PATHOLOGY | CPPS

Department of Plant Pathology

About the Department

Department of Plant Pathology of the Agricultural College and Research Institute, Coimbatore was started in the year 1910 with the Government Mycologist as Head of the department. The courses on Plant Pathology were offered to B.Sc.(Ag) and subsequently to B.Sc. (Horti.), B.Sc. (Forestry), B. Tech (Horti.) and B. Tech. (Ag. Biotech). The Post Graduate programme was started in 1958 and Ph.D. programme in 1961.

Department of Plant Pathology is functioning under the Centre for Plant Protection Studies (CPPS) which was established in April, 1984 in TNAU to coordinate and strengthen teaching, research and extension activities in Plant Protection and Sericulture.

The main objectives of this department are

To teach the subject plant pathology to the undergraduate and post graduate students
To conduct research on diagnosis and management of crop diseases
To impart training to agricultural extension functionaries.

Faculty

PROFESSORS

Dr. A.S. Krishnamoorthy

Dr. K. Prabakar

Dr. T. Raguchander

Dr. M. Muthamilan

Dr. S. Nakkeeran

Dr. S. Vanitha

Dr. V.K. Parthiban

Dr. C. Gopalakrishnan

Dr. K. Sethuraman

Dr. K. Angappan

Dr. V. Paranidharan

Dr. G. Karthikeyan

Dr. A. Kamalakannan

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

Dr. P. Muthulakshmi

Dr. G. Thiribhuvanamala

Dr. S.K. Manoranjitham

ASSISTANT PROFESSORS

OFFICE STAFFS

Dr. I. Johnson

Dr. T.K.S. Latha

Dr. P. Latha

Dr. M. Karthikeyan

Dr. V. Sendhilvel

Dr. T. Anand

Dr. L. Rajendran

Dr. A. Sudha

Dr. S. Sundaravadhana

Dr. L. Karthiba

Research - Thrust Areas

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL

Induction of defense-related proteins and chemicals by fluorescent pseudomonads

• Basic research on biocontrol agents for effective utilization in ecofriendly disease management

• Improving the fitness of biocontrol agents by selection

• Integration of candidate biological control agents under integrated disease management for the management of economically important crop diseases

• Quality control and registration of new biocontrol agents

• Strategies to promote commercialization of bioagents viz., Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma Viride

• Popularization of biocontrol agents

Post- harvest Pathology

Post harvest losses of mango, banana and vegetables

• Standardization of early detection of post harvest diseases

• Management of post harvest diseases using non –chemical methods especially with the botanicals

Biotechnology and molecular biology

Isolation of α-Glucosidase gene from Trichoderma viride for management of rice sheath blight pathogens

• Exploitation of chitinase gene for the management of rice sheath blight and sheath rot

• Agrobacterium mediated or biolistic gene transfer of Xa-21 of BLB of rice

• Cloning of PR-5 (TLP) protein for resistant to rice sheath blight

• Elicitor of Rhizoctonia solani induced PR-proteins (PR-2 and PR-3)

• Genetic improvement of bio-control agents viz., Trichoderma viride and Pseudomonas fluorescens

Seed pathology

Monitoring and Identification of important seed-borne pathogen in crop plants

• Losses due to seed-borne pathogen

• Disease-free seed production of fruits, vegetable and crops

• Mycotoxins and their management

Epidemiology and diseases forecasting

Studying the epidemiology of economically important diseases of Tamil Nadu

Developing forecast models for the important diseases

Virology

Mushroom

Cultivation technology developed for oyster mushroom, paddy straw mushroom and button mushroom.

• Conducting training on “Mushroom cultivation” to farmers every month.

• Production and distribution of spawns and mother spawns to farmers

• Strain improvement of mushrooms using biotechnology

The virology division of this department was started as early as 1960 with the development of infrastructure facilities like automated glass house, electron microscope etc.

• Identification, characterization and biodiversity of new virus diseases affecting major crops (Rice, pulses, oil seeds, vegetables and flowers)

• Diagnosis of virus diseases (includes immuno and molecular diagnosis)

• Epidemiology and Management of virus diseases using

• Using botanical pesticides (Antiviral principles)

• Chemical control of Vectors transmitting virus diseases

Culture collection

Microbial Culture Collection in TNAU established in 1974, based on the conservation of plant pathogens and agriculturally important microorganisms. MCC in TNAU is one of the native nonprofit microbial resource centers of Tamil Nadu whose mission focuses on the acquisition, identification, preservation, and distribution of agricultural microorganisms. MCC in TNAU also provides service for society, such as inspection for microbial inoculate products, consultancy, microbial resources information services, and training courses. The goals of MCC in TNAU are conservation and utilization of microbiological diversity.

The repository portion of the facility occupies 400 square meters and Freeze-drying method used for bacteria yeast and fungi. Most bacteria and Fungi have preserved at -80℃. We have a scientist team for evaluation and agricultural application of microbial resources, such as Biocontrol, Bio-fertilizer, Biodegradation and Mushroom and so on.

Education

Under Graduate

Courses are offered to undergraduate degree programmes namely B.Sc (Ag.), B.Tech (Biotechnology), B.Tech (Horticulture) and, B.S (ABM). In addition, as per ICAR guidelines, two courses are being offered with 0+5 credits on commercial mushroom production and commercial production of biocontrol agents. ICAR-JRF coaching classes are being conducted for the benefit of students. Sizable portion of ICAR-JRF were bagged by this department.

Post Graduate

More than 300 students in M.Sc. (Ag.) have completed their degree programmes since inception. Students of this department, meritoriously pass in ICAR- ARS and NET exams year after year. Of our department excelled in obtaining young scientists award sponsored by DST, CSIR - SRF award, Rajivgandhi, INSPIRE fellowship and Jawaharlal Nehru award. PG students specialize in areas namely biological control, virology,bacteriology,mycology and mushroom production.

Doctoral Courses

More than 200 in Ph.D. have completed their degree programmes since inception. Students of this department, meritoriously pass in ICAR- ARS and NET exams year after year. Of our department excelled in obtaining young scientists award sponsored by DST, CSIR - SRF award, Rajivgandhi, INSPIRE fellowship and Jawaharlal Nehru award. PG students specialize in areas namely biological control, virology,bacteriology,mycology and mushroom production.