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Scientists

Dr. Lakshman Saravanan
Designation:
Senior Scientist
     
Division/RS/Unit:
ICAR-NBPGR RS, Hyderabad
     
Discipline:
Agricultural Entomology
Contact:
+91 9652914402; +91 8317654663
     
E-Mail:
Lakshman.Saravan(AT)icar.gov.in, laxmansaravanars(AT)gmail.com
     
Personal Webpage:
     
Salient Achievements:
  • A patent entitled A Process and kit for insect facilitated controlled pollination in oil palm is developed to effect controlled pollination in oil palm hybrid seed production through a device along with desired pollen with the help of pollinating weevil, Elaeidobius kamerunicus. Indian Patent application No. 201641044994, Patent Office, Chennai.
  • Isolated broad-spectrum Lepidoptera specific native Bacillus thuringiensis isolates from diverse habitats and evaluated for insecticidal activity. Five native isolates viz., NSC-1, NSC-3, NSC-9, COR-4 and GUR-5, emerged as novel isolates and showed high toxicity (100% mortality) against lepidopteran pests of cabbage namely, diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, Cabbage butterfly, Pieris brassicae and semilooper, Thysanoplusia orichalcea.
  • A chrysomelid beetle, Lema downsei Baly feeding on Asparagus racemosus was reported for the first time in India. The life history, seasonal activity and damage on A. racemosus were studied on the same host. Ecological factors affecting the population fluctuation were identified.
  • Studied biology and seasonal incidence of Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata,  infesting ashwagandha, an important medicinal plant and identified some ecological factors responsible for population fluctuation in Charotur region of Gujarat.
  • Studied population growth potential of H. vigintioctopunctata on seven solanaceous medicinal plants, viz.,Solanum nigrum (L.), Datura metel (L.), Datura alba (L.), Solanum surattense Burm. (F.), Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (wild) and cultivars of W. somnifera, viz., “JA 20” and “JA 134” in order to develop an effective integrated pest management strategy for the cultivated ashwagandha.
  • Studied biology, symptomatology and seasonal activity of semilooper, Dichromia orosia on anthmool, Tylophora asthmatica and identified the ecological factors responsible for population fluctuation for developing pest management strategy.
  • Studied life history characters and occurrence of Catopsilia pyranthe Linn. on Indian senna (Cassia angustifolia Vehl), an important medicinal plant and identified important ecological factors responsible for population fluctuation in order to develop pest management strategy.
  • Bird scarring devices were designed and evaluated against avian pests of oil palm. Avian pests could be effectively managed using these devices in oil palm.
  • Designed and developed novel techniques for pesticide administration through oil palm roots for the management of oil palm pests
  • A new species of the genus Acria Stephens was reported and described as Acria meyricki (Lepidoptera: Depressaridae) from India on oil palm for the first time. An annotated checklist of species and a key to the species occurring in India were provided. The mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I 5’ region (mtCOI-5P) has been analyzed and the DNA barcode sequence submitted to NCBI GenBank.
  • Studied the life history and seasonal activity of oil palm leaf webworm, Acria meyricki and identified the ecological factors responsible for the population fluctuation in oil palm gardens in Andhra Pradesh for developing pest management strategy.
  • Three bio control agents viz., Apanteles hyposidrae (Braconidae; Hymenoptera) and Elasmus brevicornis (Elasmidae; Hymenoptera) and Brachymeria  albotibialis were reported on oil leaf webworm, Acria meyricki for the first time and their field parasitic potential were documented.
  • Evaluated pesticides against insect pests of oil palm and identified cost effective pesticides for field use.
  • Developed Integrated Pest Management strategies for leaf webworm, Acria meyricki in oil palm.
  • Seasonal activity of oil palm pollinating weevil, Elaeidobius kamerunicus in irrigated oil palm gardens of Andhra Pradesh and their impact on oil palm fruit set were studied. Biotic and abiotic factors responsible for the population fluctuation were identified.
  • Developed a methodology for the mass multiplication of oil palm leaf webworm, Acria meyricki for the purpose of mass multiplying bio control agents for field release.
  • Studied various sugarcane genotypes and varieties for their reaction against important insect pests of sugarcane.
  • Guided nine M. Sc and one Ph. D scholars in the field of Agricultural Entomology.
  • Published over 60 publications consisting of research articles, book chapters, conference abstracts, technical bulletins, popular articles etc.
     
Awards/Honours:
  • ICAR-Junior Research Fellowship Award 1997-2000.
  • IARI-Senior Research Fellowship 2000-2004.
  • ICAR-Agricultural Research Service (2007) conducted by ASRB, New Delhi.
  • Fellow of Society for Plant Protection Sciences, New Delhi.
  • Award for Excellence in Research – South Asian Education Awards 2017
  • The Outstanding Scientist Award 2017 from The Society of Tropical Agriculture, New Delhi.
  • Received Certificate of Excellence-Honourable Mention during 5thScience and Technology Awards 2017 by EET-Research Wing for Excellence in Professional Education and Industry, Noida, Uttar Pradesh held at Bangalore on 11 June, 2017.
  • Assistant Editor (2011-2017) in Society for Promotion of Oil Palm Research and Development (SOPOPRAD), Andhra Pradesh.
  • Recognized as Member in Editorial Board of Annals of Plant Protection Sciences, a scientific periodical published from Society of Plant Protection Sciences, New Delhi.
  • Recognized as Member in Editorial Board of American Journal of Entomology, a scientific periodical published from Science Publishing Group, USA.
  • Received Best Poster Award in IV National Symposium on Plant Protection in Horticultural crops organized by Association for Advancement of Pest Management in Horticultural Ecosystems (AAPMHE), Bangalore at ICAR-IIHR, Bangalore during 25-28 April, 2012.
  • Received Best Poster Award in VI National Conference on Agricultural Scientific Tamil held through web (webinar) during 21-22 December 2020.
  • Acted as Reviewer for the scientific periodicals like, Journal of the American Entomological Society, Asian Research Journal of Agriculture, Journal of Experimental Agriculture International.
  • Member, Survey Committee to assess the suitability for growing oil palm in Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu. Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Tamil Nadu vide G.O.(MS) No. 241 dated 15.10.2010 and Letter No. OPC 1/162291/09 dated 30.10.2010 and Letter No. F.TC/OPDP(TN) /09/3028 dated 23.10.2010 from Director, ICAR-IIOPR, Pedavegi.
  • Member, Survey Committee to assess the feasibility and identify area for the establishment of Oil Palm Seed Garden at Muthanaveedu, Pedavegi Mandal, West Godavari Dist. Andhra Pradesh. The Commissioner of Horticulture, Govt. Andhra Pradesh vide Letter No. RKVY/OP/2/2011 dated 25.06.2014.
  • Member, Survey Committee for identifying the feasibility and potentiality of oil palm cultivation in Mummidivaram Mandal of East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh on 09.03.2012.
  • Consultant, Oil Palm Seed garden, Nava Bharat Agro Products Limited, Hyderabad for the year 2012.
     
Recent Publications Research Papers
     
 
Disclaimer:
The contents of this page are personal information/views of the staff. NBPGR is neither responsible for the contents or reliability nor endorses the views expressed within them.
     
Last Updated : 04/02/2021