Lead papers’ of National Symposium on Climate change and Rainfed Agriculture organized by Indian society of Dryland agriculture and Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture

Not AvailableThe principal components of climate change are increased temperature and atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2 ) concentrations. Since climate change is believed to be more certain now, it is time for researchers to develop management strategies to cope with increased incidence of insect pests as a result of climate change. Of the several environmental factors temperature extremes play critical role in influencing the population of insect pests. Our experience indicated that there is a ‘shift’ in the pest status of several key species in recent periods, though these shifts may not be solely attributable to climate change. In the present situation, one can expect significant changes in the growth, development and population dynamics of various insect pests. The duration of the insect life cycle is altered under increased temperature and elevated CO2 concentrations resulting in variable number of generations per year. Under elevated CO2 higher consumption of foliage by leaf chewing insects with extended larval duration is observed in many studies. Published data reveals that some pests become more serious while others may decline. Evaluating the impact of climate change on insect pests is a very complex exercise and requires greater understanding of interactive factors. A more critical database on biotic stresses and their relationship with drivers of climate change is required for evolving adaptation strategies by farmers.Not Availabl

Lead papers’ of National Symposium on Climate change and Rainfed Agriculture organized by Indian society of Dryland agriculture and Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture

Not AvailableThe principal components of climate change are increased temperature and atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2 ) concentrations. Since climate change is believed to be more certain now, it is time for researchers to develop management strategies to cope with increased incidence of insect pests as a result of climate change. Of the several environmental factors temperature extremes play critical role in influencing the population of insect pests. Our experience indicated that there is a ‘shift’ in the pest status of several key species in recent periods, though these shifts may not be solely attributable to climate change. In the present situation, one can expect significant changes in the growth, development and population dynamics of various insect pests. The duration of the insect life cycle is altered under increased temperature and elevated CO2 concentrations resulting in variable number of generations per year. Under elevated CO2 higher consumption of foliage by leaf chewing insects with extended larval duration is observed in many studies. Published data reveals that some pests become more serious while others may decline. Evaluating the impact of climate change on insect pests is a very complex exercise and requires greater understanding of interactive factors. A more critical database on biotic stresses and their relationship with drivers of climate change is required for evolving adaptation strategies by farmers.Not Availabl

Laboratory disinfects as preservatives for Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus

Bacterial contamination is an important setback in large scale production of nucleopolyhedroviruses (NPV). Hence, attempts were made to decrease the bacterial contamination in storage using different commonly used laboratory disinfectants. The studies revealed that all the preservatives tried could effectively reduce the bacterial contamination and the associated bad odour problem in storage. Helicoverpa NPV samples with all the preservatives studied gave -90% mortality under laboratory bio-assays after a period of two months of storage. The samples which are stored in acetone and ethyl alcohol, gave 73.3 and 70%- mortality, respectively after 10 months storage cost of different preservatives ranged from Rs.3.0-12.5 ha-1, which is affordable

Effect of different storage conditions on the virulence of Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HaNPV)

Studies on the effect of different storage conditions on the virulence of NPV revealed that samples stored in earthen pot and at room temperature maintained efficacy up to four months and after that virulence started decreasing. This decreased efficacy of samples stored under room temperature may be due to increased bacterial activity. When the NPV samples were tested for the bacterial load, it was 3.47 times more in the samples stored at room temperatures after six months of storage

Host plant resistance and insect pest management in chickpea

The major pest problems in chickpea, i.e. pod borers (Helicoverpa armigera and H. punctigera), leafminer Liriomyza cicerina, black cutworm Agrotis ipsilon, aphids (Aphis craccivora), semilooper Autographa nigrisigna and bruchids (Callosobruchus spp.), and their management options (cultural, biological and chemical controls) are discussed. Low to moderate levels of resistance have been identified in the germplasm, and a few improved cultivars with resistance to pod borer and high grain yield have been developed. Germplasm accessions of the wild relatives of chickpea (Cicer bijugum, C. judaicum and C. reticulatum) can be used to increase the levels and diversify the bases of resistance to H. armigera. Efforts are also underway to utilize molecular techniques to increase the levels of resistance to pod borer. Synthetic insecticides, agronomic practices, nuclear polyhedrosis virus, entomopathogenic fungi, bacteria and natural plant products have been evaluated as components of pest management in chickpea