CROP PROTECTION TECHNOLOGIES
  • Using basic and molecular identification techniques, following pests and diseases of tropical tuber crops were well characterized.
    • Crop Diseases Insects Nematodes
    Cassava Cassava mosaic disease, Tuber rot, Leaf spots, Stem and root rot Mealy bug, Mites, Whitefly, Spiralling whitefly --
    Sweet potato Feathery mottle, Leaf curl, Mild mottle and Chlorotic leaf distortion Weevil, Vine borer Root knot nematode
    Yams Anthracnose, Yam mild mosaic virus, Yam mosaic virus, Yam mild mottling mosaic virus Mealy bugs, Scales Root knot nematode
    Elephant foot yam Collar rot, Leaf and stem rot, Mosaic and Postharvest rot Mealy bugs, Chrysomelid beetle Root knot nematode,Lesion nematode, Reniform nematode
    Taro Leaf blight, Mosaic Aphids, Leaf eating caterpillars Root knot nematode
    Chinese potato --- --- Root knot nematode
  • Deciphered pathogens associated with postharvest rot in elephant foot yam
  • Two biotypes of cassava whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), Asia II5 and Asia I were reported in cassava
  • Endosymbiotic bacteria, Arsenophonus found in Asia II5 is an ‘indirect helper’ for virus spread by protecting viral coat protein from degradation in insect system with their GroEL chaperones

  • Developed following diagnostic tools for major viruses and fungal pathogens infecting tropical tuber crops in India
  • Developed rapid screening techniques for locating resistance against taro leaf blight and collar rot
  • Developed CTCRI formulation for growth promotion and pathogen suppression Water (10 l), Cow urine (2 l), neem cake (1kg), 21 numbers of leaves of each, neem, bel, custard apple, peepal, eucalyptus and castor were taken in an earthen pot, mixed thoroughly and the Developed CTCRI formulation for growth promotion and pathogen suppression Water (10 l), Cow urine (2 l), neem cake (1kg), 21 numbers of leaves of each, neem, bel, custard apple, peepal, eucalyptus and castor were taken in an earthen pot, mixed thoroughly and the
  • Studied epidemiology of taro leaf blight and disease progression

  • Integrated disease management techniques for cassava tuber rot, CMD, greater yam anthracnose, collar rot and post harvest rot of elephant foot yam and taro leaf blight were developed. Adhoc recommendations for cassava stem and root rot and stem and leaf rot of EFY were developed
  • Organic management of collar rot and postharvest rot in elephant foot yam
  • Pheromone technology based IPM for sweet potato weevil (SPW)
  • IPM developed for whitefly, mealy bug, scales, mites, spiralling whitefly, sweet potato weevil and storage pests
  • Organic management practices for the management of greater yam anthracnose, collar rot and post harvest rot of elephant foot yam and taro leaf blight were developed.

  • Developed three biopesticides from cassava crop residues- Nanma, Shreya & Menma from cassava which is effective against pseudo stem weevil in banana & sucking pests in vegetables
  • Cassava tuber based medium for the multiplication of Trichoderma and vegetable waste based liquid formulation for an endophyte, Bacillus subtilis were developed for managing TLB, collar rot and greater yam anthracnose
  • Identified new strains of entomopathogenic nematodes, Heterorhabditis sp. and Steinernema sp. for pest management in tuber crops
  • Proved the compatibility of Trichoderma asperellum with fungicides, insecticides, weedicides and fertilizers

  • Protocols developed for production of virus free cassava, sweet potato, greater yam and elephant foot yam

Cassava
  • CMD resistant varieties (Sree Reksha, Sree Sakthi, Sree Suvarna, Sree Kaveri, PDP-CMR-1)
  • CMD & CBSD – KBH 26/18 & Hybrid18-2 (KBH26/18XTME3)
Sweet potato
  • Wild species of tuberous Ipomoea mauritiana - against sweet potato weevil
  • Cultivar, Sree Bhadra was identified as a resistant trap crop for managing nematodes
Taro
  • Muktakeshi and germplasm accessions (C-618, C-717, E-10, C-388, C-370,C-690, C-679, C-84, C-203 and U-8) – against leaf blight
Elephant foot yam
  • Germplasm accessions (3No- Am-1, Am-128 & AmW-22) against collar rot
Yam
  • Sree Karthika & Sree Keerthi – against anthracnose

  • Developed genetic transformation protocols for cassava and elephant foot yam
  • Transgenic cassava (cv.H165) having RNAi construct for resistance against Sri Lankan cassava mosaic virus
  • Role of micro RNAs in cassava mosaic disease development and recovery
  • Full genome sequences were made for Indian cassava mosaic virus (2), Sri Lankan cassava mosaic virus (4), sweet potato leaf curl virus (6) and dasheen mosaic virus (1)
  • Infectious clones of ICMV, SLCMV and SPLCV were developed
  • Recombinant clones of coat protein gene of SLCMV, SPFMV and DsMV were developed in bacterial expression system for antibody production
  • Transcriptomic analysis was done with Cassava mosaic virus and Dasheen mosaic virus infected samples and elucidated the gene expression during infection
  • Sago as gelling agent in tissue culture medium in lieu of agar-agar

  • Barcodes were developed for the pests,cassava and sweet potato whitefly, spiralling whitefly infesting cassava and arrowroot, sweet potato leaf miner

  • Nineteen bioactive molecules were isolated and identified from the endosymbiotic bacteria associated with nematodes
  • Novel isomers of cyclo (pro-leu), cyclo (pro-tyr) and stilbene derivatives were identified to have antibacterial and antifungal activities
  • The structure of these compounds were elucidated as diketopiperazine derivatives which have good cytotoxic activity

  • Demonstrated utilization of bio-agents for pathogen suppression (TLB, Collar rot and anthracnose) and growth promotion