Research Projects

Pest management is a critical component of crop production as insect pests account for 20–40% of annual agricultural losses worldwide. Due to the negative impacts of chemical pesticides, there is a growing demand for biological pest control methods. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), which live symbiotically with entomopathogenic bacteria (EPB) offer an effective alternative. EPNs are rapid in action, killing insect hosts within 48-72 hours, environmentally safe, pose no health risks, and require no special equipment for application, making them superior to chemical pesticides. The Heterorhabditis and Steinernema genera of EPNs are well-studied, with several species commercially used for pest management globally. However, large-scale field uses of EPNs face challenges such as lack of sustainable mass production and formulation techniques. Exotic EPN products are unsuitable for Indian conditions. Very few native Indian strains have been advanced to field trials. Additionally, the beneficial effects of EPNs on plant growth are not well understood. Developing EPN-based biopesticides tailored to local conditions and specific pests is crucial. The proposed project aims to address these gaps by optimizing mass production, formulation, and preservation techniques for native EPN strains. Native Heterorhabditis and Steinernema strains isolated from the Haryana and Delhi regions and maintained at CCSHAU, Hisar, are currently being tested for their host range and effectiveness against various pests. Both in vivo and in vitro mass production methods will be developed, focusing on standardizing nutritive media and growth conditions to produce high-quality infective-juveniles (IJs) in large quantities. For field applications, suitable formulations that maintain EPN viability and infectivity over extended periods are crucial. Aqueous suspensions of EPNs, commonly used in India, are not suitable for long-term storage. Some gel and clay-based formulations have been explored. EPN formulations can be developed using actively moving IJs or partially desiccated worms. Our lab is testing various methods, including a unique osmotic solution-based technique to induce partial desiccation in IJs to preserve their energy to maintain their shelf life and infectivity. This will be further standardized to develop resilient worms to be used in EPN-based biopesticides. Additionally, isolated strains can be lost if not continuously cultured, due to lack of sufficient human resources to maintain nematode stocks. Therefore, we aim to develop a cryopreservation protocol for EPNs, similar to those available for model nematodes like C. elegans. Each species requires specific cryopreservation procedures and conditions to achieve maximum viability and recovery from freezing. Finally, the project aims to characterize EPN-derived products, including enzymes and metabolites, which can enhance EPN efficacy, biopesticides development and potentially promote plant growth and resilience.