Biopesticide developed for spice crops

Scientists at the Gurugram-primarily based Institute of Pesticide Formulation Technologies (IPFT ) jointly with their counterparts at the Ajmer-primarily based Nationwide Analysis Centre on Seed Spices (NRCSS), a constituent laboratory of the Indian Council of Agricultural Analysis, a new biopesticide for spice crops this kind of as fenugreek, cumin and coriander.

The biopesticide formulation, prepared working with fungus Verticillium lecanii, is quite productive in managing a variety of bugs discovered in seed spice crops, explained IPFT director, Jitendra Kumar, explained in a assertion on Friday. IPFT is a exploration centre underneath the Department of Chemical substances and Petrochemicals in the Ministry of Chemical substances and Fertilizers.

The seed spices crops experience key losses owing to a variety of bugs. For managing the bugs, big quantities of synthetic chemical pesticides are employed in these crops, ensuing in bigger levels of pesticide residues in seed spices, top to pitfalls for human health and fitness and atmosphere.

This bio-pesticide, for which a patent application is previously submitted, may perhaps be employed as a safer different to chemical pesticides to minimise pesticide residue problem, the assertion explained.