Introduction

The Division of Crop Protection was established in the VIII five year plan when the Directorate of Pulses Research attained the status of Indian Institute of Pulses Research on 5^thSeptember 1993. The Division comprises of Plant Pathology, Agricultural Entomology and Nematology sections and engaged in basic and applied strategic research on management of major insect pests; plant pathogens (fungi, bacteria, virus, etc.) and nematodes infesting the mandate crops of the Institute. The Division is equipped with latest facilities for molecular studies on pests and pathogens.

Major Research Programmes

• Biological and molecular diversity of insect-pests and pathogens.
• Bio-ecology of major and emerging pests and diseases.
• Characterization of Biological Control agents and development of biopesticide for pest and disease management.
• Host plant resistance against major insect pests, diseases and nematodes
• Refinement of Integrated Pest and disease Management modules
• Pest monitoring and development / validation of pest forecasting models for major insect pests and diseases
• Management of stored grain pests infesting major pulses.

Infrastructure / Facilities

The Division has well equipped laboratories for research on biological control, bio-ecology, molecular biology, white fly culture facility and storage entomology. The Laboratories are equipped with latest equipments viz., Thermocycler, Gel documentation system, Fermentor, semi-automated microtome and microscopes with image acquisition and analysis system, Spectophotometer, ELISA, Deep Freezers, Refrigerated centrifuge, Refrigerated incubator shakers, Electrophoresis system, plant growth chambers, Water purification system etc.

The Division is maintaining sick plots for pigeonpea, chickpea and lentil wilts, phytophthora stem blight sick field of pigeonpea and sick tank available for Fusarium wilt race specific screening of chickpea and pigeonpea and micro-plots for Meloidogyne incognita, M. Javanica, Heterodera cajani and Pratylenchus thornei.

Chickpea Wilt

Pigeonpea Wilt

Phytophthora Blight

Lentil Wilt

Services

• Diagnostic services to the farmers for insect pests, diseases and nematodes of mandate crops.
• Advisory services on pest management to State Agriculture Department and farmers.
• Testing of newer molecules of pesticides and biorationals developed by industry/institutes.
• Guidance to M.Sc. and Ph.D. students.
• Microbial cultures of insect, pathogens and nematodes and biocontrol agents (Trichoderma, PGPRs, Bt, HaNPV, SpNPV) are available for research purposes.

Achievements

1. Host Plant Resistance

2. Bio-ecology

• Field infestation window by two bruchid species, Callosobruchus maculates , and C. analis L., on cowpea and mungbean was initiated during 3^rd and 4^th weeks after flowering (WAF), respectively and infestation was gradually increased towards crop maturity when majority of the pods were dried. The field infestation was further confirmed in stored grains representing respective field infestation window.
• Stem rot disease caused by Sclerotinia scleriotiorm (lib.) de Bary. of pigeonpea was reported for the first time from India (Fig 1).

Fig 1. Stem rot disease in pigeonpea

• Groundnut bud necrosis virus (GBNV) infection was reported for the first time in pea, rajmash and several species and sub-species of wild Vigna species/sub-species.
• MYMIV infection was reported for the first time in various accessions of wild Vigna species/sub-species.
• Simplex-PCR detection protocols of 10 viruses (MYMIV, MYMV, HgYMV, DoYMV, FbLCV, FbSLCV, ToLCGV, ToLCNDV-Lentil, CCDV and GBNV) were developed and validated.
• Three kits namely “LYMVs PCR Diagnostic Kit”, “LYMVs Direct PCR Kit” and“LYMVsMplex” were developed for the detection of four viruses (MYMV, MYMIV, HgYMV and DoYMV) causing yellow mosaic in pulse crops (Fig 2).

Fig 2. PCR plant virus diagnostic kit

• French bean severe leaf curl virus (FbSLCV), a new geminivirus was found to be associated with rajmsh, lentil, urdbean and pigeonpea for the first time.
• The association of Tomato leaf curl Gujarat virus (ToLCGV) and French bean leaf curl virus (FbLCV) with leaf curl symptoms of rajmash was confirmed for the first time.
• Pigeonpea pods of about 15-20 days old were preferred for oviposition by pod fly, M. obtusa which is considered to be a critical stage for insecticide application.
• Podfly incidence increased abruptly when, maximum temperature exceeded> 27°C and minimum temperature rose above 12°C.
• Economic threshold levels (ETL) of gram pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) in chickpea and pigeonpea have been worked out. One larva can damage 20-25 pods in lifetime. It attains to ETL when 5-6 male moth /trap per night are recorded during post-winter months.
• Grain yield of urdbean cv Uttara was reduced 50.9% in Heterodera cajani infested plots compared to un-inoculated plots also Heterodera cajani infection reduced the total protein content of the grains
• Viability of eggs of Heterodera cajani in cysts was recorded for more than 3 years but less than four years without host in moist and dry soil.
• Twelve nematode genera were reported from chickpea rhizosphere in Bundelkhand region. The most frequently encountered genera were, Tylenchorhynchus spp. followed by Pratylenchus spp. and Tylenchus spp. Eleven nematode genera were reported from pigeonpea fields in Hamirpur district of Bundelkhand, wherein most frequently encountered nematodes were Tylenchorhynchus sp. and  Tylenchus sp. followed by Heterodera cajani.

ENP infected Galleria Larvae

Pulse Beetle infestation in cowpea

Pod borer in chickpea and pigeonpea

3. Biological Control of Phytopathogens

• A total of >200 isolates of Trichoderma belonging to 9 different spp. ( harzianum, T. asperellum, T. afroharzianum, T. virens, T. longibrachiatum, T. atrobreuneum, T. bravicompactum, T. asperelloides, T. aureoviroides) were identified and characterized from different pulses (chickpea, pigeonpea, lentil, fieldpea, green gram and black gram) rhizosphere across the country.
• All the Trichoderma isolates were meticulously tested for management of wilt, dry root rot, collar rot, stem rot pathogens of chickpea, pigeonpea, lentil and fieldpea and plant growth promotion potential.
• Identified the most potential 20 Trichoderma isolates for disease suppression ability and growth promotion potential. There are deposits to ICAR-NBAIM, Mau, as the national depository.
• Two multi-trait Trichoderma strain (IIPRTh-31, asperellum) and (IIPRTh-33, T. afroharzianum) have been registered with ICAR-NBAIM Mau (NAIMCC-R- 5 and NAIMCC-R- 6).
• Developed a talc based formulation of registered Trichoderma strain i.e. DALHANDERMA and DALHANDERMA-1 for further commercialization through ICAR- Agri innovate.
• Mycolytic gene (ech- 42 and xyn-2) and secondary metabolites (1,2 Benzene dicarboxylic acid and 2H pyron-2n) were characterized from potential Trichoderma isolates.
• Identified potential rhizosphere bacterial strain (Bacillus subtilis, amylolignifaciens, B. haynerii, B. altitudinus and Pseudomonas guariconensis) for biocontrol and plant growth promotion ability in pulses.
• Developed a DALHAN Bio-Consortia ( asperellum + B. subtilis) as biostimulants.
• Identified and characterized high salt tolerant Trichoderma strain ( harzianum, IIPRTh-4) and heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn) tolerant microbial strain for ecologically safe plant protection and further utilization in bioremediation.

4. Biological Control of Insects

• Two native Bt isolates viz., F8.IIPR & AK2.IIPR were identified and characterized its insecticidal potency for eco-friendly management of Bihar hairy caterpillar, Spilosoma obliqua Walker, helicoverpa armigera hubner and Spodoptera litura fabricius
• SpobmNPV (Spilosoma obliqua Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus) was identified and characterized against S. obliqua. SpobmNPVpolh gene sequence was submitted to NCBI (KT877650).
• DNA barcode based on CoI gene of Spilosoma obliqua, Maruca vitrata, Olepa ricini and Olepa sp. was developed and submitted to NCBI (KX810194; KY559101; KY559102 and KY559103).
• Insect pathogenic virus, HearNPV-IIPR05 isolate was identified against Helicoverpa armigera. The phylogeny based on amino acid sequence of three core genes (Polh, Lef-8, Pif-1) revealed that the isolate belonged to the genus Alphabaculo virus and Group II NPVs.
• Five entomopathogenic nematode isolates were characterized and identified as Stenernima siamkayai and found potential biocontrol agent against pupal stage of Helicoverpa armigera.
• 200 native isolates of Trichoderma species ( harzianum, T. viride, T virens), one isolates of Pseudomonas, one of Bacillus sp. and four species of mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus intraradices, G. mussae, G. fasiculatum, G. itinucatum) has been isolated from pulses rhizosphere.

5. Biological Control of Nematodes

• Seven isolates of obligate bacterial parasite, Pasteuria penetrans (IIPR-Pp-1 to IIPR-Pp-7) were isolated, identified and evaluated for management of root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita in chickpea.
• Fourty eight (48) well characterized strains (10 strains of nematode egg parasitic fungi, Purpureocillium lilacinum; 12 strains each of Trichoderma harzianum, asperellum; 14 strains of rhizobacteria, Bacillus cereus) were submitted and received accession number from NAIMCC, NBAIM, Mau.
• Consortium of potential strains of various nematode bio control agents viz., Purpureocillium lilacinum (NAIMCC-F-04234), Trichoderma harzianum (NAIMCC-F-04262), asperellum (NAIMCC-F-04274), Bacillus cereus (NAIMCC-TB-3853) and Streptomyces ginkgonis (NAIMCC-F-02732) were developed and evaluated for management of Meloidogyne incognita in chickpea
• Whole genome sequencing and de novo assembly, structural and functional annotation of nematode egg parasitic fungi, lilacinum IIPR-Pl-11 Strain has been carried out.

6. Pest Management

• Among 11 bio-rationals / chemical insecticides evaluated against M. vitrata, the lowest pod damage (4.8%) with high cost benefit ratio was recorded in Indoxacarb 14.5 SC treated plots followed by Spinosad 45SC (5.2%) as against 15.4% in untreated control.
• Yield losses due to powdery mildew and rust in fieldpea can be easily avoided if sowing is done during the first week of November. For late sown crop, one or two foliar sprays at ten-day intervals, of wettable sulphur @ 0.3 % starting at the onset of the disease can take care of both powdery mildew and rust.
• One to two foliar sprays of carbendazim 50 WP @ 0.025% or thiophanate methyl 70% WP @ 0.05% have been found very effective in controlling Cercospora leaf spot disease in mungbean.
• Seed treatment with 3% carbosulfan has been found most effective in management of root knot nematode in chickpea. Carbosulfan in combination with carbendazim (0.1%) is also effective. Among neem-based formulations, Nimbecidine (0.2%) is superior in nematode management.
• Field sanitation+ seed treatment + intercropping/mixed cropping of sorghum and use of moderately resistant cultivars has reduced wilt incidence in pigeonpea
• Intercropping of mustard with chickpea has been found effective in management of gram pod borer and root knot nematode.
• Urdbean + Sorghum (3:1) followed by Wheat, Urdbean followed by Wheat + Mustard (8:1) reduced population of parasitic (RK) nematode significantly (76-83%).
• Non host crops of pigeonpea cyst nematode such as linseed, pearl millet, maize or wheat are required to grow for at least 2 years to reduce the cyst population in Heterodera cajani infested fields.
• Application of neem seed powder in soil @ 12.5 kg/ha + farmyard manure @ 5 t/ha in combination with seed treatment with carbosulfan 3% (w/w) controlled root-knot nematode and increased yield in urdbean.
• Application of neem cake @500kg/ha at the time of sowing helps in reducing the root knot nematode infestation in chickpea.
• For prophylactic control of bruchid, treating pulse seeds with mustard oil or non-edible oil like neem, mahua or karanj oil @ 10 ml / kg seed or activated charcoal @ 10 g / kg seed is recommended.

7.Variability in wilt pathogens of pigeonpea and chickpea

• More than 500 Fusarium udum isolates were collected across the country and characterized on seven wilt differentials. On the basis of their pathogenic reactions isolates were grouped into five udum races present in the country.
• Identified six Foc races in the country based on the differential reactions of 326 representative isolates of Fusarium oxysporum sp. ciceri collected across the country