GLIMPSES OF RESEARCH ON BIOCONTROL OF SUGARCANE PESTS IN INDIA: RETROSPECT AND PROSPECTS
Among the biotic stresses that afflict sugarcane, insect pests occupy a good second position behind diseases in India. Yet, they constitute a major limiting factor attacking the crop from planting to almost harvest inflicting yield and sugar losses. The stable crop habitat and minimal pesticide usag...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Society for Sugarcane Research and Development
2019-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Sugarcane Research |
| Online Access: | http://epubs.icar.org.in/ejournal/index.php/JSR/article/view/92780 |
| Summary: | Among the biotic stresses that afflict sugarcane, insect pests occupy a good second position behind diseases in India. Yet, they constitute a major limiting factor attacking the crop from planting to almost harvest inflicting yield and sugar losses. The stable crop habitat and minimal pesticide usage accord a prominent role for biological control. Research on biocontrol in the early decades revolved around surveys for identification and studies on basic biology of natural enemies. The principles of conservation, re-distribution, and introduction and colonization of predominant parasitoids, followed since early times, continue to guide the course of biological control with remarkable success. Augmentative control has been assessed through development of mass multiplication techniques and standardization of field evaluation protocols for selected candidate biocontrol agents. Trichogramma chilonis Ishii serves as a typical example of the most exploited biocontrol agent on a commercial scale. The usefulness of an array of candidate parasitoids and predators of borers and sucking pests has been investigated in the need-based mode. The fungus Beauveria brongniartii (Saccardo) Petch attained commercial production against the white grub Holotrichia serrata F. following its successful evaluation in elaborate trials. Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner isolates occurring in sugarcane soil examined recently revealed a couple of scarabaeid specific holotype cry genes from them. These isolates hold promise against white grub when delivered in the form of formulations, besides the long-term possibility of deploying transgenics with cry genes. Kairomonal principles derived from borers and sugarcane as attractants to the larval parasitoid Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) were examined. Production of biocontrol agents and dissemination of technologies are promoted by sugar industry and/or commercial insectaries. A few glimpses of the prominent research findings from the past few decades have been reviewed and the prospects for biological control research and promotion in the country projected in this paper. |
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| ISSN: | 2249-927X 2582-4767 |