About the Book
There are many phenomenal changes have taken place in crop protection in the world in last few decades. The changing scenario in insect pest complex of major agricultural, horticultural and plantation crops and forest trees, introduction of a number of new classes of pesticides, the management tactics developed for containing the pest species by the use of ecofriendly approaches, and the importance of biocontrol agents and biopesticides in an integrated insect pest management have made tremendous impact on plant health management. The present book has been designed to meet the requirements of graduate, postgraduate students, research scholars of agricultural and other universities of India and abroad. The chapters have been edited ensuring the exhaustive and thorough coverage of all the important topics of plant health management. The ever-accumulating information on various aspects of plant health issues has been judiciously tailored, lucidly presented and profusely illustrated. The immense advancement in theoretical and applied aspects that have taken place in the past few decades impelled us to bring out the book.
Dr. Pranab Dutta
Dr. Pranab Dutta is an Associate Professor in Plant Pathology in the School of Crop Protection, College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Central Agricultural University, Umiam, Meghalaya. He served Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, KVK-West Tripura (Now Khowai), CMER&TI (CSB) etc. He completed MSc and PhD in Biological Control and Post Doctorate training at FERA, York, United Kingdom. He has been actively involved in teaching, research and extension for the last two decades. He has published 100 research papers, 45 research abstracts, 13 proceedings paper, 81 popular articles (English, Bangla and Assamese), 22 training manuals/hand books, 36 book chapters, 9 practical manuals /teaching aids, 13 books (Edited, authored or co-edited). He is the recipient of Best Plant Pathologist Awrad-2020 (ATDS), Outstanding Plant Pathologist Award for contribution in plant pathology through nanotechnology – 2021 (DISHA), fellow award of Society of Biocontrol Advancement (SBA)-2020, SBER-2020, Distinguished Scientist Award-2019, ICPP-2018 Bursary award (The American Phytopathological Society, USA), Young Scientist Award- 2018, Prof. K S. Bilgrami Award-2016, Stanford Research Award-2015, Bharat Siksha Ratan Award, DBT Overseas Associates (2012), meritorious contribution award in sericulture (CMER&TI, Central Silk Board, 2008) etc. Developed 10 bioformulations with native isolates, filled 5 patents and commercialized five bioformulation products. Pursued 16 externally funded project funded by DBT, DST, Osceola County, Florida, USA, (through CABI via University of Florida), PCIL, AYUSH, RKVY, BRNS, ICAR-NCIPM, Bayer Crop Sci etc. He is the life member of 10 professional societies and reviewer of 7 international and nationally reputed journals published by Elsevier, Springer etc. He is the Editor of Indian Phytopathology and Editor-In -Chief of Journal of Plant Health Issues. He has supervised 3 PhD and 11 MSc students as Major adviser and more than 100 students as member of advisory committee. His research area includes nanotechnology, biological control, ecotoxicology and plant defence.
Dr. Ardhendu Chakraborty
Ardhendu Chakraborty is working as Subject Matter Specialist (Plant Protection) at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Khowai, Tripura since 2014. He served as Assistant Professor (Agricultural Entomology) at PGP College of Agricultural Sciences, affiliated to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu and Senior Research Fellow at IICPT, MoFPI, Govt. of India, Tamil Nadu. His MSc. Research work was on Toxicology & IPM and PhD research on Host Plant Resistance & IPM. He has been actively engaged in Teaching, Research and Extension. He has published 25 research papers, 21 research abstracts, 17 popular articles, 5 training manuals, 32 extension bulletins, 2 books. He is the recipient of Best Young Scientist Award-2018 by Society for Tropical Agriculture, Best Extension Professional Award-2019 by Society for Biotic and Environmental Research and Fellow of Society for Biocontrol Advancement-2019. He has attended 19 trainings and organized 86 training programmes covering 2135 farmers, farm women and rural youths. He has popularized many low cost pest management techniques to the farmers of the NE. He has attended 14 national and 5 international conferences and organized 2 national conferences as convener. He is the life member of 6 professional societies and reviewer of 4 international and nationally reputed journals published by BIOTICA, SAAI etc. He is the Managing Editor of Innovative Farming and Associate Chief Editor of Plant Health Archives. His research area includes biological control, semiochemicals and host plant resistance.