Ecological and molecular approaches for Host Plant Resistance to insect pests discussed
The inaugural function of the ICAR sponsored Centre of Advanced Faculty Training
on “Ecological and molecular approaches for Host Plant Resistance to insect pests” for 21 days from 05.11.2019 to 25.11.2019 at the Department of Agricultural Entomology, Centre for Plant Protection Studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University was conducted on 06.11.2019. The trainees included were scientists from Agricultural Universities, National Bodies and ICAR institutes from ten different states of the country.
Host-plant resistance (HPR) has been thought to give many answers to the 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.
TNAU has greatly contributed to HPR science and GEB 24 rice accession that forms the basis for most of the varieties released all over the world has contributed to the farming community by directly releasing resistant varieties (Rice: Co 25, ASD 5 Co 42, ADT 36, PY 3, ADT 37, ADT53 etc 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.
In his special address, Dr.M.Gopalan, former Dean (PG Studies) and also former Director (Plant Protection) 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.
Dr.N.Sathiah, the 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.