Crop Protection

The Crop Protection Division focuses on undertaking research on plant pathogens, insects and plant parasitic nematodes and provides specialized services to the spice growers to protect their plants from pests and diseases.The Division is very strongly focused on developing eco-friendly, integrated management schedules to minimize the use of pesticides and reduce their risk, to obtain safe and clean spices.

Manpower

At present ten scientists belonging to disciplines like Plant Pathology, Entomology, Nematology and Microbiology are working in this Division.

Name	Designation	Specialization
Dr. A Ishwara Bhat	Principal Scientist & Head	Plant Pathology
Dr. C M Senthil Kumar	Principal Scientist	Entomology
Dr. C N Biju	Senior Scientist	Plant Pathology
Dr. R Praveena	Senior Scientist	Plant Pathology
Dr. C Sarathambal	Senior Scientist	Agri. Microbiology
Dr. C Sellaperumal	Senior Scientist	Nematology
Dr. Mohammed Faisal Peeran	Scientist	Plant Pathology
Dr. M Balaji Rajkumar	Scientist	Entomology
Dr. Manimaran B	Scientist	Nematology
Dr Priya George	Technical Officer	Plant Pathology
Research Fellows
Ms. Mery Rincy K	KSCSTE Fellow	Biotechnology
Ms. Karthika C S	UGC fellow	Botany
Ms. Megha Das	UGC Fellow	Botany
Ms. Fathimath Zumaila	UGC Fellow	Botany
Ms. Vijayasanthi K V	CSIR Fellow	Botany
Ms. Rugma S B	IGKV Fellow	Plant Pathology
Ms. Aiswarya Babu	CSIR fellow	Zoology
Ms. Greeshma M	UGC fellow	Botany
Ms. Fathima Dilkush	CSIR fellow	Microbiology
Ms. Malavika Pradeep	Project Associate	Molecular Biology

Major Achievements

Over the last three decades the Division has established the etiology and epidemiology of major diseases of spices, surveyed the spice growing areas of the country and catalogued the major pests and pathogens and developed integrated pest/disease management measures to control them. In pursuit of clean spices without any pesticide residues, the Division is actively engaged in developing pest/disease resistant lines and biocontrol agents that suppress the pathogens. Notable among the resistant lines developed are IISR Shakti (Phytophthora resistant black pepper line), Pournami (root knot nematode resistant black pepper line), IISR Vijetha (‘Katte’ resistant cardamom selection), IISR Avinash (rhizome rot resistant cardamom line), IISR Mahima (root knot nematode resistant ginger selection) and IISR Pragati (root knot nematode tolerant turmeric selection). The efficient strains of biocontrol agents developed by the Division like Trichoderma harzianum, Pseudomonas spp., Pochonia chlamydosporia, Lecanicillium psalliote etc. are quite popular among the farming community and are successfully commercialized. Highly reliable and sensitive diagnostic tools have been standardized for rapid detection of viruses, bacteria, fungi and nematodes infecting spices.

Research Programs

The major problems handled by the scientists of the Division are Phytophthora foot rot, slow decline, anthracnose, viral diseases of black pepper, rhizome rot and viral diseases of cardamom, soft rot and bacterial wilt of ginger, foliar diseases of turmeric and diseases of vanilla. Besides, insect and nematode problems of these spices are also addressed. Some of the ongoing research projects are:

Mega Project VI: Bio-intensive management of pests and diseases in spices

ICAR-CP 1. ICAR-Consortium research project on borers in network mode (2014-2024) [Dr. C.M. Senthil Kumar & Dr. M. Balaji Rajkumar]
Integrated management of mealy bug (Pseudococcidae: Hemiptera) infesting black pepper (2019 – 2024) [Dr. M. Balaji Rajkumar & Dr. C. M. Senthil Kumar]
KSCSTE-CP-1: Development of a Metarhizium sp. based bio-pesticide formulation for the control of shoot borer, Conogethes punctiferalis infesting cardamom, ginger and turmeric (2021-2024) [Dr. C. M. Senthil Kumar, Dr. M. Balaji Rajkumar & Dr. R. Praveena]
Nema. VII (813): Prevalence of lesion nematodes in turmeric growing tracts of India and their economic significance (2018-2024) [Dr. C. Sellaperumal, Dr. Santhosh J Eapen & Dr. R. Praveena]
Path. XXVII (813): Development of microbial biostimulants for growth promotion and disease resistance in major spices (2018-2023) [Dr. C. Sarathambal, Dr. A. Jeevalatha& Ms. R. Sivaranjani] (External support: Dr. Mohammed Faisal Peeran]
Path. XXVIII (813): Novel strategies for managing bacterial wilt and soft rot diseases of ginger (2018-2024) [Dr. C. N. Biju, Dr. Mohammed Faizal Peeran & Dr Divya P. S.]
Path, XXIX (813): Strategic approaches for management of black pepper diseases (2019 – 2024) [Dr. C. N. Biju, Dr. A. Ishwara Bhat, Dr. A. Jeevalatha, Dr. Mohammed Faisal Peeran, Dr. C. Sellaperumal, Dr. R. Praveena, Dr. Santhosh J. Eapen] (External support: Dr. V. Srinivasan)
Path. XXX (813): Development and formulation of Plant Beneficial Rhizosphere Microorganisms (PBRMs) for disease antagonism, soil nutrient solubilization and plant growth promotion (2020-2024) [Dr. R. Praveena, Dr. R. Dinesh & Dr. C. Sarathambal] (External support: Dr. V. Srinivasan)
Path. XXX1 (813) Development of off and on site detection techniques for major pathogens of spice crops. (2020-2025) [Dr. A Jeevalatha, Dr. A. Ishwara Bhat, Dr. C. N. Biju &Dr. Mohammed Faisal Peeran]
Path XXXII (813) (2021-2024): Bacillus spp. based formulation for the management of rhizome rot disease in small cardamom (2021-2024) [Dr. Mohammed Faisal Peeran, Dr. C. Sarathambal] (External support: Dr. R. Praveena)
SERB-CP1: Development of on-site detection kits for viruses and oomycetes infecting black pepper (Piper nigrum) (2021-24) [Dr. A. Ishwara Bhat & Dr. A. Jeevalatha]