IPM CRSP Trip Report

Transcription

1 Country Visited: India Dates of Travel: August 15 27, 2009 IPM CRSP Trip Report Naidu Rayapati Department of Plant Pathology Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center Washington State University Prosser, WA Travelers Names and Affiliations: Naidu Rayapati, Washington State University Purpose of Trip: Review research at host country institutions in India at University of Hyderabad and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and conduct a farmers field day in collaboration with TNAU collaborator Sites Visited: Travel to India: August Hyderabad: August 17 and 18 Visit to Department of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh Coimbatore: August Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore. Salem/Dharmapuri: August 21 Meeting with Vice Chancellor and other administrators of TNAU, visit field trial and conduct farmers field day Personal leave: August Hyderabad: August Visit to Department of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh Return to USA: August 27 Description of Activities/Observations: The main objectives of this trip were to (i) review IPM CRSP funded Global Theme project on Thrips-transmitted tospoviruses in India, (ii) conduct a farmer s field day to bring awareness about Peanut bud necrosis virus in tomato and (iii) develop work plan for next phase of the program. Naidu Rayapati visited the laboratory of Dr. Gopinath Kodetham, host country collaborator at University of Hyderabad. Dr. Kodetham is conducting research on economically important plant viruses affecting different vegetables in Andhra Pradesh. He currently has 4

2 Ph.D. students (Female = 2, male = 2) and 2 students (female = 1 and male = 1) on practical training from other universities in his lab working on projects related to molecular aspects of virus diseases in vegetables. These students are working for PhD with funding support from Federal Agencies like Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Department of Biotechnology (DBT). In recent years, these agencies have increased fellowship stipend substantially to attract bright students to research as part of enhancing scientific capacity in India. Dr. Kodetham produced polyclonal antibodies specific to the coat protein of Tobacco streak virus and Cucumber mosaic virus, and is in the process of producing polyclonal antibodies specific to Peanut bud necrosis virus (PBNV) using non-structural protein (NSs) over expressed in E. coli. Antibodies specific to NSs will be highly useful for specific diagnosis of PBNV in varietal screenings and in developing IPM tactics against the virus in tomato. His group also worked out protocols for membrane-based diagnosis of these viruses. The antibodies are valuable for host country collaborators in India for diagnosis of viruses in field samples and Global projects in conducting training on viruses during the next phase of the IPM CRSP program. In addition, Dr. Kodetham and his group collected samples from tomato, chilli peppers and cucumbers from Madanapalli and Kalyandurgam areas in Andhra Pradesh and are processing by ELISA and PCR for the detection of viruses. The results will be submitted in the annual report. Rayapati gave an over view of IPM CRSP and his research program for the benefit of Dr. Kodetham s lab members. Along with Dr. Kodetham and Prof. Appa Rao Podili (Department of Plant Sciences in Scholl of Life Sciences, Naidu Rayapati met with Dr. Vasuki Belavadi, Associate Professor, Department of Communications, Sarojini Naidu School of Performing Arts and Communication. This is one of the few schools in the country to have a program on Communications, Dance, Theater and Fine Arts. The school offers M.S. and Ph.D. programs in these areas. Dr. Belavadi worked with UNICEF-funded projects on child education and sanitation programs in India and an NGO on a project Biodiversity Register funded by Germany and Biodiversity Board, Government of India to document endangered plant species in Andhra Pradesh. He gained extensive experience in disseminating science-based knowledge to stakeholders through education modules and involving students to gain handson experiences in their study programs. Dr. Belavadi provides these services on cost-basis and expressed keen interest to assist IPM CRSP projects in disseminating IPM programs in local languages through radio and TV programs tailored to farmers in different states of India. This is an excellent resource that IPM CRSP can utilize to reach a broader audience and promote its mission for greater impact in smallholder agriculture in rural India. Rayapati visited with Dr. Gandhi Karthikeyan, host country collaborator at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore. After meeting with the Directors and faculty members of the Center for Plant Protection Services (CPPS) and Plant Molecular Biology (CPMB), he also visited faculty in the Department of Vegetable Crops, Pomology and Seed Center to learn about programs related virus diseases and explain about IPM CRSP projects on virus diseases. Rayapati discussed about potential collaborative opportunities for research and extension related to virus diseases in vegetables transmitted by insects and through seed. Rayapati, accompanied by Dr. G. Karthikeyan and Dr (Mrs) M. Karuppannan visited farmer fields and nurseries to assess the prevalence of bud necrosis disease caused by Peanut bud necrosis virus (PBNV) in tomato fields and nurseries near Coimbatore area. The field observations indicated that PBNV was likely introduced as a primary source of infection through infected seedlings and rouging is an effective strategy for minimizing losses caused

3 by PBNV. Along with Drs. Karthikeyan and Karuppannan, Rayapati also visited TNAU farm and a few farmers fields and collected symptomatic samples suspected for virus infections from tomato, chilli peppers and cucurbits. These samples were spotted onto FTA Classic Cards and shipped to Rayapati s lab for testing for different viruses. Rayapati gave two seminars at TNAU. In CPPS, he gave a presentation on Thrips-borne tospoviruses and their management and how IPM CRSP funded project is generating knowledge that could be used to develop IPM tactics for the management of PBNV. In CPMB, Rayapati gave another presentation Dealing complex virus disease problems a case of tospovirus diseases in vegetables to impress upon the complex nature of tospoviruses and how strategic research can help towards management of diseases caused by tospoviruses. Attendees (Total = 135, male = 90, female = 45) included students in MS and PhD programs, research associates and faculty members. Rayapati met with the Vice Chancellor (VC) of TNAU (Dr. P. Murugesa Boopathi), Director of Research (Dr. Paramathma), and Director of Extension Education (Dr. Kalaichelvan), along with the Director of CPPS (Dr. E.I. Jonathan), Head of Plant Pathology (Dr. G. Chandrasekhar) and Dr. G. Karthikeyan. He explained to the VC about IPM CRSP programs at TNAU and the long tradition of fruitful collaborations with the faculty. The VC appreciated the collaborations and extended his support for the continued success of collaborations between TNAU and IPM CRSP. He is also keen that IPM CRSP scientists visiting TNAU give special seminars for the benefit of graduate students and faculty, and general lectures for undergraduate students. He believes that these seminars and lectures will help improving the quality of education at TNAU. Rayapati and Karthikeyan visited the field trial conducted near Dharmapuri to evaluate the performance of 15 selected tomato cultivars and hybrids against bud necrosis disease caused by PBNV. The field trail is being repeated this season to compare the performance of these materials with previous season results. The trial is three weeks old during the visit and a few plants were showing typical symptoms of PBNV. This trial is conducted in a farmer s field and Dr. Karthikeyan is monitoring disease incidence at bi-weekly intervals. The farmer will harvest tomatoes at regular intervals and provide the yield data to Dr. Karthikeyan. A farmers field day was organized by Dr. Karthikeyan with assistance from Dr. S. Sundara Rajan, Head of Krishi Vidya Kendra for Krishnagiri District. A total of 63 farmers (20 female and 43 male) attended the field day. It was coordinated by Mr. Manikam, a progressive farmer in the area. Rayapati explained about IPM CRSP project on PBNV in Telugu language and Drs. Karthikeyan and Sundara Rajan explained to farmers various aspects of the disease, its impact on yield and quality of fruits and IPM CRSP project efforts in developing various tactics for the management of the disease. They also explained to farmers about the benefits of using healthy transplants and rouging seedlings showing symptoms of bud necrosis to reduce disease spread and yield losses. Many farmers are aware of the negative impact of bud necrosis disease on tomato production and their farm income. Some farmers mentioned that they do sorting of tomatoes visually and take good looking tomatoes to market. All farmers are keen in adopting new technologies and are looking forward to work with IPM CRSP team to make a difference in their livelihoods. Dr. Karthikeyan expressed interest in conducting similar field days for the benefit of nurseries during next crop season. Ms. S. Sivamani, PhD student funded by IPM CRSP Global project on tospoviruses, submitted her doctoral dissertation Development of high throughput membrane based

4 detection technique for tospoviruses infecting vegetable crops in India in the Department of Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, CPMB. Rayapati reviewed data for the project annual report, and discussed work plan for conducting research activities and field experiments at the UH and TNAU during the next phase of the IPM CRSP. An assessment of facilities and expertise available at UH and TNAU indicates great potential for collaboration on strategic and applied research on virus diseases during the next phase of the program. Faculty at UH and TNAU have expressed keen interest in collaborating with IPM CRSP global projects on viruses and diagnostics as well as South Asia Regional Program, and other host country partner institutions in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. A molecular virologist at UH and an applied virologist at TNAU would complement expertise in a synergistic manner to advance research and outreach activities of IPM CRSP projects on virus diseases. These institutions have also expressed interest in developing diagnostic reagents for the detection of viruses infecting vegetables and organizing short-term, groupbased training courses in different aspects of virus diseases. The experiences of UH and TNAU in hosting foreign students from other developing countries adds vale to the program s efforts in capacity building through graduate training in developing countries of Asia and Africa in a cost-effective manner. Persons met during the visit: Appa Rao Podile Gopinath Kodetham Vasuki Belavadi P. Murugesa Boopathi E.I. Jonathan Plant Pathologist School of Life Sciences University of Hyderabad Central University P.O. Hyderabad A.P. India Plant Virologist School of Life Sciences University of Hyderabad Central University P.O. Hyderabad A.P. India Sarojini Naidu School of Performing Arts, Fine Arts and Communications University of Hyderabad Central University P.O. Hyderabad A.P. India Vice Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Director, Centre for Crop Protection Services (CPPS), Tamil Nadu R. Samiyappan Director, Centre for Plant Molecular Biology (CPMB), Tamil Nadu Tel: podilerao@yahoo.com Tel: kgnsl@uohyd.ernet.in Tel: vasuki.belavadi@gmail.com Tel: vc@tnau.ac.in Tel: directorcpps@tnau.ac.in Tel: rsamiyappan@hotmail.com

5 G. Chandrasekar Professor & Head, Department of Plant Pathology, CPPS, Tamil Nadu V. Udayasuriyan Professor and Head, Department of Plant Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, CPMB, Tamil Nadu L. Pugalendhi Professor and Head, Department of Vegetable Crops, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu T.N. Balamohan Professor and Head, Department of Fruit crops, Horticultural college and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu K. Prabhakar Professor of Plant Pathology, Seed Center, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore , Tamil Nadu, India G. Karthikeyan Associate Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, CPPS, Tamil Nadu M. Karuppannan Assistant Professor, Department Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore , Tamil Nadu, India N. Balakrishnan Department of Plant Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, CPPS, Tamil Nadu , Tamil Nadu, India. M. Raveendran Associate Professor, Department of Plant Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, CPPS, Tamil Nadu , Tamil Nadu, India. S. Mohan Kumar Professor, Department of Plant Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, CPPS, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore , Tamil Tel: Tel: Tel: Tel: Tel: Tel: Tel: Tel: Tel: sivakasiravi@yahoo.com sivakasiravi@gmail.com Tel:

6 Nadu, India.