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Since the inception of the discipline in 1950, pioneering studies were carried out on many
disease problems and their management relating to seeds, seedlings in nurseries,
plantations and natural forests. Significant contributions were made on the aspects of
timber pathology and mycorrhizae. More than 160 fungi causing diseases and decays
of both hardwood and soft wood species were studied. Seeds of mandated species were
screened for seed borne pathogens and their management was evolved to minimize losses in
storage and nursery. Of the nursery diseases, the most notable ones like damping-off, Rhizoctonia
leaf web blight, Maravalia leaf and twig rust of Dalbergia sissoo, Melampsora
rust, Rosellina root rot and Bipolaris leaf blight of poplars, Cylindrocladium
leaf and twig blight of eucalypts and Pseudocercospora needle blight of pines
were investigated and management worked out. The division has taken a lead in preparation
of disease calendar for nursery pathogens of albizia, poplar,shishum, etc. |
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In
plantations, some of the important studies include Trichosporium
wilt of Casuarina equisetifolia, Fusarium
wilt of Dalbergia sissoo, pink disease of Eucalyptus, Ganoderma
root rot of hard wood species, partridge root rot of Shorea robusta caused by Aurificaria shoreae, root rot of Gmelina arborea by Poria rhizomorpha, root rot of Cedrus deodara by Heterobasidion annosum, Armillaria root rot of Abies pindrow, Picea smithiana and Cryptomeria japonica and brown root rot of
poplars caused by Phellinus noxius. |
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Morphology, cytology and biology of two
stem rusts of pines i.e. Cronartium himalayense
on Pinus roxburghii and Cronartium ribicola on Pinus wallichiana were investigated. Detailed
studies were carried out on heart rot in Shorea
robusta including biology of principal heart rot fungi, the problem of heart rot in
dry coppice teak (Tectona grandis), Acacia catechu, Pinus wallichiana and Cedrus deodara were also worked out. |
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The division has the distinction of initiating studies on wood decay fungi attacking trees
and timber, their identification, distribution and isolation in culture for comparison and
reference. More than 50 Indian timbers were tested for their natural decay resistance in
the laboratory and classified accordingly for judicious selection of timber for use in
sites of high decay hazards. The work earned certificate of appreciation from United
States Department of Agriculture. |
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Pioneering studies were conducted on different aspects of ectomycorrhizae including
their distribution, characterization and identification in indigenous and exotic tropical
pines. Thirty ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with conifers and broad leaved
species were studied, described and published. Inoculation techniques of nursery stock and
nursery management practices in relation to development of mycorrhizae in pines had
been standardised. The work on vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae includes
distribution of AM fungi in forest trees, effect of seasonal variation on population of
VAM fungi and the impact of VAM inoculation on growth of forestry species like Bamboo, Dalbergia
sissoo, Acacia spp., Eucalyptus and Poplars. The work earned certificate of
appreciation from United States Department of Agriculture. Forest Pathology Division
developed the technology for the cultivation of two important mushrooms Pleurotus spp.
and Lentinus edodes (Shiitake Mushroom).
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The
division is maintaining a Herbarium having twelve thousand disease and fungal specimens
and a National Type Culture Collection of over twelve hundred isolates of fungi.
The Division is providing teaching inputs in Forest
Pathology to Indian Forest Service and State Forest Service Officers and also to the
students of various degree and diploma courses in FRI-Deemed University. The division is
also engaged in training for gamut of end users ranging from forest officials to farmers
on various aspects of production forestry like management of diseases, application of
microbial inoculants, etc. Division is also organising summer training for graduate and
postgraduate university students.
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Services in varied fields are extended like issuance of Phytosanitory Certificate for
quarantine, identification of pathogens, testing of durability of woods, culture bank,
etc.
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Ongoing
Projects:
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Seed mycoflora of important tree species and its
management.
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Studies on disease resistance of newly introduced germ
plasm (progenies of P. deltoides).
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Parasitic and symbiotic associations of tree spp. used
for harsh site afforestation.(FRI-IFFDC Ltd.)
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Qualitative and quantitative improvement of Mulberry
leaf production by application of chemical and Biofertilizers in Doon valley of
Uttaranchal (FRI - Ministry of Textiles, New Delhi)
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Studies on Himalayan Pines (USDA project) - Studies on
stem rust of chir and blue pine.
- Studies on heart rot of blue pine.
- Studies on mycorrhizae of chir and blue pine.
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Projects in the
waiting:
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Biological control of root diseases in
forest nurseries.
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Researches on natural decay resistance of
juvenile timbers.
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Biological control of Lantana camara and
Parthenium hysterophorous.
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Screening for disease resistance in
genetic materials raised in tree improvement programmes.
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Faculty:
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1. |
Dr A.N. Shukla,
Head of Division,
Ph D in Botany.
Experience in tree diseases, soil microbiology, seed pathology, mushroom
cultivation.
E-mail shuklaan@icfre.org
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2. |
Dr N. S. K. Harsh,.
Scientist-D,
Ph.D. in Botany.
Experience in timber pathology, taxonomy of Basidiomycetes, Gasteromycetes, Ascomycetes,
etc., Biological control of diseases, etc.
E-mail harshnsk@icfre.org
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3. |
Mr. Amit Pandey,
Scientist-C,
M Sc. (Botany).
Experience in agro-forestry diseases, disease resistance, biological control of
weeds.
E-mail pandeya@icfre.org
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4. |
Dr. Y.P. Singh,
Scientist-C,
Ph.D. in Plant Pathology.
Experience in AM fungi, phytonematodes, forest diseases, biological control, etc.
E-mail singhyp@icfre.org
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5. |
Dr. P. S. Rawat,
Scientist-B,
Ph.D. in Forestry.
Experience in ectomycorrhizae.
E-mail rawatps@icfre.org |
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