Coimbatore: To address the emerging plant disease problems in field and horticultural crops due to changing climatic conditions and to develop integrated management strategies, a two-day National Symposium was organized jointly by the Indian Society of Plant Pathologists (INSOPP) and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), here.
Coimbatore: To address the emerging plant disease problems in field and horticultural crops due to changing climatic conditions and to develop integrated management strategies, a two-day National Symposium was organized jointly by the Indian Society of Plant Pathologists (INSOPP) and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), here.

Sessions on change in disease scenario, advances in plant disease diagnostics and management, host pathogen interaction and disease resistance, post harvest disease management, and others were discussed at the conference which commenced on December 16.
Dr. K. Prabakar, Director, Centre for Plant Protection studies, TNAU welcomed the gathering and mentioned the significance of epidemiology and forecasting of plant diseases.
Dr. J. Kumar, Dean, College of Agriculture, G.B. Pant University, gave a speech emphasising the role of Plant Pathology in mitigating emerging diseases and food security.
Dr. Jaspal Kaur (Secretary, INSOPP) conferred “Distinguished Plant Pathologist Award” to Dr. J. Kumar for his contribution in the field of Plant Pathology. All the retired professors of the Department of Plant Pathology, TNAU were also honoured by the society.
Dr. N. Kumar, Vice-chancellor, TNAU in his presidential address stressed the need for devising new technologies for management of emerging plant pathogens, as a result of climate change and their early forecasting and mentioned the importance of ISR and Endophytes in managing plant diseases.
"The effect of climate change, as a result of the rise in average global temperature is well visualised in plants and the microbes that interact with them. It has altered the forms of interaction between plants, plant pathogens and insect vectors. Therefore, plant pathologists hold a responsibility of being aware of new emerging threats by plant pathogens and promptly devise management strategies for them", he noted.
Experts from various field of Plant Pathology presented lead papers in the respective research area. Poster presentation was also held which included more than 150 student participants from different parts of the country.
Earlier, the programme was felicitated by Dr. Naresh K. Mehta (President, INSOPP) who highlighted history of the society.
Dr. P.K. Chakrabarthy (Member, ASRB) and Dr. Bushan L. Jalali (Former Director of Research, HAU), Dr. S.S. Chahal, Former Vice Chancellor, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology (Rajasthan), DBU and Khalsa University were the guests of honour for the function

Sessions on change in disease scenario, advances in plant disease diagnostics and management, host pathogen interaction and disease resistance, post harvest disease management, and others were discussed at the conference which commenced on December 16.
Dr. K. Prabakar, Director, Centre for Plant Protection studies, TNAU welcomed the gathering and mentioned the significance of epidemiology and forecasting of plant diseases.
Dr. J. Kumar, Dean, College of Agriculture, G.B. Pant University, gave a speech emphasising the role of Plant Pathology in mitigating emerging diseases and food security.
Dr. Jaspal Kaur (Secretary, INSOPP) conferred “Distinguished Plant Pathologist Award” to Dr. J. Kumar for his contribution in the field of Plant Pathology. All the retired professors of the Department of Plant Pathology, TNAU were also honoured by the society.
Dr. N. Kumar, Vice-chancellor, TNAU in his presidential address stressed the need for devising new technologies for management of emerging plant pathogens, as a result of climate change and their early forecasting and mentioned the importance of ISR and Endophytes in managing plant diseases.
"The effect of climate change, as a result of the rise in average global temperature is well visualised in plants and the microbes that interact with them. It has altered the forms of interaction between plants, plant pathogens and insect vectors. Therefore, plant pathologists hold a responsibility of being aware of new emerging threats by plant pathogens and promptly devise management strategies for them", he noted.
Experts from various field of Plant Pathology presented lead papers in the respective research area. Poster presentation was also held which included more than 150 student participants from different parts of the country.
Earlier, the programme was felicitated by Dr. Naresh K. Mehta (President, INSOPP) who highlighted history of the society.
Dr. P.K. Chakrabarthy (Member, ASRB) and Dr. Bushan L. Jalali (Former Director of Research, HAU), Dr. S.S. Chahal, Former Vice Chancellor, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology (Rajasthan), DBU and Khalsa University were the guests of honour for the function