Development of plant protection technologies for tuber crops is the mandate of this division. Research on various diseases and pests affecting tuber crops is the major activity. The areas affected by different pests and diseases are visited by the experts of the division, and the methods to solve the problems are recommended and demonstrated for the benefit of the farmers. Biotechnological approaches for managing important viral diseases like cassava mosaic disease is one of the major research works going on here. The division has developed biopesticides from cassava leaves, and it is being sold to farmers at a very nominal rate.
Our Team
| Name | Designation |
|---|---|
| Dr.T. Makeshkumar | Principal Scientist & Head |
| Dr. M.L. Jeeva | Principal Scientist |
| Dr. S.S.Veena | Principal Scientist |
| Dr. E.R. Harish | Senior Scientist |
| Dr. B. G. Sangeetha | Senior Scientist |
| Dr. S. Karthikeyan | Senior Technical Assistant |
| Mr. T.M. Shinil | Senior Technician |
| Mrs. P. Vidhya | Skilled Support Staff |
Our Achievements
SALIENT ACHIEVEMENTS
- Basic and molecular techniques for the identification and characterization of pests and diseases
- Tools/ Protocols for early diagnosis of diseases of tuber crops
- Integrated and organic management strategies for pest and diseases
- Technologies for production of bioformulations from crop residues
- Protocol for production of virus free plants of tropical tuber crops
- Identified sources of resistance for pests and diseases of tropical tuber crops
- Biotechnological interventions in pest and disease management
- DNA barcoding of insect pests
- Identified antimicrobial molecules from endosymbiotic bacteria associated with nematodes
- Multipronged rhizospheric and endophytic bioagents for pathogen suppression and growth promotion
Technological Products
Bioformulations - Nanma, Menma, Shreya
Biocapsules - Trichoderma asperellum, Bacillus sp (Rhizospheric & Endophytic)
Sree Pragathi - Trichoderma powder formulation
Dasheen mosaic virus ELISAkit
Facilities and Infrastructure
- Molecular plant pathology lab
- Disease diagnostic lab
- Microbiology lab
- Virus elimination lab
- Plant pathology lab
- Plant virology lab
- Transgenic lab
- Biotechnology lab
- Entomology lab
- Nematology lab
- Biopesticides lab
Our Projects
| Mega Project 5: Development of innovative technologies for the intensification of pest management in tuber crops through biorational approaches Institute Code : HORTCTCRISIL 202001301469 Project Leader : Dr.E.R. Harish | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Project 1: Management of important pests and documentation of emerging pests in tuber crops | Dr.E.R. Harish |
| 2 | Project 2: Characterization of sweet potato weevil (Cylas formicarius (Fabricius)) resistance genes in sweet potato and related Ipomoea spp. | Dr. Sangeetha B.G. |
| 3 | Project 3: Screening of newer molecules and bio-control agents for the management of nematodes in tuber crops | Dr. H. Kesava Kumar |
| Mega Project 6: Development and refinement of integrated disease management and forecasting system for improved tuber crop production Institute Code : HORTCTCRISIL 202001401470 Project Leader : Dr. M. L. Jeeva | ||
| 1 | Project 1: Emerging fungal diseases and management strategies for major diseases of aroids | Dr. S. S. Veena |
| 2 | Project 2: Fungal pathogens and disease management in cassava and yams | Dr. M. L. Jeeva |
| 3 | Project 3: Virus and phytoplasma diseases of tropical tuber crops and their management | Dr.H. Kesavkumar |
4 | Project 4: Mass production and effective utilization of bioagents to manage fungal diseases of tuber crops | Dr. R. Arutselvan |
| Externally Aided Projects | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sl.No | Project Title | Principal Investigator | Co-PIs |
| 1 | ICAR-CRP on Vaccines & Diagnostics: Development and application of diagnostics to viruses infecting tropical tuber crops (Cassava, elephant foot yam, sweet potato and yams) | Dr. T. Makesh Kumar | M.L. Jeeva ,R. Arutselvan,R. Muthuraj |
| 2 | Establishment of mass production unit of bioagents for ecofriendly disease management in vegetable crops of Odisha | R. Arutselvan | K. Laxminarayana, Kalidas Pati, V.B.S. Chauhan, K. Hanume Gowda, M. Nedunchezhiyan |
