Forest Protection / Achievements
- Screening of Teak, Casuarina, Acacia and Albizia clones/progeny/provenances for the attack of the key pest and diseases in the field was carried out and the candidates resistant/ susceptible categorized.
- Insect pests problems of Acacia nilotica ssp. indica, Albizia lebbeck, Casuarina, Teak, Tamarind, Neem, Phylanthus emblica, Pongamia pinnata, Sizigium cumini Ailanthus excelsa, Aegle marmalose and medicinal plants were studied and Integrated methods of management of the key pests worked out. A Pest Calendar reflecting the period and level of occurrence of the key pests of tree species in nursery, trees outside forests and medicinal plants have been developed.
- Nursery and Plantation Insect pests of fast growing native tree species such as Ailanthus excelsa, Melia dubia, Gmelina arborea, Dalbergia sissoo, Thespesia populnea and Bombax spp. were studied and key pests identified.
- New invasive gall insect pest, Leptocybe invasa Fisher & La Salle on eucalyptus was reported.
Management of Cauarina and Teak live wood stem borers through biological control using entomopathogenic fungi developed.
- Seed pest problems of A. nilotica, A. lebbeck, Casuarina, and Tamarind were studied and sound seed storage practices against the major insect pests developed.
- Important disease problems confronted nurseries and plantations of Eucalyptus, Casuarina, Tamarindus, Artocarpus, Terminalia, Acacia, Bamboos and Teak were investigated and suitable management strategies worked out.
- Species diversity of Ecto and Endo mycorrhizae fungi in Nilgri Biosphere was studied and reported about 20 different ecto-mycorrhizae fungi associated with different tree species viz., Acacia mearnsii, A. melanoxylon, Eucalyptus globulus, E. grandis, Cupressus macrocarpum, Pinus patula., Tectona grandis, Shorea robusta and Bamboos.
- Effect of ecto-mycorrhizae fungus for quality seedling production of Eucalyptus, Casuarina and Acacias were tested and effective dosage and methods of application developed.
- Technology for reclamation of Bauxite minespoils using beneficial microbes and suitable tree species was worked out and standardized
- Identified a plant volatile composition to manage eucalypts invasive gall wasp. This volatile combination, incorporated with a dispenser is brought out as a product EugGalLure to control gall wasp problem. The volatile composition is also registered for Patent
- Investigated microbial diversity in different ecosystems in Kolli Hills, Namakkal district, Tamil Nadu. Total of 420 colonies of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) and Actinobacteria have been isolated from the samples collected under the root zone of 45 different host plants and they are maintained for morphological and bio-chemical characteristics under in vitro conditions.
- Short listed antagonistic potential of 20 different PGPR isolates (10-Azospirillum; 5-Azotobacter and 5-Phosphobacteria) and 16 Actinomycetes isolates against selected plant pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum under in vitro conditions
- Efficacy of different bio-fertilizers such as AM fungi, Azospirillum, Azotobacter, Actinomycete, Phosphobacteria on growth improvement of 10 different economically important trees and medicinal plant species and observed 30 to 40% growth and biomass enhancement in combined application of all bio-fertilizers in experimental seedlings compared to that of controls (un-inoculated).
- Superior strains of AM fungi and Rhizobium were identified based on their infectivity and nitrogenise activity in Ptercoarpus santaliunus. Standardized the suitable culture media for Rhizobium (YEMA) and mass multiplied in YEMA broth. These strains were inoculated to the seedlings of Red Sanders and found that they significantly improve the growth and biomass of Red Sanders in nursery.
- Developed “Mobile APP on Forest Disease Management in Nurseries and Plantations” in Regional Language Tamil and released by Hon’ble Director General, ICFRE, Dehra Dun.
- Identified potential beneficial microbes as bio-inoculant and bio-control agents to overcome mortality problem of Casuarinas.
- Developed potential Frankia (Nitrogen fixer) bio-fertilizer for growth enhancement and suitable package of practices for disease control of Casuarina plants.
- A product called Mona 20 was released as an effective bio control agent for bacterial wilt disease in Casuarina clones during Tree Growers Mela-2020 organized by IFGTB on 11-03-2020
- Application of Micromonospora maritima for the control of bacterial wilt in CH5 clones was successful I Tindivanam and Villupuram Districts, Tamil Nadu.
- Bio-control agent Trichoderma viride was mass multiplied and applied to the root rot diseases Tectona grandis a in the central nurseries of, Kerala at Kulathupuzha, Chalakudi and Kannur, Kerala state.
- Heart-rot disease caused by species of Fomes and Phellinus and collar rot disease caused by Diplodia natalensis were reported for the first time in Casuarina equisetifolia.
- Pure culture isolates of Bacillus species were isolated from soil samples collected from healthy Casuarina plantations in Tamil Nadu and screened for its bio-control efficacy against various pathogens under in vitro and nursery & field conditions. Based on this, a “Potential Bio-control and Bio-booster” product (“Bio Bacillin” - Bacillus valezensis) was developed and released during Tree Growers Mela-2020 organized by IFGTB.
- Developed products of N fixer (Frankia), Tricho K, K mobilize and Mona -20 which can successfully establish root nodules in the rooted stem cuttings of Casuarina and Acacia auriculiformis through inoculation of Frankia and Rhizobium respectively.
- Developed vegetative propagation methods in Pterocarpus santalinus stem cuttings incorporating specific Rhizobium aegyapticaum for P. santalinus.
- Successfully afforestated in barren laterite lands with Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Azospirillum brasiliense and Phosphobacteria.
- Developed bio control strategy for bacterial wilt disease in Casuarina clones.
