PLANT BIOSECURITY DIVISION - COMPLETED PROJECTS

1. USDA-NIPHM Collaboration

National Institute of Plant Health Management strives to emerge as an internationally acclaimed Centre of Excellence for Human Resource and Policy Development in Plant Biosecurity and sustainable Plant Health Management. To strengthen the capacity in training, research and policy issues in the area of Plant Health Management and Plant Biosecurity, NIPHM has initiated action for collaboration with USAID/USDA. The collaboration with USDA/USAID has been approved by Department of Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC) and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The work plan on areas of collaborative activities has been developed jointly by NIPHM and USDA. The work plan has been approved by Department of Agriculture & Cooperation. Technical experts from USDA/APHIS associated with NIPHM faculty organized several international and national capacity building programs.

2. Evaluating the synergistic role of elevated levels of CO2 and heat in the efficacy of phosphine fumigation – Collaborative research project with USDA

Seven test insect species (Trogoderma granarium, Tribolium castaneum, Rhizopertha domonica, Sitophilus oryzae, Callosobruchus chinensis, Stegobium panecium and Lasioderma serricorne) were found showing significant results at different combinations of phosphine, carbon dioxide and temperature. Trogoderma granarium and other insects with phosphine along with CO2 combinations at 40°C temperature for six to seven days gives 100% mortality.

3. Designing & Constructing different types of Traps-Collaborative research project with USDA

4. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry DAFF, Australia – NIPHM Collaboration

NIPHM in collaboration with DAFF Australia organized a workshop on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Awareness for the officials of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka and India at New Delhi. Second workshop on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Awareness was organized at Sri Lanka.

5. Eradication of Invasive weed Ambrosia psilostachya

An obnoxious ragweed was reported to occur in Tumkur district of Karnataka and was later identified as Ambrosia psilostachya DC, an invasive weed of Mexican and Northern American origin. The weed is of quarantine significance to India and regulated as quarantine weed under Schedule VII of PQ Order, 2003. This weed is highly invasive in its native and introduced range. The negative effects of the weed are being experience in invaded forest and agro-ecosystems and in public and social lands. The weed needs to be contained to prevent the further spread and subsequently eradicated. A delimiting survey was conducted for Ambrosia psilostachya with an objective to gauge the extent of its spread and arrest further spread and to plan for its eradication.

6.Study on Fumigation of Coffee Beans with Aluminium Phosphide-Collaborative project with Coffee Research Institute

This project is collaborated with Central Coffee Research Institute, Chickmagalur, Karnataka to evaluate the efficacy of ALP fumigation of coffee beans against coffee berry borer and to study the effect of Aluminium Phosphide fumigation on the mortality of all stages including egg of coffee berry borer. The research is initiated and mass multiplication of insects in the laboratory.

7. Alternatives to Methyl Bromide fumigation for wheat, pulses and wood Fumigation- DAC project

This project is funded and collaborated with Department of Agriculture and Cooperation mainly to evaluate the efficacy of ALP fumigation against Pulse beetle in pulses, Rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae) in Wheat and Lyctid beetles and termites in wood.

8. Irradiation as an Alternative to Chemical Fumigation of Selected Pulses for Food and Nutritional Security in India –Collaborative project with BARC

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Govt. of India & NIPHM, Department of Agriculture, cooperation & Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India jointly conducted study on “Irradiation as an alternative to chemical fumigation of selected pulses for food and nutritional security in India”.

9. Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) for fruit fly, Mango fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hen.). Collaborative project with BARC

The study revealed that Bactrocera dorsalis and B zonata were found to be dominant species. Irradiation of 7 days old pupae with (50 Gy treated female × Non-treated male) showed further development. Irradiation of 7 days old pupae with (50 Gy treated male × Non-treated female and with 60, 70 and 90 Gy there is no further development.

10. Computer assisted digital Identification keys for Stored Grain Insects Pests and fruit flies of import and export concern

Detection and Identification is very important in decision making and early warning system of pest and disease. Digital interactive keys (descriptive and pictorial) for identification of the stored grain pests and fruit fly have been prepared and hosted on NIPHM website for public access. Fact sheets, glossary and microscopic images are included

Link

11. Protecting Food Security in SE Asian Countries by Developing Early warning and Ready Response Systems for Invasive Weed Incursions- Global Challenges Research Fund-UK

The Project objective was to bring together experts in weed risk analysis, agricultural economics, agricultural data collection, bio-economic modelling, and digital technology; and plant protection policy-makers and educators from India, Bhutan and United Kingdom and to identify the stakeholder requirements and resource requirements for the development and evaluation of the above said tools.

12. Prioritization of exotic looming Plant Pest Threats & domestic Quarantine pests, and Identification of Geographic Potential Areas for the pest establishment

As per section 2.2.2.2 of ISPM 2 (Guidelines for Pest Risk Analysis; International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures 2; IPPC, 2019), Climatic modelling systems may be used to compare climatic data on the known distribution of a pest with that in the PRA area to assess the probability of establishment. Furthermore, as per section 4.3.2.2 of PRA training manual (FAO, 2007), analysis may involve the use of geographic information systems (GIS) and other computerized systems such as CLIMEX to model and map potential pest distributions in the PRA area. Hence, CLIMEX modeling system is applied to estimate the potential endangered areas for the pest establishment.

13. Studies on shelf life and packing material for export of major green leafy vegetables

The green leafy vegetables such as Spinach, Amaranthus, Methi, Purslane and Roselle were packed in various packing material and kept at room temperature and refrigerated condition in order to study their shelf life.

14. Survey on the Incidence of sucking pest complex of different vegetable crops in Rangareddy district, Telangana

A survey was conducted to know the status of different insect pests and natural enemies associated with major vegetable crops grown in Rangareddy district, Telangana during the year 2020-2021. Villages viz., Papireddyguda, Lemur, Chenvelli, Peddashapur, Chegur and Kanduwada from Rangareddy district were selected to record the pest incidence under roving survey.

15. Establishment of Plant Health Clinic

Provided pest /disease /other advisory solutions and Eco-friendly control measures to the farmers. Given demonstrations/Distribution of kits / Training programmes etc., in all the selected 22 villages from Rangareddy, Suryapet, Warangal Urban and Warangal Rural. Established Plant Health Clinics each at Rangareddy, Suryapet, Warangal Urban and Warangal Rural.

16. Studies on impact of rodents in different Human habitat in Hyderabad city

In urban environment the close association between human and rats increased the potential for spread of many zoonotic diseases and causing significant morbidity and mortality. The zoonotic case number is increasing every year. Therefore, there is a need to understand the effect of environment factors that favours the build-up rodent population in urban situation.

17. Development of wild boar management modules in agro ecosystem

Evaluated different feasible integrated management modules available for effective management of wild boar in agro ecosystem. In single tier module, circular razor blade wire and bioacoustics treatments were highly effective and gave complete protection against the damage caused by wild boar. In two tier module, the fishnet + coconut coir treated with pig oil and biofence + bioacoustics system gave full protection to the crops from damage by wild boar. In case of three tier module Fishnet + Treated coconut coir (pig oil) + Bioacoustics have protected the crop from wild boar without any damage.

18. Preliminary study for the development of gamma Irradiation protocols as phytosanitary measures for export of selected Loose and Cut flowers (Collaborative Project with BARC and PJTSAU)

In this study, survey was conducted in the poly houses of Telangana state and Jasmine field of Andhra Pradesh to identify the major pests associated with important flowers such as Rose, Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Gerbera and Jasmine. The irradiation study revealed that the cut flowers can tolerate different doses up to 450 Gy based on freshness score, relative fresh weight and volume uptake.

19. Irradiation as an Alternative to Chemical Fumigation of Selected Pulses for Food and Nutritional Security in India

Present investigations on effect of gamma radiation on pulse beetle, Callasobruchus chinensis were carried out during 2018-2019 and 2020-2021 at National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM), Hyderabad, Telangana. The irradiation treatment was done at Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU), Hyderabad, Telangana, India during the 2018-2019 for initial 250 gm sample size studies and bulk samples size i.e.20 kg studies Mahrashtra state agriculture marketing board irradiation Treatment Plant APMC Market Yard, Sector 19 F, Opposite Dana Bander, Vashi, Navi Mumbai during 2020-2021.

Eggs, Larvae and pupae were completely inhibited with the treated doses of 683Gy in all the pulses tested(Mung bean, chick pea and pigeon pea) .683Gy showed that complete sterility of C. chinensis adults happened and there were no further development was observed even after 6 months and thereon of the irradiation treatment. 100 per cent pupal mortality of C. chinensis were achieved at higher dose of 800 Gy.

20. Seed health testing for major crops

Seed is an efficient means of introducing plant pathogens into a new area as well as providing a means of their survival from one cropping season to another. In recent years seed has become an international commodity used to exchange germplasm around the world. Production of healthy seed continues to be an important activity through phytosanitary certification and quarantine programme in domestic and international seed trade. Seed health testing is an essential management tool for the management of seed-borne and seed-transmitted pathogens. Seed health testing was carried out in important crops and the details are furnished below.

In sorghum Sporisorium reilianum external seed borne pathogen was isolated which causes head smut in sorghum and maize. Again in sorghum- Rhizopus stolonifer causes sorghum grain mold was isolated. In Paddy- Bipolaris oryzae which is the causal agent of rice brown spot disease was isolated. Also Alternaria padwickii infected seeds of rice was isolated in paddy. In, soybean, Cercospora kikuchii infected seed was collected. DNA isolation process was completed for Rhizopus stolonifer and Bipolaris oryzae.