Division of Crop Protection

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

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 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

• Arka Borer Control – a product to manage stem borer in mango and other fruit crops
• Arka Neem Seed Pellets – for residue free pest management in vegetable crops especially cabbage and cauliflower
• Liquid formulations of Bacillus pumilus – for nematode management
• Arka Mealy melt – For effective management of mealybugs. It acts by dissolving waxy coating of mealybugs
• Arka cucurlure – to manage fruit fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae in cucurbitaceous vegetable crops
• Arka Dorsolure – Female fruit fly attractant of Bactrocera dorsolure
• Arka Tuta Trap - Light cum suction trap for management of tomato pinworm, Phthorimaea (= Tuta) absoluta
• Biphasic spawn production technology
• Calcium and Vitamin D fortified mushrooms

Earlier technologies still popular among farmers

• Methyl eugenol based low cost traps to manage fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis in mango, guava and other fruit crops
• Four biopesticide formulations viz., Trichoderma viridi, T. harzianum, Pseudomonas fluorescence and Verticillium chlamydosporium for nematode management
• Neem soap for residue free pest management in cabbage and cauliflower
• Pongamia soap for residue free pest management in cabbage and cauliflower
• Seed Pro – A microbial plant growth promoter and fungal disease suppressor
• Millet based mushroom cookies

Awards