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Dr. C M Senthil Kumar

Dr. C M Senthil Kumar
Name Dr. C M Senthil Kumar
Designation Principal Scientist
Division Crop Protection
Qualification Ph.D.
Specialisation Agricultural Entomology
Contact cmsenthil@gmail.com
Areas of Interest Insect pathology, Biocontrol, IPM

  1. Senthil Kumar CM, Samyuktha M, Rajkumar MB, Punithavalli M, D’Silva S, Geethu C, Ahalya P, Jacob TK, Devasahayam S, Bhat AI. Host range and virulence of Metarhizium pingshaense against Chilo species and expression of fungal virulence genes in Conogethes punctiferalis. Sci Rep. 2025;15:18506. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-03643-y.

  2. Senthil Kumar CM, D’Silva S, Praveena R, Kaprakkaden A, Krishnan LR, Rajkumar MB, Srinivasan V, Dinesh R. Zinc solubilization and organic acid production by the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium pingshaense sheds light on its key ecological role in the environment. Sci Total Environ. 2024;923:171348. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171348.

  3. Senthil Kumar CM, Jacob TK, Devasahayam S, Rajeshkumar KC, Lad SS, D’Silva S, Geethu C. Metarhizium indicum, a new species of entomopathogenic fungus infecting leafhopper Busoniomimus manjunathi from India. J Invertebr Pathol. 2023;198:107919. doi:10.1016/j.jip.2023.107919.

  4. Eapen SJ, Thomas L, Praveena R, Senthil Kumar CM. Pesticide regulation policy and global food safety for Indian spices. J Consum Prot Food Saf. 2022;17:407–410. doi:10.1007/s00003-022-01387-9.

  5. Senthil Kumar CM, Jacob TK, Devasahayam S, D’Silva S, Geethu C. Field evaluation of Lecanicillium psalliotae and development of an integrated pest management strategy against Sciothrips cardamomi. Biol Control. 2022;165:104822. doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2021.104822.

  6. Senthil Kumar CM, Jacob TK, Devasahayam S, Geethu C, Hariharan V. Characterization and biocontrol potential of a naturally occurring isolate of Metarhizium pingshaense infecting Conogethes punctiferalis. Microbiol Res. 2021;243:126645. doi:10.1016/j.micres.2020.126645.

  7. Jacob TK, Senthil Kumar CM, Devasahayam S, et al. Plant morphological traits associated with field resistance to cardamom thrips (Sciothrips cardamomi) in cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum). Ann Appl Biol. 2020;176(2):143–151. doi:10.1111/aab.12592.

  8. Devasahayam S, Jacob TK, Senthil Kumar CM, Rajkumar MB. Biorational strategies for the management of insect pests of spice crops. J Spices Aromat Crops. 2020;29:21–37.

  9. Senthil Kumar CM, Jacob TK, Devasahayam S. Efficacy of new-generation insecticides for the management of shoot borer (Conogethes punctiferalis Guen.) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.). J Spices Aromat Crops. 2019;28:70–73.

  10. Senthil Kumar CM, Jacob TK, Devasahayam S, Hariharan V, D’Silva S. Mermithid parasitism of shoot borer (Conogethes punctiferalis) infesting ginger and turmeric and its biocontrol potential. Ann Appl Biol. 2018;173(3):243–250. doi:10.1111/aab.12457.

  11. Senthil Kumar CM, Jacob TK, Devasahayam S, Stephy T, Geethu C. Multifarious plant growth promotion by an entomopathogenic fungus Lecanicillium psalliotae. Microbiol Res. 2018;207:153–160. doi:10.1016/j.micres.2017.11.017.

  12. Shang H, Garretson TA, Senthil Kumar CM, Dieter RF, Cheng XW. Improved pFastBac™ donor plasmid vectors for higher protein production using the Bac-to-Bac® baculovirus expression vector system. J Biotechnol. 2017;255:37–46. doi:10.1016/j.jbiotec.2017.06.397.

  13. Senthil Kumar CM, Jacob TK, Devasahayam S. Evaluation of insecticides and a natural product for efficacy against shoot borer (Conogethes punctiferalis Guen.) infesting ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.). J Spices Aromat Crops. 2017;26:91–94.

  14. Senthil Kumar CM, Jacob TK, Devasahayam S, D’Silva S, Nandeesh PG. Characterization and virulence of Beauveria bassiana associated with auger beetle (Sinoxylon anale) infesting allspice (Pimenta dioica). J Invertebr Pathol. 2016;139:67–73. doi:10.1016/j.jip.2016.07.016.

  15. Senthil Kumar CM, Jacob TK, Devasahayam S, D’Silva S, Jinsha J, Rajna S. Occurrence and characterization of a tetrahedral nucleopolyhedrovirus from Spilarctia obliqua (Walker). J Invertebr Pathol. 2015;132:135–141. doi:10.1016/j.jip.2015.10.001.

  16. Senthil Kumar CM, Jacob TK, Devasahayam S, D’Silva S, Krishna Kumar NK. Isolation and characterization of a Lecanicillium psalliotae isolate infecting cardamom thrips (Sciothrips cardamomi) in India. BioControl. 2015;60(3):363–373. doi:10.1007/s10526-015-9649-4.

  17. Jacob TK, D’Silva S, Senthil Kumar CM, Devasahayam S, Rajalakshmi V, Sujeesh ES, Bhat AI, Abraham S. Single-strain infection of adult and larval cardamom thrips (Sciothrips cardamomi) by Wolbachia subgroup Con (supergroup B) in India. Invertebr Reprod Dev. 2015;59(1):1–8. doi:10.1080/07924259.2014.970237.

  18. Jacob TK, Senthil Kumar CM, D’Silva S, Devasahayam S, Ranganath HR, Sujeesh ES, Biju CN, Praveena R, Ankegowda SJ. Evaluation of insecticides and natural products against cardamom thrips (Sciothrips cardamomi Ramk.) in the field. J Spices Aromat Crops. 2015;24:133–136.

  19. Cheng XH, Senthil Kumar CM, Arif BM, Krell PJ, Zhang CX, Cheng XW. Cell-dependent production of polyhedra and virion occlusion of Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus fp25k mutants in vitro and in vivo. J Gen Virol. 2013;94(Pt 1):177–186. doi:10.1099/vir.0.045591-0.

  20. Senthil Kumar CM, Jeyaram K, Singh HB. First record of the entomopathogenic fungus Entomophaga aulicae on Spilarctia obliqua in Manipur, India. Phytoparasitica. 2011;39:67–71. doi:10.1007/s12600-010-0139-z.

  21. Wang L, Salem TZ, Campbell DJ, Turney CM, Senthil Kumar CM, Cheng XW. Characterization of a virion occlusion-defective Autographa californica multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus mutant lacking the p26, p10 and p74 genes. J Gen Virol. 2009;90(Pt 7):1641–1648. doi:10.1099/vir.0.010397-0.

  22. Senthil Kumar CM, Regupathy A. Gut content analysis of spiders in a coffee ecosystem. Curr Sci. 2009;96(6):892–893.

  23. Senthil Kumar CM, Rabindra RJ, Sathiah N. Biological activity and characterization of nucleopolyhedrovirus isolates of Spodoptera litura. Phytoparasitica. 2006;34:92–101. doi:10.1007/BF02981344.

  24. Senthil Kumar CM, Regupathy A. Risk assessment of neonicotinoids applied to the coffee ecosystem. Int Pest Control. 2005;47:82–87.

  25. Senthil Kumar CM, Regupathy A. Generating baseline data for insecticide resistance monitoring in coffee green scale Coccus viridis. Resist Pest Manag Newsl. 2004;13:5–7.

  26. Senthil Kumar CM, Regupathy A. A preliminary report on the diversity of arachnofauna in coffee plantations of Yercaud, Tamil Nadu, India. Bugs R All. 2008;16:11–12.

  27. Senthil Kumar CM, Regupathy A. Harvest-time residues of thiamethoxam (Actara 25 WG) applied to coffee plantations. Ann Plant Prot Sci. 2008;16:485–487.

  28. Senthil Kumar CM, Regupathy A. Bioefficacy of thiamethoxam (Actara 25 WG) against sucking pests of coffee. Pestic Res J. 2007;19:215–217.

  29. Senthil Kumar CM, Regupathy A. Physical and biological compatibility of neonicotinoids with nutrients and fungicides applied to coffee plantations. Ann Plant Prot Sci. 2007;15:131–134.

  30. Senthil Kumar CM, Regupathy A. Stem application of neonicotinoids to coffee plants: an ecological and cost-effective approach. Ann Plant Prot Sci. 2006;14:73–75.

  31. Senthil Kumar CM, Sathiah N, Rabindra RJ. Optimizing harvest time of nucleopolyhedrovirus-infected Spodoptera litura larvae under in vivo production systems. Curr Sci. 2005;88(10):1682–1684.

  32. Senthil Kumar CM, Rabindra RJ. Influence of dietary vegetable oils on Spodoptera litura and its nuclear polyhedrosis virus production. J Biol Control. 2003;17:57–61.

1. International Arachnology Society award 2004, Belgium
2. Department of Biotechnology (DBT) Overseas Associateship (long term) Award – 2007-08 to work in USA 
3. Chris J Lomer Award, 2016 – Society for Invertebrate Pathology, France 
4. Australian Endeavour Research Fellowship 2018
5. DST – International Travel Support Award 2019, 2023

PI

  1. Development of an integrated Deep Learning and molecular tool based expert system for early detection and identification of major insect pests and vector transmitted viruses of spice crops (Funded by DBT, GOI)

  2. Development of a Metarhizium sp. based bio-pesticide formulation for the control of   shoot borer, Conogethes punctiferalis infesting cardamom, ginger and turmeric (Funded by KSCSTE, GOK)

  1. Senthil Kumar CM, Eapen SJ. Pesticide contamination in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.): detection, implications, and sustainable solutions. In: Sustainability of black pepper production: a critical analysis of current practices. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press; 2024. p. 263–280.

  2. Devasahayam S, Jacob TK, Senthil Kumar CM, Rajkumar MB. Insect pests of spices and their management. In: Ravindran PN, Sivaraman K, Devasahayam S, Nirmal Babu K, editors. Handbook of spices in India: 75 years of research and development. Singapore: Springer; 2024. p. 1215–1244. doi:10.1007/978-981-19-3728-6_57.

  3. Devasahayam S, Jacob TK, Eapen SJ, Senthil Kumar CM. Pests and their management in spices. In: Mani M, editor. Trends in horticultural entomology. Singapore: Springer; 2022. p. 1129–1160. doi:10.1007/978-981-19-0343-4_56.

  4. Senthil Kumar CM. Trends in biorational and organic pest management approaches in spice crops. In: Global perspectives in crop protection for food security: compendium of invited papers; TNAU Golden Jubilee International Conference; 2021 Dec 8–10; Coimbatore, India. Coimbatore: Tamil Nadu Agricultural University; 2021. p. 51–60.

  5. Devasahayam S, Senthil Kumar CM, Jacob TK. Status of shoot and fruit borer, Conogethes sahyadriensis, on spice crops. In: Chakravarthy AK, editor. The black spotted, yellow borer, Conogethes punctiferalis Guenée and allied species. Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd; 2018. p. 205–217. doi:10.1007/978-981-13-0390-6_16.

  6. Jacob TK, Senthil Kumar CM, Rajkumar MB. Insect pests of selected spice crops. In: Spices of islands: potentials and way forward for profitability. Port Blair: ICAR–Central Island Agricultural Research Institute; 2018. p. 215–224.

  7. Devasahayam S, Jacob TK, Senthil Kumar CM. Spice crops. In: Chowdappa P, Mohan C, Josephrajkumar A, editors. Pests of plantation crops. New Delhi: Astral International Pvt Ltd; 2018. p. 143–161.

  8. Senthil Kumar CM, Jacob TK, Devasahayam S. Insect pests of major spice crops and their management. In: Satyanarayan Reddy B, Sunil C, Mohan Kumar HD, Sridhar Herle P, Cheriyan H, Adivappar N, editors. Recent advances in spice crops and future strategies: National Conference on Spices; 2013; Shimoga, India. Shimoga: Directorate of Research, University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences; 2013. p. 109–114.

  9. Sathiah N, Kennedy JS, Rajasekaran B, Rabindra RJ, Chandrasekaran M, Subramaniam S, Senthil Kumar CM, Parthasarathy R. Influence of host plants on the efficacy of nucleopolyhedrovirus. In: Rabindra RJ, Kennedy JS, Sathiah N, Rajasekaran B, Dhandapani N, editors. Advances in baculovirus research. Coimbatore: Tamil Nadu Agricultural University; 2003. p. 158–161. (Publication No. 20/2003).

  10. Senthil Kumar CM, Rabindra RJ, Sathiah N, Kennedy JS. Efficacy and stability of microencapsulated formulations of Spodoptera litura nuclear polyhedrosis virus. In: Sarath Babu B, Varaprasad KS, Anitha K, Prasada Rao RDVJ, Chakrabarty SK, Chandurkar PS, editors. Resource management in plant protection. Vol. 2. Hyderabad: Plant Protection Association of India; 2002. p. 36–39.