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Sustainable
management of insect pests in the major field and horticultural
crops
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Development of
different strategies and tactics for the wise use of
insecticides and developing new bio-rational botanical
pesticides
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Studying pest
biology, ecology, and population dynamics; developing and
promoting integrated pest management (IPM) strategies;
evaluating host plant resistance; and exploring eco-friendly
control methods and botanical pesticides
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Reduce crop losses,
minimize pesticide dependence, ensure sustainable crop
production, and support food security through environmentally
sound and economically viable pest management solutions
Ongoing Research
Activities
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Currently, work on
host plant resistance (HPR) in major crops such as cotton,
wheat, and tomato is being carried out using biochemical and
morpho-physiological traits in combination with other tactics to
reduce the impact of herbivores on crop yield and quality
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Trials of
insecticides are being carried out for efficacy and wise use to
reduce the risk of resistance and insecticide contamination in
the food and environment
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Developing new
bio-rational formulations of botanical pesticides for the
low-risk management of insect pests
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Rearing of
mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L., as an alternate sustainable feed
source supplement
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Another important
aspect of entomological work is the monitoring of cotton pests
such as pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella, through
gossyplure and fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata, through methyl
eugenol traps
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Ecological studies
of the major insect pests of economic crops are being carried
out for the timely management of target pests
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Laboratory
bioassays and testing of insecticides for pest management
decision-making are regular features of the group
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Detection of food
contaminants, pesticide residues, and mycotoxins in agricultural
commodities and also
providing analytical services (pesticide residues, mycotoxins)
to various industries, following standard operating procedures
(SOP)
Research Achievements
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Established the
laboratory-reared cultures of two fruit flies, Bactrocera zonata
and Bactrocera cucurbitae and armyworm Spodoptera litura for
different laboratory experimentation
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Laboratory and
field bioassays of different pesticides against major pests of
economically important crops
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Achieved
sustainable management of insect pests in citrus by the use
of pheromone/light traps and different combinations of baits
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Evaluated
genetically and morphologically inherited resistance against
major pests of cotton, wheat, and tomato crops for the
development of resistant varieties against these pests
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Evaluated the
performance of already developed varieties of the economically
important crop, cotton, for resistance against the resurging
pest population
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Calculated economic
impact of pesticides used against field crop pests and their
benefit-to-cost ratio
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Developed new
biomolecules for managing insect populations and enhancing
sustainable crop production.
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Developed
strategies for contamination-free production of field crops
Future Directions
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Screening of the
available advanced lines of cotton, wheat and tomato for insect
tolerance and resistance using advanced tools HPR
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Development of new
biopesticides for sustainable control of insect pests and
protein supplements for animal feed using mealworms
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Establishment of
SIT facility for integrated control of fruit flies in citrus,
mango, and guava orchards
Funded Projects
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PARB 23-280
entitled Determination of insecticide resistance in field
population of major insect-pests of Maize and its management (PKR
5 Million)
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PAEC Funded Project
entitled Development of bio-products and sustainable management
of insect pests and diseases (PKR 10 M)
Collaborations
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International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
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University of
Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF)
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Ayub Agriculture
Research Institute (AARI)
Click on
following link for detailed Brochure;
Sustainable
Management of Fruitflies |
