12 December 2010 2 4K Report

Crop diseases are serious limitations in agricultural production and it has been estimated that about 26% losses are occasioned by various diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses and other pathogens like phytoplasma and even algae. We are working here on arid zone crops of India and trying to find out the simple and effective management measures to suit the local resource poor farmers. My interests, in general are in managing downy mildew of pearl millet caused by a fungus Sclerospora graminicola and on leaf curl disease of hot pepper (chilli). We are trying to use painless methods of biocontrol instead of using nasty chemicals or fungicides, which result in resistance to pathogen in addition to human health hazards.

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