National Seminar on Biotechnological Approaches in Pest Management
May 4-5, 2012
Organized by
Department of Entomology
Punjab Agricultural University
Background : With the advent of genetic-engineering technology in agriculture, the science of pest management has evolved into a new realm. Advances in molecular and cellular biology now allow scientists to introduce desirable traits from other species into crop plants. The most commonly introduced genetically engineered (GE) trait for insect resistance is the delta- endotoxin gene from a soilinhabiting, spor e- f or ming bacter ium Bacillus thuringiensis. Since their introduction in 1996, the use of Bt-transgenics has grown rapidly and accounted for more than 58 million hectares of cotton and corn in 2010. An alternative approach, involving downregulation of the expression of specific genes through RNA interference (RNAi), has been widely used for genetic research in insects and has the potential to yield a new generation of insect resistant transgenic crops through dsRNA directed against suitable insect target genes.Besides the spectacular success of transgenic crops, several other biotechnological approaches including marker-assisted selection (MAS), RNA interference in crop plants, plant and insect genomics, and paratransgenesis have the potential to revolutionize future pest management programmes. Plant genomics and MAS can substantially improve the efficiency of plant breeding for insect resistance. The i5K initiative to sequence the genomes of 5000 insects and other arthropods, over the next five years, will result in better understanding of insect biology and transform our ability to manage arthropods that threaten our health, food supply and economic security. It is therefore timely to take stock of the diverse range of biotechnological approaches available for use in future pest management programmes and to be prepared for the emerging challenges.
Programme : The programme will consist of key note, invited and contributed papers. Renowned agricultural biotechnologists and applied entomologists will deliver key note and invited oral presentations. Contributed papers will be accepted as poster presentations after screening.
Invitation : Molecular biologists, agricultural biotechnologists, entomologists and other crop protection scientists working on biotechnological approaches in IPM, are invited to contribute papers and participate in the seminar.
Venue : Wheat Auditorium, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Registration : (up to February 29, 2012)*
- Professors/Scientists/RA's from academic institutions : 3,500/-
- Corporate participants : 10,000/-
- Students : 2,000/-
*An additional ten per cent will be charged from all delegates who register after this date including those Fregistering on the spot.The DD should be drawn in favour of Organizing Secretary, BAPM payable at Ludhiana.
Please mail correspondence and general enquiries to
Dr Balwinder Singh
Professor & Head
Department of Entomology
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 004, India
Tel & Fax: 91-161-2412359
E-mail:
hodent@pau.edu
Deadline : 29.02.12
Original Notification
