NEW AND RESTRUCTURED POST-GRADUATE CURRICULA & SYLLABI PLANT PROTECTION Entomology Nematology Plant Pathology Education Division Indian Council of Agricultural Research New Delhi April 2009 Contents Page(s) Executive Summary 3-4 BSMAC Composition 5 Preamble 6-8 Organization of Course Contents & Credit Requirements 9 Entomology 10-45 Course Structure – At a Glance 10 Course Contents 11 List of Journals 42 e-Resources 43 Suggested Broad Topics for Master’s and Doctoral Research 44 Nematology 46-64 Course Structure – At a Glance 46 Course Contents 47 List of Journals 63 e-Resources 64 Suggested Broad Topics for Master’s and Doctoral Research 64 Plant Pathology 65-87 Course Structure – At a Glance 65 Course Contents 66 List of Journals 87 e-Resources 87 Suggested Broad Topics for Master’s and Doctoral Research 87 Compulsory Non Credit Courses 88-92 Acknowledgements 93 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The new and restructured post-graduate academic programme for plant protection sciences includes many new aspects/features, some of them are as follows. Entomology A detailed treatise on post-harvest losses due to insects, mites, rodents, birds and microorganisms in stored grains and methods of their control Role of soil arthropods in detritus feeding, litter breakdown and humus formation Acarology: Economic importance of mites to different crops, poly-houses, stored products and honey bees Commercial Entomology: Apiculture; sericulture; lac insects; insect pests of public health importance, cattle, poultry and pet animals; termite proofing of buildings; rodent control; organic methods of domestic pest management Agricultural Ornithology: Pestiferous and beneficial birds associated with different crops Immature stages of insects: Their identification and significance for pest management DNA-based diagnostic and DNA finger-printing for taxonomy and phylogeny Marker-aided selection in resistance breeding Resistance management strategies in transgenic crops Scope of genetically engineered microbes and parasitoids in biological control Dynamism of IPM under changing cropping systems and climate IPM under protected cultivation Nematology Entomopathogenic nematodes: Mass multiplication techniques, formulations, field application and efficacy Nematodes as biological model systems Nematodes as indicators of pollution and their role in organic matter recycling 3 Development of computer-based identification programmes Nematode management options for organic farming and precision farming Application of GIS and GPS technology for surveillance and management Resistance genes and RNAi technology Plant Pathology Integrated approach in controlling post harvest diseases and improving shelf- life of produce; knowledge of Codex Alimentarious for each product and commodity Plant Bio-security and Bio-safety: Invasive alien species, Bio-warfare, National Regulatory Mechanism and International Agreements/Conventions; issues related to GM crops; strategies for combating risks and costs associated with agro-terrorism Seed Health Technology: Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary issues under WTO Mushroom Production Technology: Complete package for entrepreneurial skills Principles and Procedures of Certification: Role of international agencies in certification and quality control, fixing tolerance limits for diseases and insect pests in certification, accreditation of seed testing laboratories, role of seed/planting material health certification in national and international trade General Introduction of compulsory non-credit courses on: o Library and Information Services o Technical Writing and Communication Skills o Intellectual Property and its Management in Agriculture o Basic Concepts in Laboratory Techniques o Agricultural Research, Research Ethics and Rural Development Programmes o Disaster Management Provision of budgetary estimates to the extent of Rs 50 crores for implementation of revised curriculum in Plant Protection recommended. 4 BSMA Committee on Plant Protection (Entomology/Plant Pathology/Nematology/Apiculture/Sericulture) (Constituted by ICAR vide Office order No. F. No. 13 (1)/2007- EQR dated January 14, 2008) Name Address Specialization Dr B. L. Jalali 10/95, HAU Campus, CCS Haryana Pl. Pathology Former Director of Agricultural University, Hisar Research, CCS HAU Convener Dr H. S. Gaur IARI, New Delhi Nematology Dean & Joint Director (Edu.) Dr. R. Govindan Agricultural College, UAS, Entomology Director of Instructions Bangalore (Agri) Dr. R.K. Jain Division of Plant Pathology Pl. Pathology Head IARI New Delhi Dr H. S. Rewal Dept. of Plant Pathology, PAU, Pl. Pathology Prof. & Head Ludhiana Dr. H.N. Gour Department of Plant Pathology, Pl. Pathology Prof. & Head Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture & Technology, Udaipur Dr Hari Mohan Singh Dept. of Entomology, Entomology Prof. & Head NDUA & T, Kumargunj, Faizabad Dr Ashok Sharma Dept of Entomology, SKN College Entomology Prof. & Head of Agriculture, Rajasthan Agriculture University, Jobner Campus, Bikaner Dr. R.K. Walia Department of Nematology, Nematology Professor CCS Haryana Agicultural Member Secretary University, Hisar 5 PREAMBLE Indian agricultural scenario has witnessed phenomenal strides over the last fifty years, from acute food shortages to the ushering in of green revolution leading to food stocks bulging to the seams. However, during the past few years, there has been a steady decline in the overall agricultural growth rate, causing depletion in reserve food stocks, with resultant emergent imports to keep the food stocks at desired levels. The stagnation in agricultural growth has been a topic of debate among the planners and decision makers of agricultural policies. Among the several contributing factors, the role of pests and diseases has cut more ice than before. The importance of pests and diseases is coming under scanner, particularly with the liberalization of global agricultural trade. The WTO regulations facilitate the trade of agricultural commodities, but riddance from pests and diseases in export-import oriented agricultural produce is required to be strictly monitored and regulated by Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary certifications. Demand for improvement in the qualitative traits of agricultural produce and their value addition, has also contributed to the importance of plant protection measures. The increasing application of biotechnology and nano-technology in agricultural research, including plant protection, warrants thorough revision of our human resource development strategies to meet the growing challenges. Consequently, restructuring the curricula content and delivery systems and their recasting to produce globally competitive manpower has gained primacy. Further, the shrinking job opportunities in National Agricultural Research System (ICAR/SAUs) have put additional pressure on our education system to prepare students in tune with the demands of the private sector. To fulfill these objectives, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) over the years has developed strong academic linkages with various institutions and professionals of the country to induce vital reforms in agricultural education for improving its quality, relevance and uniformity across the country. Under this process, the Council has recently revised course curricula and syllabi of UG programmes through IV Deans’ Committee. For restructuring of PG academic programme, a National Core Group (NCG) constituted by the ICAR has now been mandated to revise the curricula and syllabi of Masters and Doctoral programmes in all the disciplines of agriculture. The NCG further constituted 18 Broad Subject Matter Area (BSMA) Committees to undertake this exercise in their respective subject matter domains. 6 The BSMA Committee on Plant Protection seriously deliberated upon the issues concerning agricultural education in general, and plant protection in particular. The proposed academic resolutions, as applicable to most of the disciplines, were passed in a combined meeting of Conveners and Member Secretaries of all the 18 BSMA Committees. The curricula and syllabi of the three disciplines, viz., Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, were discussed at length in the meetings and workshop convened by the BSMA Committee on Plant Protection. The opinions and suggestions invited from institutions, eminent scientists, and other stakeholders (private entrepreneurs) were reviewed by the BSMA Committee. This document was given a final shape after presentation and discussion of the salient features of each discipline in a combined meeting held on 23-24 June, 2008 at NAAS Complex, New Delhi. The new look and restructured PG programme in Plant Protection has been designed in considerations based on: demands of private sector harnessing commercial aspects, modern research tools and their applications, supplementary skills required, and to enhance the global competitiveness and employability of our students. Considerable efforts have, therefore, gone in for the preparation of this final document. While the restructured programme retains the classical contents of the subjects e.g., morphology, taxonomy, pest and disease spectrum of specific crops, biology/bionomics etc.; the current issues and modern approaches have been given new thrust. Some of the salient features of the revised curriculum are – application of biotechnological tools in systematics and breeding of pest/disease resistant crop cultivars and biological control; inclusion of sericulture, apiculture to encourage self-employment through