Coimbatore: The inaugural function of the ICAR-sponsored Centre of Advanced Faculty Training for 21 days on 'Ecological and Molecular Approaches for Host Plant Resistance to Insect Pests' being hosted by the Department of Agricultural Entomology, Centre for Plant Protection Studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) was held on November 6. The 21-day training spans from November 5 to 25. The trainees included were scientists from Agricultural Universities, National Bodies and ICAR institutes from 10 different states in the country.
Coimbatore: The inaugural function of the ICAR-sponsored Centre of Advanced Faculty Training for 21 days
on 'Ecological and Molecular Approaches for Host Plant Resistance to Insect Pests' being hosted by the Department of Agricultural Entomology, Centre for Plant Protection Studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) was held on November 6. The 21-day training spans from November 5 to 25. The trainees included were scientists from Agricultural Universities, National Bodies and ICAR institutes from 10 different states in the country.
Dr. N Kumar, the Vice-Chancellor, TNAU presided over the function and inaugurated the
training program. Addressing the participants, Dr. N Kumar stated that the world population clock
was at 7.7418 billion as on November 5, 2019 midday and is ever increasing, and needs to be fed. "In India, the 2019 population is estimated at 1.371 billion people as on November 5, 2019 according to UN data. India's population is equivalent to 17.71 percent of the total world population. To feed this population, we need to produce more from limited lands, water, increasing threats and costs. India's arable land area of 159.7 million hectares (394.6 million acres) is the second largest in the world, after the United States. Its gross irrigated crop area of 82.6 million hectares (215.6 million acres) is the largest in the world. When humans started agriculture, insects started colonizing those crops. Thus, selection of plant varieties with less damage might have begun," pointed Dr. N Kumar.
"Host-plant resistance (HPR) has been thought to give many answers to scientists in the medieval and modern periods. Resistance of a plant to an insect is the relative amount of heritable qualities possessed by the plant which influences the ultimate degree of damage done by the insect. Plant resistance as an approach in pest management offers many advantages. Insect resistant
cultivars have eliminated the use of millions of tonnes of pesticides that could have polluted the
environment at a faster rate," explained Dr. N Kumar.
"If we take the history of TNAU, this world-renowned centre has greatly contributed to HPR
science and GEB 24 rice accession forms the basis for most of the varieties released all over the
world which has contributed to the farming community by directly releasing resistant varieties (Rice: Co 25, ASD 5 Co 42, ADT 36, PY 3, ADT 37, ADTS3 etc. that are resistant to brown planthopper) including flower crops like Pari Mullai. TNAU has adopted the policy to work for new varieties that are always carrying genome backgrounds resistant to key pests and diseases and the varieties are durable," he added.
In his special address, Dr. M Gopalan, former Dean (PG Studies) and also former Director
(Plant Protection) and former faculty of the Department narrated the history and development of the
science of host plant resistance for the management of pests and diseases of crop plants. He urged
the scientists to build up the novel methods of pest control using Host Plant Resistance as the
principal method in it.
Dr. K Prabakar, Director, Centre for Plant Protection Studies mentioned that the Host Plant
Resistance forms the basis for any IPM programme in Crop Protection and Integrated Crop
Management. "TNAU, the pioneering University in our country has conducted many IPM
programmes through our CPPS from early 1980, onwards," he noted.
Dr. N Sathiah, Director, CAFT & Professor and Head, Department of Agricultural
Entomology explained the areas and contents of the training module and indicated that the lecture
schedule is well-structured in order to cater to the needs of the participants.
Dr. M Muthuswami, Professor (Entomology) welcomed the gathering. The trainees, scientists and post-graduate students attended the inaugural function.
Dr. M Murugan, Professor (Entomology) brought the function to a close by proposing a vote of thanks.
on 'Ecological and Molecular Approaches for Host Plant Resistance to Insect Pests' being hosted by the Department of Agricultural Entomology, Centre for Plant Protection Studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) was held on November 6. The 21-day training spans from November 5 to 25. The trainees included were scientists from Agricultural Universities, National Bodies and ICAR institutes from 10 different states in the country.
Dr. N Kumar, the Vice-Chancellor, TNAU presided over the function and inaugurated the
training program. Addressing the participants, Dr. N Kumar stated that the world population clock
was at 7.7418 billion as on November 5, 2019 midday and is ever increasing, and needs to be fed. "In India, the 2019 population is estimated at 1.371 billion people as on November 5, 2019 according to UN data. India's population is equivalent to 17.71 percent of the total world population. To feed this population, we need to produce more from limited lands, water, increasing threats and costs. India's arable land area of 159.7 million hectares (394.6 million acres) is the second largest in the world, after the United States. Its gross irrigated crop area of 82.6 million hectares (215.6 million acres) is the largest in the world. When humans started agriculture, insects started colonizing those crops. Thus, selection of plant varieties with less damage might have begun," pointed Dr. N Kumar.
"Host-plant resistance (HPR) has been thought to give many answers to scientists in the medieval and modern periods. Resistance of a plant to an insect is the relative amount of heritable qualities possessed by the plant which influences the ultimate degree of damage done by the insect. Plant resistance as an approach in pest management offers many advantages. Insect resistant
cultivars have eliminated the use of millions of tonnes of pesticides that could have polluted the
environment at a faster rate," explained Dr. N Kumar.
"If we take the history of TNAU, this world-renowned centre has greatly contributed to HPR
science and GEB 24 rice accession forms the basis for most of the varieties released all over the
world which has contributed to the farming community by directly releasing resistant varieties (Rice: Co 25, ASD 5 Co 42, ADT 36, PY 3, ADT 37, ADTS3 etc. that are resistant to brown planthopper) including flower crops like Pari Mullai. TNAU has adopted the policy to work for new varieties that are always carrying genome backgrounds resistant to key pests and diseases and the varieties are durable," he added.
In his special address, Dr. M Gopalan, former Dean (PG Studies) and also former Director
(Plant Protection) and former faculty of the Department narrated the history and development of the
science of host plant resistance for the management of pests and diseases of crop plants. He urged
the scientists to build up the novel methods of pest control using Host Plant Resistance as the
principal method in it.
Dr. K Prabakar, Director, Centre for Plant Protection Studies mentioned that the Host Plant
Resistance forms the basis for any IPM programme in Crop Protection and Integrated Crop
Management. "TNAU, the pioneering University in our country has conducted many IPM
programmes through our CPPS from early 1980, onwards," he noted.
Dr. N Sathiah, Director, CAFT & Professor and Head, Department of Agricultural
Entomology explained the areas and contents of the training module and indicated that the lecture
schedule is well-structured in order to cater to the needs of the participants.
Dr. M Muthuswami, Professor (Entomology) welcomed the gathering. The trainees, scientists and post-graduate students attended the inaugural function.
Dr. M Murugan, Professor (Entomology) brought the function to a close by proposing a vote of thanks.