomology & Nematology and Plant Pathology were existing since inception of Institute in sixties.

Past Division Heads

S. No

Name

From

To

1.

Dr. M. Krishna Reddy

14/08/2020

30/06/2022

2.

Dr. P. V. Rami Reddy

01/07/2022

13/07/2023

3

Dr. S Sriram

14/07/2022

 

 

Division of Entomology & Nematology

Division of Plant Pathology

S. No

Name

From

To

S. No

Name

From

To

  1.  

Dr. V.G. Prasad

1972

1980

  1.  

Dr. H.S. Sohi

1969

1980

  1.  

Dr. Sudha Nagarkatti

1980

1982

  1.  

Dr. Gundu Rao

1980

1983

  1.  

Dr. P. Parvatha Reddy

1982

1986

  1.  

Dr. K.S. Amin

1983

1985

  1.  

Dr. K. Narayanan

1986

1988

  1.  

Dr. S. J. Singh

1985

1989

  1.  

Dr. P.L. Tandon

1988

1991

  1.  

Dr. R. P. Tewari

1989

1992

  1.  

Dr. P. Parvatha Reddy

1991

2000

  1.  

Dr. S. J. Singh

1992

1994

  1.  

Dr. N.K. Krishna Kumar

2001

2009

  1.  

Dr. R. P. Tewari

1994

1996

  1.  

Dr. M. Mani

2009

2011

  1.  

Dr. S. J. Singh

1996

1997

  1.  

Dr. Abraham Verghese

2012

2013

  1.  

Dr. R. P. Tewari

1997

1999

  1.  

Dr. A.K. Chakravarthy

2014

2017

  1.  

Dr. R. D. Rawal

1999

2005

  1.  

Dr. M.S. Rao

2017

2018

  1.  

Dr. N. Ramachandran

2005

2011

  1.  

Dr. P.Shivaram Bhat

2018

2019

  1.  

Dr. M. Krishna Reddy

2011

2020

  1.  

Dr. K.Gopalakrishna Pillai

2019

2020

 

 

 

 

   

Mandate of the Division

  • To conduct research to develop safe and sustainable technologies for integrated pest (insects, mites, nematodes, plant pathogens) management in horticultural ecosystems (Fruits, Vegetables, Ornamentals).
  • To standardize technologies for production, value addition and popularization of mushrooms.
  • Pollinator management to enhance crop productivity and conserve ecosystem services
  • Training and farmers consultancy
  • Post Graduate Education 
  • Phytosanitary/Quarantine  services (Seed or plant testing, PEQ inspection etc.)

Divisional Achievements  (Top 10)

1. Developed an IPM package for management of invasive South American pinworm, Phthorimeae ( = Tuta) absoluta) involving light traps, botanicals, egg parasitoids and safer chemicals. Also identified resistance source in wild tomato against this pest.

2. Reported the occurrence of invasive black thrips, Thrips parvispinus in chilli growing areas of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka.  Took lead in conducting surveys with inter institutional teams and conducted several awareness programmes and provided advisory to farmers. Also part of an ad-hoc management strategy prepared by Department of Plant Protection and quarantine, Govt. of India.

 
3. Standardised integrated management module for of mango pests viz., fruit borer, Citripestis eutraphera, hoppers, Idioscopus spp., thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis and stem borer, Batocera rufomaculata. A push-pull strategy was standardised to manage tea mosquito bug, Helopeltis antonii

4. Insecticidal properties of botanicals viz., Annona and soapnut seeds were established against sucking insects especially aphids and mites. Annona seed extract was formulated and field tested

 
5. Post-harvest disease management: One yeast isolate (Hanseniaspora opuntiae) and one bacterial isolate (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) that produce anti-fungal volatile organic compounds were identified as potential bioagents for the post-harvest disease management in grapes.

6. Developed an IDM package to manage Papaya ringspot Virus (PRSV) of papaya  involving border cropping, vector management and plant immunity boosting.

7. IDM for virus in ridge gourd, muskmelon and cucumber: Border cropping with maize and sequential sprays of neem oil (4ml/lit), AMC drenching (5ml/lit), spraying of fipronil@1ml/lit, alpha-cyhalothrin@1ml/lit, acetamaprid @ 0.5ml/lit and IIHR-Vegetable special @ 4g/lit at weekly intervals till the flowering showed as best treatment to reduce the viral disease incidence and attain the maximum fruit yield in cucurbits.

8. Integrated Nematode management packages incorporating velvet bean Mucuna pruriens var. utilis)  as cover crop and biopesticides was standardized for both polyhouse and open field cultivation of vegetables and flower crops.

9. Standardised a technology for using native honey bees (Apis cerana and Tetragonula iridipennis) for pollination of cucurbitaceous vegetables grown under polyhouse

10. Mushroom technologies: Standardized biphasic spawn production technology which facilitated manyfold increase in production capacity. Also standardized Calcium fortified mushroom technology (Calcium content increased up to 254.21%) and Vitamin D enrichment.

Besides  the above research achievements, Division has immensely contributed in terms of revenue generation, consultancy to farmers, technology commercialization, phytosanitary services to seed industry, PG education and human resource development.

 

Technologies commercialized

Commercialised during last five years
1. Arka Borer Control – a product to manage stem borer in mango and other fruit crops
2. Arka Neem Seed Pellets – for residue free pest management in vegetable crops especially cabbage and cauliflower
3. Liquid formulations of Bacillus pumilus – for  nematode management
4. Arka Mealy melt – For effective  management of mealybugs. It acts by dissolving waxy coating of mealybugs
5. Arka cucurlure – to manage fruit fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae in cucurbitaceous vegetable crops
6.Arka Dorsolure – Female fruit fly attractant of Bactrocera dorsolure
8. Arka Tuta Trap - Light cum suction trap for management of tomato pinworm, Phthorimaea ( = Tuta) absoluta
9. Biphasic spawn production technology
10. Calcium and Vitamin D fortified mushrooms
Earlier technologies still popular among farmers
1. Methyl eugenol based low cost traps to manage fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis in mango, guava and other fruit crops
2. Four biopesticide formulations viz., Trichoderma viridi, T. harzianum, Pseudomonas fluorescence and Verticillium  chlamydosporium for nematode management 
3. Neem soap for residue free pest management in cabbage and cauliflower
4. Pongamia soap for residue free pest management in cabbage and cauliflower
5. Seed Pro –  A microbial plant growth promoter and fungal disease suppressor
6. Millet based mushroom cookies

Patents

Granted

  • The process of making invert-emulsion formulation of Trichoderma harzianum. Indian patent grant no.292394. 2018.
  • A Device for male annihilation of Bactrocera sp. using parapheromone impregnation.  Patent No. 304936 (Application No. 1068 CHE 2010) Date of Filing: 16.04.2010 Date of granting: 26.12.2018).
  • A Novel kairomone blend “Arka Eggstra” and application methodology for increasing fertile egg laying capacity in silk moth, Bombyx mori.  Patent No.  309741(Application No. 1507/CHE/2015) Date of Filing: 24.3.2015; Date of granting: 23.3.2019
  • A novel kairomone formulation ‘Arka Dorsolure-F’ for attraction of females of Oriental fruit fly, B. dorsalis- Patent No. 390086 (Application No. 201741044055). Date of Filing: 7.12.2017; Date of granting: 23.02.2022

             Filed
 

  •  Arka Bactro+, a multispecies tephritid lure has been strandardized and under process for patenting. (Application No.TEMP/E-1/26223/2020-CHE). Date of Filing: 06/05/2020; Date of granting:
  •  Arka Cucurlure, a, plant volatile synergized cucurbit fruit fly attractant (Application No.TEMP/E-1/34974/2021-CHE). Date of Filing: 2021/07/12;
  •  Arka Mealymelt, an eco-friendly mealybug body wax dissolving blend (Application No. TEMP/E-1/28829/2021-CHE); Date of Filing: 2021.06.09;

 

Awards

  • Dr. P. D. Kamala Jayanthi – Fellow of NAAS (2018); ICAR-National Professor (2022)
  • Dr. PVR Reddy  - Fellow of Royal Entomological Society (FRES), London, UK (2020); Dr. Anand Prakash Award of AZRA (2021); Prof. B. V. David outstanding Scientist award (2019)
  • Dr. S. Sriram – Best Teacher award – by ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru  (2020)
  • Dr. V. Sridhar – Fellow of Royal Entomological Society (FRES), London, UK (2021); Prof. B. V. David Outstanding scientist Award (2022); Eminent scientist award of Dr. ram Avtar Shiksha Samithi, Lucknow (2018); Fellow of entomological society of India (2021);
  • Dr N. R. Prasannakumar : Dr. B. V. David Foundation Best Scientist Award
  • Dr. R. Umamaheshwari - Dr. B. V. David Foundation Best Scientist Award
  • Dr. B. R. Jayanthimala – IIHR – SPH Best  Ph D thesis award and Dr. B. V. David Foundation Best Scientist Award

Writeup : Honey bee pollination in polyhouse:

Honey bees pollination in polyhouse  - English

Honey bees pollination in polyhouse  - Hindi

 

    

Dr. S Sriram

Principal Scientist and I/c.Head

Division of Crop Protection

IIHR, Hessaraghatta Lake Post

Bangalore – 560 089.