Division of Crop Protection

Productive agriculture systems are always vulnerable to hazards of climate and pests and diseases causing threat to food security of any nation. Healthy and productive plants not only are essential but are the very essence of humankind, environment, for food, fiber, energy, and general well-being. Among the various disciplines of agriculture, plant pathology is an important stream, as it pertains to Plant diseases — diagnosis, management, forecasting and forewarning, quarantine host-pathogen interactions, pathogen resistance and management, all of which can help enhance yield and quality of horticultural crops. This is beneficial not just to farmers, but also to the society at large. Pathologists play a crucial role in “management of diseases through chemicals, agronomic practices, and biological control or by means of integrated diseases management,” A plant pathologist’s job is not confined to research. “Monitoring pest and diseases in the state, giving necessary warnings for any outbreak of crop diseases, visiting the infected areas along with extension officials of agricultural department and studying the nature of damage, cause and suggesting suitable remedial measures to save crop and increase productivity are also undertaken by us. Further, we  also impart training to agricultural extension officers and farmers.

The division of Plant Pathology at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research was established in 1968 to take care of the health of horticultural plants. Being the first premier national institute of horticulture, a visionary approach was adopted based on basic and applied research for the management of diseases caused by diverse microorganisms on a plethora of horticultural crops. This ushered establishment of specialized labs for the fungal diseases of fruit crops, vegetable crops, ornamental and medicinal crops; bacterial, viral, viroid and phytoplasma diseases of horticultural crops. The goal of these specialized labs with dedicated expertise was to work in unison to achieve productive and healthy horticultural crops. To achieve this goal, the division of plant pathology has shown both horizontal and vertical growth in terms of plant protection knowledge to reach the unreached. The division also envisioned the role of beneficial microbes, especially fungi and bacteria, which could contribute to the well being of mankind and environment. This gave birth to a specialized Mushroom research lab adding new dimension for plant protection in terms of neutra and pharmaceutical importance to man kind assuring nutritional security

Mandate :

• Division of Plant Pathology will continue to maintain the vigil to meet emerging challenges due to rapid crop diversification, increased farming, increased germplasm movement and climate change, which are bringing changes to host-pathogen dynamics leading to emergence and reemergence of plant pathogens in horticultural Crops
• Development of Diagnostics and to offer diagnostic services to SAUs, Farmers and Private seed and Tissue culture industries. Also to severe as a center for quarantine issues and phytosanitary certification
• Continue to provide solutions and research leads to the plant disease problems in horticultural crops, understand disease epidemiology and develop durable disease management strategies.
• Develop rapid screening methods for identification of resistance sources and to use in breeding for disease resistance.
• Continue our collaboration with international and national institutions for data on distribution of plant diseases and emergence of new diseases essential to develop and/or modify existing methods of diagnosis for effective disease management strategies
• To provide training and services to farmers, extension agents, researchers in NARS and students to strengthen the human resource development specially for disease management in horticultural crops
•    Agro/ lignocellulosic waste management through the production of edible and medicinal mushrooms
•  Utilization of mushrooms for malnutrition management through the production of mushroom nutraceuticals
•  Enhancing input efficiency of energy, water and manpower in  mushroom production processes through mechanization
• Documentation and conservation of the indigenous macrofungi wealth of the country
• Making mushroom production enterprise zero waste enterprise through the utilization of mushroom cultivation process wastes for various beneficial purposes
• To provide support through training and quality spawn to entrepreneurs, institutions, NGOs, State departments and KVKs.

Thrust Areas: The division focuses on plant diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, virus, viroid and phytoplasma on fruits, vegetable, medicinal and ornamental crops. Also concentrates research on mushroom improvement and the advancement of mushroom science and technology.

Major areas of Research:

• Survey and assessment of losses due to major and emerging diseases
• Development of Disease diagnostics
• Identification and Molecular characterization of pathogens
• Epidemiology and Forewarning systems
• Identifying source of resistance
• Identification of efficient strains of bioagents for plant health management
• Development of Integrated Disease Management strategies
• Technology for the commercial production of edible and medicinal mushrooms
• Technology for the production of mineral rich mushrooms
• Production of mushroom fortified food supplements for daily diet
• Biodiversity and conservation mushroom
• Quality seed production and training

 

Division of Entomology and Nematology

The research on plant protection aspects was started in 1970’s in the division of Entomology and Nematology, headed by Late Dr. V.G. Prasad. The division laid foundation for biocontrol work, which started at IIHR as an AICR Project in 1977 and and latler was made independent as Project Directorate f Biological Control (presently, National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Insects, NBAII).  The pesticide residues work in which safe waiting periods were fixed for many pesticides for both fruits and vegetables was also initiated then.  From its inception, the Division has been the leader in IPM of fruits and vegetables. Work on pest management of ornamental and medicinal crops was initiated in 1980.

Mandate

1. To carry out basic and strategic research for the management of pests of Horticultural crops (vegetables, fruits, ornamental, medicinal and aromatic crops).
2. To Develop Integrated Pest Management packages and Integrated Nematode Management packages by emphasizing ecofriendly pest management.
3. To conduct teaching and training programmes for development of human resources in pest management.
4. To develop innovative products and commercialize the same through ITMU and public and private partnership (PPP).

Thrust areas (12th FYP)

1. Semiochemical based pest management in horticultural crops.
2. Development of commercially viable formulations of  biopesticides and botanicals for insect and nematode pests.
3. Management of borer pests in Horticultural crops.
4. Insect vector-Virus interaction studies
5. Molecular systematics and basic physiological studies of sucking pests in Horticultural crops
6. Insecticide Resistance Management
7. Pest Management under protected conditions.
8. Studies on effect of climate change on horticultural crop pests

Significant achievements: 

The division has six different laboratories focusing on different aspects of horticultural crop pest management including nematodes in major fruits, vegetables, ornamental, medicinal and aromatic crops. The division has been conducting several research projects sponsored by ICAR and other central government departments, apart from internationally funded projects. They include ICAR ad-hoc, AICRP’s, NATP, DBT, DST, NABARD, APEDA sponsored projects etc. This division was also involved in the SAVERNET phase I and II in collaboration with AVRDC, Taiwan; USDA funded project on IPM in vegetable crops; PL-480 project on location of source of resistance to fruit fly in cucurbits and an international India-UK (DFID)-Fruit fly project.

A scientific society entitled “Association for Advancement for Pest Management of Horticultural Ecosystems” (AAPMHE) was started in July, 1994 with an aim to promote the cause of Plant Protection in Horticulture. AAPMHE has been publishing a journal entitled “Pest Management in Horticultural Ecosystems” bi-annually.

The division has come out with several technologies for the management of insect and nematode pests on various horticultural crops, some of them are listed below. 

1. Integrated Pest Management (IPM)  in cabbage
2. IPM  in Tomato
3. IPM of cucurbit fruit fly
4. IPM of mango fruit fly
5. IPM of grape thrips
6. IPM of  sapota seed borer
7. IPM of stone weevil in mango
8. Biocontrol technology for the management of mealy bugs on fruit crops
9. Biological control of exotic spiraling whitefly on horticultural crops
10. Isolation and use of Metarhizium anisopliae against mango hoppers.
11. Microbial control of lepidopterous pests of cabbage and tomato fruit borer.
12. Development and use of  botanicals (neem and pongamia soaps) for the management of vegetable crop pests
13. Pest management in capsicum and tomato under polyhouse conditions.
14. Integrated Pest Management in ornamental crops (rose, gerbera, chrysanthemum and jasmine).
15. Development of organic modules for the management of pests of rose and gerbera under Polyhouse
16. Use of biopesticides for the management of nematodes in fruits, vegetables and ornamental crops.
17. Management of vertebrate pests (Grapes)

Technologies commercialised

1. Methyl eugenol pheromone traps for mango fruit fly.
2. Cuelure pheromone traps for cucurbit fruit fly
3. Sealer cum Healer for the management of stem borers
4. Hot water treatment for fruit fly management
5. Neem soap and Pongamia soap for insect pest management in vegetables
6. Trichoderma viride – 1.5% W.P for nematode management
7. Trichoderma harzianum – 1% W.P,  Paecilomyces lilacinus – 1% W.P etc.   for some fungal and nematode disease management

 

List of varieties/germplasm collections resistant/least susceptible to insect and mite pests

Crop	Pests	Resistant/ tolerant/ Least Susceptible varieties genotypes
Fruit crops
Mango	Hoppers	Lazzat Bhakshi, Baneshan, Chinnarasam and Khader
	Fruit fly	EC95862, Langra (least susceptible)
Banana	Thrips	Vennon, Klue taperod and Peyan
	Rhizome weevil	Locatan,Chakkia,Kostha,Bontha,Malaimonthan,Peapeykunnan, Jamini
	Lacewing bug	Jurmony, Thattilakuman, Malakali, Krishna Vazhai and Kali
Citrus	Leaf miner	Rubidoux,Tomari,Citrumelo,Savage,Morton, Troyer and Carrizo
	psyllids	Cleopatra, Gal , Kagzi lime ,Karna kata and Rubidoux
Pomegranate	Fruit borer	Debano Bosco and Jyoti
Guava	Fruit fly	Red flesh, Pink flesh and Strawberry
	Fruit borer	Dudhkhaja, Arka kiran, Lalit and Hisar Surkha
Sapota	Fruit fly	PKM-1,PKM-2,DHS-1,DHS-2,Bhuripatti and Pilipatta
Custard Apple	Fruit fly	Red Sitaphal, Pink Mammoth
Aonla	Fruit borer	NA-10, Chakaiya
Jackfruit	Shoot and Fruit borer	G-1, G-2, G-9 and ACC G-65
Vegetable crops
Tomato	Fruit borer	T 27 and T 32
	whitefly	Lycopersicon hirsutum f. glabaratum, Solanum pennellii,Avinash-1, Avinash-2,Mruthyunjaya-1, Mruthyunjaya-2 and Mruthyunjaya-3
	Spider mite	PI 251303, Lycopersicon hirsutum f. glabaratum and Lycopersicon hirsutum f. typicum
Brinjal	Fruit and shoot borer	PPC-2, Aushey, H165, Thorn, Pendy, Punjab Barsati, pusa purple cluster, Arka Kusmak, Doli-5, H 407, HLB-12, JC-1, GBH-1,JC-2, Pant Brinjal Hybrid 1 and PPI 1
	Leafhopper	S-34 and S-258
	Lady bird beetle	Solanum mammosum and Solanum viarum
	Aphids	Annamalai
Chilli	Thrips and Mites	NT46A (T), Punjab Lal, Pusa Jwala, Phule Jyoti, Arka Meghana  and Pant C 1
Capsicum	Whitefly	California wounder Yolo wounder and Koral
	Thrips and Mites	Pusa Jwala and Phule Jyoti
Onion	Thrips	TNAU hybrids CO2, CO3 and CO4
Cowpea	Leafhopper	TVu 123 and Vita 3
	Aphids	TVu 310, TVu 801, TVu 408 and 3000
	Thrips	TVu 1509 and TVx 3236
	Pod borer	TVu 946,TVu 1896 ,AG,H51-1 and 2AK
French bean	Bean fly	E30 and E34
Okra	Leafhoppers	Punjab Padmini
	Fruit borer	AE-22, AE-52, Wonderful Pink, Pusa A-4,  Pusa Sawani, Parkins long green, Karnal Special, Velvet, IIHR-4, Siswal-1 and 2
	Whitefly	Arka Anamika,  Hisar unnnat, Varsha Uphar ,P 7 Pusa Sawani, Pusa A 4, Arka Abhay, , Hisar Naveen, HBH-142 (F1 hybrid), Gujarat Anand Okra-5, CO 1, CO 3, COBhH 1, Azad Bhindi -1 and Azad Bhindi-3
	Aphid	Pusa A 4 and Gujarat Anand Okra-5
Muskmelon	Fruitfly	MM 102-1, IHR-19, 22, 32, 40and Karda
	Red pumpkin beetle	Casaba
Watermelon	Red pumpkin beetle	72 and  98
	Aphids	PI 299563
	Spider Mite	Congo, Giza 1, Durgapur Kesar (RW 187-2) Mithila, Suganthi, Kiran, Vishal and Simran
Ber	Resistant to fruit borer	Banarsi Pewandi, Ajmeri, Gola, Gurgaon and Jhajjar
	Tolerant to fruit fly	Umran and Tikkadi
Pumpkin	Fruitfly	Arka Suryamukhi, IHR-32, IHR79-2 and IHR 83
	Red pumpkin beetle	596-2 and 613
Ornamental crops
Chrysanthemum	Thrips	‘Swetha Sringar’, ‘Varthur’, ‘Lemon’, ‘Co-2’, ‘Mother Teresa’

Source:

• Reddy PP, Verghese A and Kumar NKK (2001). Integrated pest management in Horticultural Ecosystems. Capital publishing Company (India), NewDelhi.24-45p.
• Palaniswamy S, Natarajan N, Sivasubramanian P, Karuppuchamy P and Douressamy S (2005). Recent advances in Host Plant Resistance. Proceedings of the National Training on Recent advances in Host Plant Resistance conducted from February 9-March 1,2005by the Centre of Advanced Studies in Entomology, TNAU, Coimbatore. 141-186 pp.

List  of  varieties &  hybrids tolerant / resistant to nematodes

 

Crop	Nematode	Resistant/ tolerant varieties/ hybrid lines
Fruit crops
Banana	Radopholus similis	Kadali, Pedalimoongil, Peykunnan, Ayiramkapoovan, Kunnan, Pisang Seribu, Tongat, Vennettu Kunnan, Anaikomban
Citrus	Tylenchulus semipenetrans	Trifoliate orange, Swingle Citrumello
	Pratylenchus coffeae	Poncirus trifoliata Microcitrus selections
Grapevine	Meloidogyne incognita	Black Champa, Dogridge, 1613, Salt Creek, Cardinal, Banquabad, Zinfundel, Kandharia, Kishmish Chorni, Redvine, Convert Large Black, Luglienga
	Rotylenchulus reniformis	Dakshi, Joazbeli, Mukchilani
Papaya	R. reniformis	Solo, Washington
Passion Fruit	M. incognita	Yellow, Kaveri
Vegetable crops
Tomato	Meloidogyne  spp.	Nematox, SL-120, NTR-1, SL-12, Patriot, VFN-8, VFN Bush, Piersol, Radiant, Nemared, Ronita, Anahu, Bresch, Helani, Campbell-25, Punuui, Arka Vardan, Pelican, Hawaii-7746, Hawaii-7747, Hisar Lalit, Punjab NR-7
	R. reniformis	Healani, VFN Bush, Radiant, SL-120, Patriot, Kalyanpur  selection I, Kalyanpur  selection III, Petropride, Peto 95, Peto 108, Nema 1400, ACE 55
Brinjal	M. incognita	Giant of Banaras, Black Beauty, Gola, SM – 67, Gachha Baigun, Syamala (MR)
Chilli	M. javanica	579, CAP-63, Pusa Jwala Wonder Hot, Teja, LCA 206
	M. incognita	IIHR 4561, IIHR 3448, IIHR 3024, IIHR 3575 (Immune)
	R. reniformis	Sweet Bell, California Wonder
Capsicum	R. reniformis	Sweet Ball, California Wonder
Onion	R. reniformis	Evergreen
Cowpea	M. incognita	Barsati Mutant, Iron, Clay, Chinese Red, Groit, New Era, Missisipi Purple, Missisipi Silver, New Selection, Viktor K 798, Broweye 7, Brabham, Moneetta, Catjang, Columbia, Gujarat Cowpea 1 (GAU-1), C-152, 92-1-B, IC 9642-B, TVU 2430-P
	Heterodera cajani	CO 6
French bean	M. incognita	Banat, Blue Lake Stringless, Bountiful Flat, Brown Beauty, Cambridge Countess, Gallaroy, Kenya-3, Pinto W5-114, Seafarer, Suttan’s Masterpiece
Okra	M. incognita	Parbhani Kranthi (MR)
		IIHR 359, IIHR 387, 10-11-875 (Highly Resistant); IIHR 357, IIHR 361, IIHR 362, IIHR 363, IIHR 364, 11-1-50 (Moderately Resistant)
Muskmelon	M.incognita	Scarsol
	M. javanica	S-445
Watermelon	M. incognita	Shehjanpuri
Ridgegourd	M. incognita	Panipati, Meerut Special
Ash gourd	M. incognita	Jaipuri, Agra
Pumpkin	M. incognita	Jaipuri, Dasna
Ornamental crops
China aster	M. incognita	Shashank-Resistant; Poornima-Mod. Resistant
Tuberose	M. incognita	Shringar-Resistant; Suvasini-Tolerant
		IIHR -2, IIHR-4, Variegated, Shringar OP, Suarna rekha, GK-T-C4, Calcutta Double, Bidhan Jyothi (Tolerant)
Gladiolus	M. incognita	Arka-Amar, Arka Aayush, Arka Kesar, Hybrid12, Kumkum, 86-32-11, 84-6-13, 84-4-9, GC (Tolerant)
Crossandra	M. incognita	Arka Shreya, Mutant, Green (Resistant)
Medicinal crops
Coleus	M. incognita	Hy06-10 (Moderately resistant)

Source:

• Reddy PP (2007). Bio-intensive integrated nematode management in horticultural ecosystems: Principles and practices. Scientific publishers (India), Jodhpur, 308p;
• ICAR - IIHR Annual Reports 2014-15, 15-16, 16-17

 

 

 

 

---