ANNUAL REPORT - Department of Biotechnology

significant weed control at seedling stage particularly
in seed function and germination. These
mycoherbicidal agents have been successfully mass
produced through solid substrate fermentation
employing maize cob wastes and when applied to the
seedling of the target caused more than 90%
mortality. Cell free culture filtrates of these agents
have also shown significant seed mortality.
Purification and characterization of these byproducts
are under progress.
Large-scale demonstration on management of
Parthenium through integrated approach is being
done at NRCWS, Jabalpur. Few plant species were
found competitive against Parthenium. Cassia tora
was found to be the best plant as it replaces
Parthenium infected site during rainy season.
Introductory releases of bioagants, Mexican beetle,
Zygogramma bicolorata at newer sites, confirm its
establishment, which reflected its success in
integrated management programme. Good quality
A view of field visit of trainees doing practical during
Parthenium Training Programme.
Parthenium compost was also prepared by pit
method with low inputs. Parthenium compost along
with 50% NPK gave higher yield than FYM and 50%
NPK suggest its use in compost.
Development of comprehensive website on biopesticide.
A comprehensive website on “Bio-pesticides” has
been developed which highlights the achievements
made in major programmes supported by the
Department on biological control of pests, disease
DBT Annual Report 2006-07
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and weeds. Salient achievements compiled from
more than 124 completed projects have been
included which will benefit scientists, entrepreneurs
and farmers. The website will be launched shortly.
Toxicological data generation
In order to facilitate the commercialization of
biopesticides, the department has taken a proactive
step of the generation of toxicological data of
potential biopesticides. In the first phase, 10
biopesticides have been taken up for generation of
toxicological data both for primary cultures as well as
for their formulations. Data have been generated for
almost all the biopesticides by the two identified
centers viz; ITRC, Lucknow and RRL, Jammu.
Patents
Patents have been filed for the mass production
technologies of various biocontrol agents viz.
Nomuraea rileyi, Trichoderma virens, two effective
bioformulations of B. bassiana, Verticillium lecanii
and Myrotheceium verucarria. Two patents for the
products viz. Biowiltex (Trichoderma harzianum),
Bionem x (Pochonia chlamydoisporia) and Biocomp
x (Pseudomonas fluorescens) have been filed in
India and USA through DBT patent cell.
Technologies transferred and products marketed
Several mass production technologies of biocontrol
agents/biopesticides have been developed and
standardized. Mass production technology of
Trichoderma viride (fermentation based) has been
transferred to M/s Prathista Industries Ltd. in
Nalgonda, Andhra Pradesh and M/s Haryana
Biotech, Gurgaon. They have filed application for
registration of their products and procured funds from
the Technology Development Board (TDB).
Registration has been granted to the product
Biofungicide to M/s Prathista Industries Ltd. and the
product has been launched in the market as
“Protect”. Cost effective mass multiplication of
Trichoderma and Pseudomonas and their mixed
formulation on FYM and chicken manure have been
developed at GBPUAT, Pantnagar and this
technology has been transferred to the farmers of
Uttrankhand and Uttar Pradesh as a
recommendation from University as well as State
Department of Agriculture.