BP Singh

Plant Quarantine Treatments for SalvagingGermplasm infested with Insects and MitesManju Lata KapurIntroductionThe undeniable need for improved plant varieties to cope upwith the demand of ever increasing human population, calls forthe conservation and exchange of plant genetic material on a globalscale. This involves risk of widespread distribution of plant pestsand pathogens alongwith the movement of germplasm, whichmay harm the agriculture and the environment of new areas, andthus, vitiate the benefits .of any plant _introduction or breedingprogramme. The basic tenets of Plant Quarantine include,regulations to allow germplasm exchange with no or minimumpest risk, inspection of material to detect the presence of pests andtreatment of infested material. Last one is the most instrumentalin promoting the positive image of plant quarantine as it ensuressalvaging of material rendering its introduction permissible.Rejection of a sample on the basis of mere presence of aninsect pest, may not be a wise preposition. Therefore, severalmethods are employed to eradicate the insects from infested seedor planting material and pest free material is made available to theuser scientists. Some of the common salvaging methods used inquarantine entomology laboratory are discussed hereunder.Traits of a Quarantine TreatmentPlant Quarantine Treatment is a method which can be usedto lower or liquidate the pest-risk by destroying or eradicating a