Senior Scientist Forest Protection Division Kerala Forest Research Institute Peechi, Thrissur-680653 Kerala, India Email: sudhi@kfri.org Phone: +91 487 2699037
Dr.V.V.Sudheendrakumar
www.kfri.org
1. Insect pest management- Biocontrol- Microbial pesticides
2. Ecology and population dynamics of forest insect
Professuional/Research Experience
Possess experience in planning, organising, conducting, evaluating and administering research in the field of Tropical Forest Entomology. Experience in Forestry research spans 25 years, in KFRI which is a leading forestry research organisation in India. Although primarily specialised in Entomology.
Major achievements
Personal research achievements in forest entomology include quantification of the impact of defoliators on wood increment in teak plantations; elucidation of the population dynamics of teak defoliators; generating information on biological control agents of forest insect pests; Development of a microbial biocide against the teak defoliator using Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus.
Early research activities covered the following areas of Entomology - biology of parasitoids of Opisina arenosella, the coconut caterpillar; Biology and behaviour and taxonomy of sphecoid wasps of Kerala.
Collaborative research
Associated with a collaborative research programme between KFRI and UK Forestry Authority under the ODA (DFID) funding on use of baculovirus agent against the teak defoliator during 1995-1998.
Current Research Projects
Studies on controlling teak defoliator outbreaks by seeding baculovirus, hpnpv on epicentre populations (Funded by Department of biotechnology, GOI)
The feasibility of using the transmission charactetristics of the nucleopolyhedrovirus as a pest management tool for controlling the teak defoliator, Hyblaea puera, a serious pest of teak is being studied.
Research Reports
V.V.Sudheendrakumar 1986. Studies on the natural enemies of the teak pests, Hyblaea puera and Eutectona machaeralis. KFRI Research report No.38, KFRI, Peechi, Kerala, 23pp.
M.I. Mohamed Ali, R.V. Varma and V.V. Sudheendrakumar 1990. Evaluation of microbial pathogens for biocontrol against important insect pest of Ailanthus and teak. KFRI Research Report No. 72. KFRI, Peechi, Kerala.
V.V Sudheendrakumar 1997. Evaluation of parasitoids for the biological control of the teak defoliator. KFRI Research Report No.129, KFRI, Peechi, 32pp.
K.S.S Nair, R.V. Varma, V.V. Sudheendrakumar, K. Mohanadas and M.I . Mohamed Ali 1998. Management of the teak defoliator, Hyblaea puera using nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV). KFRI Research Report No.151, KFRI, Peechi, 64pp.
V.V. Sudheendrakumar and George mathew 1999. Studies on the diversity of selected group of insects in the Parambikulam Wildlfe Sanctuary. KFRI Research Report No.165, KFRI, Peechi, .75pp.
R.V. Varma, V.V. Sudheendrakumar and T.V. Sajeev 2001. Assessment of pest problems in intensively managed STM teak plantations. KFRI Research Report No.198.12 pp.
K.S.S. Nair, R.V. Varma, V.V. Sudheendrakumar, K. Mohandas and T.V. Sajeev 2001. Use of baculovirus control agents within an integrated pest management strategy against teak defoliator, Hyblaea puera, in India. KFRI Research Report No.203 , 51pp
V.V. Sudheendrakumar, T.V. Sajeev and R.V. Varma 2001. Teak defoliator management by controlling the epicentre populations. KFRI Research Report No. 219, 31pp.
V.V.Sudheendrakumar, T.V.sajeev,R.V.Varma 2004. Tracing the origin and spread of teak defoliator outbreaks through molecular approach. Final Research report submitted to the department of biotechnology, Govt. India
Some Important Research Papers
V.V. Sudheendrakumar 1985. Studies on the parasites of Hyblaea puera in teak plantations at Nilambur. In: Advances in biological control in India. ( Eds.) KJ Joseph and UC
Abdurahiman, Dept. Zoology, University of Calicut : 116-122.
V.V. Sudheendrakumar and K.C. Chacko 1986. Effect of site preparation on the incidence of termites in Eucalyptus plantations. In: Eucalyptus in India; Past, Present and Future,(Eds). J.K. Sharma et al. KFRI, Peechi, Kerala, 364-366.
K.S.S. Nair and V.V. Sudheendrakumar 1986. The teak defoliator, Hyblaea puera: Defoliation dynamics and evidences for short range migration of moths. Indian Acad. Sci. (Anim.Sci.) 95 (1): 7-21.
K.S.S. Nair and V.V. Sudheendrakumar 1986. Population dynamics of teak defoliators. Proc. 18th IUFRO World Congress, Ugoslavia, 1986: 673-684
V.V. Sudheendrakumar, K.S.S. Nair and R.V. Vrma 1988. Seasonal incidence of Eutectona machaeralis in teak plantations at Nilambur, Kerala. Ind. Journ. For. 11 (3): 250-253.
V.V. Sudheendrakumar, M.I. Mohamed Ali and R.V. Varma 1988. Nuclear polyhedrosis virus of the teak defoliator Hyblaea puera. J. Inv. Pathol. 51 : 307-308.
V.V. Sudheendrakumar, S.K. Jalai and S.P. Singh 1995. Acceptance of the teak defoliator Hyblaea puera (Cramer) (Lepidoptera : Hyblaeidae) by two exotic species of Trichogramma (Hymenoptera : Trichogrammatidae ). J. Biol. Control 9 (1): 43-44.
M.I. Mohamed Ali and V.V. Sudheendrakumar 1997. Possible use of bacterial pathogens against the teak pests. In : Teak, Proceedings of the International Teak Symposium, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India 1991. (Eds.) S. Chand Basha, C. Mohanan, S. Sankar, Kerala Forest Department and Kerala Forest Researchg Institute : 93-99.
V.V. Sudhendrakumar and R.V. Varma 1999. Record of a lac insect, Kerria sp. (Homoptera: Kerridae) in Kerala. Entomon 24 (4): 393-395.
V.V. Sudheendrakumar, C.F. Binoy, P.V. Suresh and George Mathew 2000. Habitat associations of butterflies in the Parambikulam Wildlife sanctuary, Kerala, India. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 97 (2): 193-201.
V. V. Sudheendrakumar, H.F. Evans, R.V. Varma, T.V. sajeev, K. Mohanadas and K.V. Sathyakumar 2001. Management of the teak defoliator, Hyblaea puera using baculovirus within a control window concept.. In : Tropical Forestry Research: Challenges in the New millennium” (Eds). R.V. Varma, K.M.Bhat, E.M. Muraleedharan and J.K. Sharma. Proceedings of the International Symposium 2-4 August 2000, Kerala Forest Research institute, Peechi, India .299pp.
V.V.Sudheendrakumar, 2003. Reproductive behaviour of Hyblaea puera Cramer (Lepidoptera: Hyblaeidae). Entomon, 28(2): 77-84.
N. Chandrasekhar, T. V. Sajeev, V. V. Sudheendrakumar and Moinak Banerjee 2005. Population dynamics of the Teak defoliator (Hyblaea pueraCramer) inNilambur teak plantations using Randomly Amplified Gene Encoding Primers. BMC Ecology 5:1 (02 Feb 2005)
BREAKTHROUGH RESEARCH
MANAGEMENT OF TEAK DEFOLIATOR AN INSECT PEST,
USING THE VIRAL BIOPESTICIDE- HpNPV
One of the major research areas. addressed by KFRI is pest management in teak plantations. Among the pests of teak, the most destructive is the teak defoliator, scientifically known as Hyblaea puera. Outbreaks of this insect occur every year in teak plantation in Kerala and other teak growing areas in the country. KFRI studies have revealed that considerable economic loss is caused by this pest due to reduction of about 44 % potential volume increment of trees. It is estimated that over 50 per cent additional gain can be realized from teak plantations if protected against the teak defoliator. Considering the cost of teak, the gain in revenue would be substantial.
In view of the economic importance of teak defoliator pest, KFRI initiated focused research to since early eightees to develop of an ecofriendly technology to manage this pest. Detailed studies had been carried out to elucidate the pest movement and population dynamics and the natural mortality factors affecting the pest.
Now KFRI has developed a biocontrol technique to manage the pest, which is based on HpNPV, a baculovirus naturally infesting the teak defoliator pest. Baculoviruses form a group of insect pathogen and many of them are extensively used as biopesticides for managing forestry and agriculture pests worldwide. KFRI has standardized the technology to mass multiply the teak defoliator baculovirus and to produce a storable biopesticide formulation using the virus. The HpNPV formulation which is in the wettable powder form has been field tested and proved very effective in controlling the teak defoliator. The HpNPV formulation developed by KFRI is highly target specific, ecofriendly and safe to all other organisms.
As part of the technology transfer, KFRI conducted two training workshops for the field staff of Nilambur North and South Forest Divisions during 2004 and 2005. Further in 2004, a field trial using HpNPV was carried out jointly with KFD in about 36 ha of young teak plantations in Nilambur to control teak defoliator which was highly successful. KFRI plans more training programmes in this line in near future.
As part of the extension programme, KFRI had supplied HpNPV in 2004 to a teak farmer in Chattisgarh, who owns about 100 ha teak plantations, to test its field performance. The result was very promising as evident by the report from the said farmer (Email communication attached). The biocide contains 1x1011 viral particles per gram of the product which is sufficient to cover one hectare of young teak plantation. The cost of the biocide required for applying in one hectare teak plantation works out to about Rs.250/-.
Now KFRI is looking for an entrepreneur to whom the technology for mass multiplication of HpNPV for which a patent has been filed can be transferred so that this major breakthrough in biological control of teak pest is utilized by all the State Forest Departments who grow teak.
The advantages of HpNPV biocide are many compared to chemical pesticides:
Hybcheck- the bio pesticide for managing teak defoliator (Hyblaea puera Cramer): An Announcement
The teak defoliator (Hyblaea puera Cramer) is the most serious pest of the teak tree diminishing both the quantity and quality of timber. Outbreaks of the insect occur many times an year in teak plantations of all age classes. Managing the pest using chemical pesticides is hazardous to the forest ecosystem and the biodiversity it holds. This paper announces the arrival of Hybcheck- a Baculovirus based microbial pesticide for managing teak defoliator populations. Hybcheck is a freeze dried powder formulation containing virulent polyhedra of the Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus which is highly specific to the teak defoliator. The NPV is a double stranded DNA virus with molecular weight ranging from 79.37 – 112.14 kbp. Field trials during outbreaks showed that the product was able to provide 70% foliage protection. The product has good shelf life and is able to kill the pest insect within 48 h of application. Being a naturally occurring pathogen, application of Hybcheck helps to amplify the natural inoculum load in the ecosystem. When fed at a sublethal dose, Hybcheck will get transmitted from one generation to the next in a process called as vertical transmission which would trigger epizootics of NPV in outbreak populations of the insect. Towards green certified timber products from teak plantations, Hybcheck is the first contribution for ecofriendly pest management.
For more details contact: