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Research Projects

Development of sustainable agricultural practices for biotic and abiotic stress management for conventional and organic tea plantations

Implementing Organization

Tocklai Tea Research Institute, Jorhat, Assam
Principal Investigator
Dr. Somnath Roy
Tocklai Tea Research Institute, Jorhat, Assam
somnathento@gmail.com
Principal Investigator
Dr. Popy Bora
Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Jorhat, Assam
bidyutsarmah@aau.ac.in
Principal Investigator
Dr. Uttam Manna
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati, Assam
popy.bora@aau.ac.in
Principal Investigator
Dr. Karthikeyan Gandhi
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
umanna@iitg.ac.in
Principal Investigator
Dr. Nepolean Panneerselvam
UPASI Tea Research Foundation, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
agrikarthi2003@gmail.com
Principal Investigator
Dr. Abhay Pandey
Tea Research Institute, North Bengal Regional R&D Center, Nagrakata, West Bengal
nepoleanmicro@gmail.com
Principal Investigator
Dr. Perumalla Srikanth
Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Krishnankoil, Tamil Nadu
abhaykumarpandey.ku@gmail.com
Principal Investigator
Ram Kumar Pandian
Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Krishnankoil, Tamil Nadu
srkpandian@klu.ac.in
CO-Principal Investigator
Dr. Sangeeta Borchetia
Tocklai Tea Research Institute, Jorhat, Assam
sborchetia7@gmail.com
CO-Principal Investigator
Dr. Pritom Chowdhury
Tocklai Tea Research Institute, Jorhat, Assam
pritomc@gmail.com
CO-Principal Investigator
Dr. Pradeep Patel
Tocklai Tea Research Institute, Jorhat, Assam
pradeepk.bhu@gmail.com
CO-Principal Investigator
Dr. Jintu Dutta
Tocklai Tea Research Institute, Jorhat, Assam
jintudutta42@gmail.com
CO-Principal Investigator
Dr. Satya Sarmah
Tocklai Tea Research Institute, Jorhat, Assam
s.sarmah@rediffmail.com
CO-Principal Investigator
Dr. Harisadhan Malakar
Tocklai Tea Research Institute, Jorhat, Assam
malakarhari@gmail.com
CO-Principal Investigator
Dr. Bharat Nath
Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam
bharat.c.nath@aau.ac.in
CO-Principal Investigator
Dr. Mousumi Phukon
Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam
mousumi.phukon@aau.ac.in
CO-Principal Investigator
Dr. Rajen Baruah
Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam
rbaruah123@gmail.com
CO-Principal Investigator
Dr. Lingaraj Sahoo
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati, Assam
ls@iitg.ac.in
CO-Principal Investigator
Dr. Pugalendhi L
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
deanhortcbe@tnau.ac.in
CO-Principal Investigator
Dr. Venkatesan K
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
venkatesanhort@tnau.ac.in
CO-Principal Investigator
Dr. Sendhilvel V
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
patsendhil@gmail.com
CO-Principal Investigator
Dr. Karthiba Loganathan
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
karthibal@gmail.com, sudhaa1981@gmail.com,rabeeshtp@gmail.com, bhabesh.deka@gmail.com, muhisabari@gmail.com
CO-Principal Investigator
Dr. Sudha A
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
CO-Principal Investigator
Dr. Rabeesh Parambil
UPASI Tea Research Foundation, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
CO-Principal Investigator
Dr. Bhabesh Deka
TTRI, North Bengal Regional R & D Center, Nagrakata, West Bengal
CO-Principal Investigator
Dr. Muhilan Mahendhiran
Kalasalingam Academy of research and education, Krishnankoil, Tamil Nadu

Project Overview

Tea (Camelia sinensis) industry has the potential to propel Indian economy. During recent years, tea cultivation is suffering from wide range of biotic/abiotic stresses with yield losses ranging between 5-55%. Hence, sustainable management/mitigation of biotic/abiotic stresses and nutrient management in tea using integrated approached is highly necessary. The present proposal will aim at, i) unraveling mechanism of resistance development by major lepidopteran tea pests against pesticides; ii) develop a technology capsule for sustainable management of biotic stresses in tea; iii) introduction of crop boosters, biofertilizers and superabsorbent functional hydrogel for mitigating abiotic stresses and nutrient management in tea. The project will come out with sustainable strategies for pest/disease/nutrient/drought mitigation in tea with reduced usage of chemicals. Outcomes of this project will also lead to development of packages for tea cultivation with minimum chemical inputs.

Achievements

A regional susceptibility study in North East India revealed significant variation in insecticide tolerance among Hyposidra talaca (H. talaca) and Eterusia aedea (E. aedea ) populations. The Dooars region showed the highest tolerance for both the pests while Cachar (forH. talaca) and the organic tea estate of terai region (for E. aedea) exhibited the lowest. An insecticide resistance map has been generated for H.talaca. Detoxifying enzyme analysis for cytochrome P450, general esterase, glutathione S-transferase revealed a strong positive correlation with insecticide tolerance, indicating metabolic detoxification contributes to resistance. A synergistic bioassay with PBO and Deltamethrin showed increased mortality, suggesting the role of cytochrome P450 in resistance. Total body lipid analysis of H. talaca larvae showed a significant rise in fatty acids from the 1st to 3rd instars, stabilizing thereafter. This suggests developmental modulation of energy allocation and membrane composition, potentially aiding defense. SEM studies showed progressive skin thickening with larval development in both tea looper and red slug, correlating with reduced insecticide penetration and effectiveness. Transcriptomic analysis of resistant H. talaca revealed a multi-tiered detoxification system with strong upregulation of CYP450s (14.17-fold), esterases (13.41-fold), and GSTs (8.37-fold), supported by corresponding enzymatic activity increases. Additional genes like UGTs, ABCC4 transporters, heat shock proteins, and cuticular proteins were also upregulated, indicating roles in xenobiotic handling, stress response, and reduced pesticide penetration. Metabolomic analysis supported transcriptomic findings, showing elevated carboxylic acids, glycosylated compounds, and primary alcohols in resistant populations. Activated pathways included glutathione and porphyrin metabolism, and fatty acid degradation, highlighting metabolic reprogramming in detoxification.

Source

Source
E-promis and Information received by Investigator

Related Research

View All
Funding Organization
Funding Organization
Department of Science and Technology (DBT)
Quick Information
Area of Research
Agricultural Sciences
Focus Area
Sustainable Agriculture, Organic Farming
Start Date
21 Mar 2022
End Date
20 Sep 2025
Status
Completed
Email
somnathento@gmail.com
Output
No. of Research Paper
00
Technologies (If Any)
00
No. of PhD Produced
00
Publications
01
No. of Patents
Filed : 00
Grant : 00
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