Basana Gowda

I have contributed to the development of IPM strategies, especially through biological control and chemical control, and harnessed their compatibility to manage the insect pests of rice. Developed low-cost production technologies and commercialized three biocontrol agents: NRRI Trichocard (T.j); NRRI Trichocard (T.c) and NRRI Braconcard (B.h) against lepidopteran rice insect pests. By supplying these bioagents to stakeholders in more than 10 states, generated revenue of ~4.00 lakhs for the institute. Supply of these bioagents is being undertaken along with its quality certificate, the first of its kind in India. As a part of efforts to develop a low-cost production protocol, I have filed an Indian patent on “Efficient Portable Insect Collector with Automated Counter” [Patent application number: 202211047342] which is currently being published. I am involved in the identification of several germplasm resistant to key rice pests and associated with the development of a rice variety, CR Dhan 410 (Mahamani). In India, Trichogramma japonicum is generally reared on Corcyra cephalonica eggs, we have shown that Ephestia kuehniella could be a more suitable alternate host which could reduce 28% of production cost, and also the performance of T. japonicum in fields depends on hosts that are used in the laboratory. Researched intensively on insecticide-induced hormesis on natural enemies and explored the same to increase host and parasitoids fitness. For the first time, it has been shown that hormesis could occur in a parasitoid via its factitious host. Hormesis phenomenon through trans- as well as multi-generational routes have been demonstrated in host and parasitoid. Documented the differential gut bacteria governing phosphine-resistance and susceptibility populations of Tribolium castaneum. We derived a relation between the glycemic index (GI) of paddy rice grain and infestation by storage pest Sitotroga cerealella. In India, UAV technology is in its infancy, we have already standardized UAV-based pesticide application of eight different major pesticides used in rice for their bio-efficacy and phytotoxicity. Of these, 2 pesticide formulations Vayego and Nativo have been approved by both CIBRC and DGCA for commercial spraying in India based on the trials conducted by us at ICAR-NRRI, Cuttack. We have identified effective botanicals and nano-emulsions of essential oil against rice-stored grain pests and proved to be successful in reducing the quantity of biocides usage for effective pest control. Pesticide residue budgeting with imidacloprid, chlorantraniliprole, chlorpyriphos, triflumezopyrim has been worked out which has a larger implication on sustainable agriculture practices. The bio-bed system is uncommon in tropical countries, for the first time we have established indigenous biobed technology to limit point source pollution. Our work on BPH with its population diversity, the impact of climate change, and biochemical and molecular mechanisms of resistance in rice resulted in significant outputs which have practical significance for its management. I have secured a research grant of nearly Rs. 500 lakhs through different externally aided projects as principal investigator (PI); established an exclusive biological control laboratory costing 92 lakhs for mass rearing of different bioagents. Associated with the development of the mobile app “RiceXpert”; three databases related to hosting plant resistance. Registered insect germplasm in a national repository [NBAIR-NRRI-HAB-01]. Developed rice-insect diagnostic guides along with management in English, Hindi, and Odiya. Published 42 peer-reviewed publications in national and international journals of high impact factors, edited 2 books, 16 book chapters, and several popular articles and technical bulletins. I have delivered a lead lecture and an invited lecture in national symposia. I am the recipient of a Fellow, Entomological society of India. My research papers have been cited more than 434 times and have an h-index of 12 and an i10-index of 14. Overall, my contribution was adjudged by three ‘outstanding’ APAR grades by Director, ICAR-NRRI, Cuttack.