Department of Plant Pathology Neri,Hamirpur (HP)

Dr Kumud Jarial
Associate Professor & Head

The Department of Plant Pathology has its roots in the Department of Plant Protection, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Neri. In 2017, the department was separately established as Department of Plant Pathology and started M.Sc. programme in the same year and Ph.D. in 2023.
The department has been established with the mandates of UG and PG teaching, development of human resource in the field of Plant Pathology as well as Mushroom Culture and development of strategies for the management of various diseases of sub tropical fruits.
The department is pioneer in identification and management of various fungal, bacterial and viral diseases of sub tropical fruits, vegetables, ornamental and medicinal crops.
The department is engaged in standardizing the round the year cultivation of edible and medicinal mushrooms in the sub tropical region of the state. We have a dedicated laboratory for the production of spawn which cater to the needs of local farmers.
A bio-control laboratory is also being established in the department where bio-formulations of various bio-control fungi and bacteria will be made available to the local farmers.
Department, since its inception, is running on self finance mode in the college. Although, it has received research funding in ad-hoc research projects from different funding agencies of Government of India like ICAR and DST. Presently, department is having 01 ad-hoc research project in operation worth Rs. 34.67 lakh.
Scientists of the department published more than 192 research papers and 7 review articles in leading national and international journals, 8 books, 22 book chapters and more than 80 popular articles and technical bulletins for dissemination of technology to the farmers and entrepreneurs. The scientists have presented 138 scientific research papers in various National and International conferences.
Department has been able to nurture useful human resource for the country in the form of 31 M.Sc. students during the period of 5 years.

Mandate

To develop human resource in plant pathology for diagnosis and management of various horticultural and forest crops as well as in the field of mushroom culture.
To study etiology, epidemiology and management of important diseases of horticultural and forest crops.
Standardization of cultivation modules of different edible and medicinal mushrooms and their dissemination among local community.

Strengths

Modern laboratory facilities for diagnosis of plant diseases of horticultural and forest crops through latest techniques based on laboratory and molecular analysis.
Sufficient farm area for research trials on disease assessment and management.
Spawn and mushroom production facilities on commercial scale.

Academics

The department offers degree programmes for M.Sc. Ag (Plant Pathology) and Ph.D. Plant Pathology

Achievements

Thirty one students have been passed out of the department after completing their Master of Science degree from the department.
Eight M.Sc. pass out students of this department have qualified SRF examination.
The M.Sc. passed out student Aditya Bhatia, of the department received Shri Jay Lal Singh Solanki Memorial award for All India Best M.Sc. thesis.
Out of passed out students, few are Ph.D. in the reputed institutes like NIFTEM, Sonipat; PAU, Ludhiana; CSKHPKV, Palampur; HAU, Hisar and UHF, Nauni while, few are serving in Govt. and private sectors.
ELP Mushroom culture module is running in the department and students are learning the techniques of mushroom cultivation.

Click here for course details

Students working in PG Lab

Research

Thrust Areas

Fungal pathology
Plant Bacteriology
Virology
Molecular Plant Pathology
Mycology
Mushrooms
To study the etiology, epidemiology and management of important fungal, bacterial, viral and other diseases of sub tropical zone of the state
To conduct detailed studies on new emerging diseases of the region
To standardize the round the year cultivation schedule for button and other specialty mushrooms in the zone

Major Ongoing Research Projects

Development of multiplex PCR for important soil borne pathogens of sandalwood and their management funded by DBT, GOI, New Delhi from February 2022 to February 2025 for Rs 34.67 lakhs.
Himachal Pradesh Subtropical Horticulture, Irrigation and Value Addition Project: Development of Package of Practices for the Sub Tropical Fruits of Himachal Pradesh funded by Asian Development Bank from October 2021 to December 2022 for Rs 62.00 lakhs.

Research Achievements

New pathogens have been isolated, identified and are being managed by different integrated disease management modules.
Department has been working on the management of various fruit, vegetable, ornamental and medicinal plant diseases by chemical and eco-friendly techniques.
Gummosis in mango trees has been successfully managed.
Bacterial leaf spot in bottle gourd has been managed upto acceptable level.
Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of ITS region of different plant pathogens have been carried out.
A low cost bamboo hut mushroom cultivation technology has been standardized and demonstrated to the farmers.
Different species of oyster mushroom viz., Pleurotus florida, P. ostreatus, P. djamor, P. eryngii, P. eous, P. flabellatus, P. membranaceus, P. fossulatus and Hypsyzygus ulmarius have been introduced and successfully cultivated in sub tropical zone of the state.
Time schedule for round the year cultivation of different species of mushrooms in sub tropical zone of the state is being standardized.
A mushroom spawn production laboratory has been established at college to cater the needs of local mushroom growers in the region and every year more than two quintals of spawn is being supplied to the local growers.

Demonstration of mushroom cultivation to the local growers

Extension

Transfer of technology to the end users by various extension methods including Radio / TV talks by the faculty members, awareness camps and trainings.

Extension Activities

The department had been involved in development of Package of Practices, Manual and Knowledge Module for the growers of sub tropical zone of the state regarding disease management of important sub tropical fruits under HPSHIVA project.
The department has organized training programmes (05), delivered radio talks (29) and lectures (70) for farmers and entrepreneurs since 2017.
Spawn of different species of the oyster mushroom is being produced and supplied to local growers. On an average 250 to 300 kg of mushroom spawn is prepared and supplied to the local growers every year.
Local growers are being trained for mushroom cultivation.

Awards/Recognitions

Dr Kumud Jarial:
1. Recipient of 2nd Best Poster Award in the International E- conference on “Multidisciplinary approaches for plant disease management for achieving sustainability in agriculture” organised by Department of Plant Pathology, College of Horticulture, Bengaluru (University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot), India during 6-9th October, 2020.
2. Recipient of Adarsh Vidya Saraswati Rathriya Puraskar by Glacier Research Foundation, Ahmedabad for the year 2020.

Dr Monica Sharma:
1. Post-doctorate fellowship at Institute of Phytopathology and Applied Zoology (IPAZ), Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany (2008-2009).
2. STIBET fellowship funded by DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst-German Academic Exchange Service) during Ph.D. (2005-2008).
3. University Gold Medal for obtaining highest marks in M.Sc.
4. Gold Medal from "Himotkarsh" - an academy for Literature, Culture and Public Welfare, Una, Himachal Pradesh for excellence in Academics as Topper in M.Sc. Horticulture Exam-2004.
5. Certificate of Honour during M.Sc.
6. Certificate of Merit for securing First Position in M.Sc.
7. P.P. Singhal Memorial Pesticides India Award of Indian Society of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Udaipur, Rajasthan, 2003.
8. Prof. M.J. Narasimhan Academic Merit Award of Indian Phytopathological Society, New Delhi - Commendation Certificate, 2004.
9. Prof. K.P.V. Menon Best Poster Paper Award of Indian Phytopathological Society, New Delhi - Commendation Certificate, 2004.
10. Third rank for the oral paper presented in the session on “Molecular diagnostics” at National symposium on ‘Perspectives in Plant health management’ organized by IPS, at Anand Agriculture University, Anand, Gujarat, 2010.
11. Best Poster presentation for presentation in IPSCONF2022 IPS 8th International Conference (Hybrid mode) Plant Pathology: Retrospect and Prospects w.e.f. March 23-26, 2022 at SKN Agriculture University, Jobner-Jaipur, Rajesthan, organized by Indian Phytopathological Society.
12. Recipient of 3rd Best Poster Award in ISMPP 42nd Annual Conference and National symposium on ‘Plant Health Management: A way forward for Food Safety, Security and Sustainability w.e.f. May 10-12, 2023 held at Anand Agriculture University, Anand, Gujarat.

Dr R S Jarial:
1. Recipient of 2nd Best Poster Award in the International E- conference on “Multidisciplinary approaches for plant disease management for achieving sustainability in agriculture” organised by Department of Plant Pathology, College of Horticulture, Bengaluru (University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot), India during 6-9th October, 2020.
2. Recipient of Adarsh Vidya Saraswati Rathriya Puraskar by Glacier Research Foundation, Ahmedabad for the year 2020.