Advances in Plant Biopesticides

Dr. Dwijendra Singh has served CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow, in various capacities of research scientist heading the entomology division and reached to the level of Chief Scientist and Head, Crop Protection Division, Microbial Technology and Entomology Department, CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow. Dr. Dwijendra Singh possesses 39 years of research experience in the field of applied and basic research in the area of entomology.

During his career as scientist, Dr. Dwijendra Singh studied the major pests of medicinal and aromatic plants, phenology of various arthropods associated with mint, wormwood, opium poppy, henbanes and senna. He developed suitable sampling methods for major arthropods of mint species, organic method of white butterfly larvae management by altering sowing time in Cassia angustifolia, identified fennel as allelopathic plant species for mustard aphid management, screened whitefly and begomovirus resistant mint genotypes, investigated the effect of synthetic pesticides on biosynthesis of tropane alkaloids in henbane and menthol in mint as tools for developing integrated pest management. He invented insecticidal principles; himachalol and ss- himachalene from Himalayan cedar wood oil against adzuki bean beetles and houseflies, tylophorine from Indian ipecac leaves as antifeedants against Bihar hairy caterpillar, a-amyrin acetate and oleanolic acid from Catharanthus roseus as insect growth regulators against Helicoverpa armigera, developed cheapest and safe pulse grain protecting phyto-tablet formulation to manage Adzuki bean beetles, demonstrated azadirachtin and its formulations inducing alteration in protein profile of H. armigera larvae which may be utilized to develop novel bio-pesticides. He contributed significantly in development of high yielding pest and disease resistant variety of menthol mint- 'Himalaya' that brought revolution in indigenous mint oil production and menthol export. He has explored the possibility of developing novel biopesticides from medicinal and aromatic plant species. He developed the technology on Pulse Grain Protecting Tablet, organic method of pest management in Indian senna and shared in development of agro-technology for new variety of mint - Himalaya.

Dr. Singh's research findings are evident by his credit to 80 research publications in reputed scientific journals of national and international importance, 2 granted Indian patents and 1 US patent. He has been one of the authors of three books apart from popular book and farm bulletin and has also served as an editorial board member in reputed journals.