Bio & Twitter

I am working as assistant professor at Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman. My areas of expertise include Environmental toxicology of insecticides (including non-target species), Pesticide residues detection, Insecticide resistance detection and monitoring and Assessment of bioactive plant extracts. the courses I am currently teaching include Toxicology of Pesticides, Pesticides in Agriculture, Analytical techniques in biosciences, Medical and veterinary entomology, Economic Entomology and Insect Biotechnology.

Background and Aims

Bemisia tabaci is an economically important polyphagous pest with more than 315 host plants including vegetables, fruits and ornamental crops. Whitefly damages the crops in two ways, directly by feeding on phloem sap of host, and indirectly by transmitting viral diseases and secreting honey dew on which sooty mold develops that affects photosynthesis (Hill, 1987).

Whiteflies are usually controlled with insecticides sprays and more than 50 conventional insecticides are registered for use against B. tabaci. The repeated use of the same active ingredients and application of excessive doses of insecticides within a given cropping season has led to the development of insecticide resistance in B. tabaci (Denholm et al., 1998; Horowitz et al., 2007). Deltamethrin is commonly used against B. tabaci infesting different vegetables in Oman.

The objective of this research was to determine the susceptibility (LC₅₀) of different B. tabaci strains collected from different locations in Oman.

Methods

The adults and nymphs of B. tabaci were collected during March and May 2019 from eight locations in Oman. All strains were reared on eggplants in separate cages in a glasshouse at Sultan Qaboos University. Six concentrations (0.7, 2.2, 6.7, 20.0, 60.0 and 80.0 µg/mL) were used in the bioassays. A 2 ml solution of each concentration including control were applied onto the prepared Petri-dishes containing eggplant leaf discs by using Potter tower at 70KPa. Treated dishes were dried for 3-4 hours before release of B. tabaci adults.

Each sprayed Petri dish contained around 10 B. tabaci adults and each concentration was replicated four times. Mortality was observed 48 hours after the transferring of B. Tabaci adults. Corrected mortality was calculated by using Abbott’s formula (1925). Lethal Concentrations values were calculated by using PoloPlus Version 2.0. Resistance ratio (RR) was calculated by dividing LC₅₀ of each strain by LC₅₀ of the most susceptible strain.

Results / Outcomes

The lowest calculated 48 hr LC₅₀ value of 6.8 µg/mL was recorded for PAR-1 which was collected from an organic farm. The highest LC₅₀ value of 55.5 µg/mL was recorded for BAR-2 which was collected from a greenhouse. KHA-1 strain showed no resistance while both strains from Salalah and SQU-2 showed a low level (8-fold) of resistance against deltamethrin. These LC₅₀ values are used in B. tabaci resistance monitoring programs in Oman.

Table 1. LC₅₀ of Deltamethrin after 48 hrs against different strains of B. tabaci adults.

Conclusions

A low level of resistance (8-fold) was detected in four out of eight strains. The calculated LC₅₀ values are used in B. tabaci resistance monitoring programs in Oman.

Bio & Twitter

Dr. Kajal Kumar Biswas, born in 1967 at District Nadia, West Bengal, M.Sc (Ag) in Plant Pathology (BCKV, Mohanpur) in 1992, PhD in Plant Pathology (Pl Virology) (ICAR-IARI, New Delhi) in 1997.

Post Doctorate in University of Florida, Gainesville, USA (2002-2004) for advanced training in Molecular Plant Virology.

Served as Scientist in ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad (19997-2000); Senior Scientist and/or In-charge, ICAR_IARI, RS, Kalimpong, WB (2000-2005). Presently working as Principal Scientist and Teaching Faculty of Plant Virology, Division of Plant Pathology, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi;

Research experience as a Molecular Plant Virologist for the last 27 years on economically important plant viruses on pulse and legumes, citrus, cotton and vegetables with the areas are on diagnostics, biological properties, genetic characterization, genetic diversity, and virus pathogenesis, and resistance, biological & molecular-based (transgenic) management of plant viruses;

Presently involved on production of transgenic constructs (RNAi: anti sense and ihp) and development of transgenic resistant cotton plant against CLCuD-begomovirus and citrus plant against CTV through genetic transformation (in planta and organogenesis);

PG teaching faculty for last 16 years and guided seven PhD and seven M.Sc students at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi;

Published 51 research papers, 10 book chapters, 55 research abstracts in several National and International Symposia; Attended 31 National and International Symposia;

Handled nine externally funded Research Projects;

Written two authored books (i) “Plant Viruses, Diseases and Their Management” by Kajal Kumar Biswas (2017; I K Intl Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi), a Text book on Plant virology, and (ii) “Citrus Fruits: Cultivation, Diseases and Their Management” by Kajal Kumar Biswas (2019, Educationist Press and Inprint of Write and Print Publ, New Delhi), a kind of reference book.

Awarded

National Scholarship Award in Madyamik Pariksha (1982). Ministry of Edu and Culture, Govt. of India, New Delhi;

Prof. M. J. Narashimhan Academic Award by IPS), New Delhi (1999);

M.Sc. (Ag.) in Pl Pathology (BCKV, Mohanpur) in 1992;

PhD in Plant Pathology (Pl Virology) (ICAR-IARI, New Delhi) in 1997;

Post Doctorate in University of Florida, Gainesville, USA (2002-2004);

SPPS Meritorious Scientist Award by Society of Plant Protection Science, New Delhi (2010);

Shiksha Ratan Puraskar, India International Friendship Society, New Delhi ((2011);.

K.P.D. Menon Best Poster Award (Indian Phytopathological Society, New Delhi);

P. P. Singhal Memorial PI Industries Award (2016) from ISMPP, Udaipur;

Fellow (FPSI), (2012), Indian Phytopathological Soceity, New Delhi;

Fellow (FISV) (2018), Indian Virological Society, New Delhi;

Fellow (FPISMP (2019), ISMPP, Udaipur;

Editor of (Plant Virology), IPS, New Delhi; and (Plant Virology), ISMPP, Udaipur ;

Six Best Poster Awards in National and International Conference;

Background and Aims

Cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD) is a major constraint in cultivation of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) in entire Northwest (NW) India. The CLCuD is caused by whitefly, Bemisia tabaci transmitted begomovirus and associated betasatellite and alphasatellite molecules. The disease causes major economic losses in cotton in this region. Variation in CLCuD incidence in NW India is common, and high of 50-100% incidence in some areas and iyears but sporadic (0-30%) in other areas and years; indicating changing of the etiology of CLCuD begomovirus complex in NW India. To explain the basis for the suspect changes, the etiologies of CLCuD begomoviruses and satellite molecules associated with the disease outbreak were studied .

Methods

A survey was carried out for the year 2018 and 2019 in the cotton growing states, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan of NW India, disease was estimated and samples were collected. CP genes of 29 samples through PCR and complete genome sequence of 10 samples through RCA were amplified and sequenced and analysed using BioEdit, MEGA 6.0 and RDP4 tools.

Results / Outcomes

Of 13 CLCuD-begomoviruses anlysed in 2018, 12 are Cotton leaf curl Kokhran virus (CLCuKoV) and one is Cotton leaf curl Multan virus (CLCuMuV). In 2019, of 16 CLCuD-begomoviruses 13 are CLCuMuVe and three are CLCuKoV indication changing of etiology of CLCuD-begomoviruseses. Overall, 15 CLCuD-begomovirus sequences are detected as recombinant. Interestingly, in 2019, of 16 sequences 14 are as recombinant involving a common break point at 759-52nt (P=1.768 X 10^-1) of CP gene where CLCuKoV[In:Bat:ARSB-3:18] served as major and CLCuMuV[In:Si:S-9](KJ959628) as minor parent. Complete genome of CLCuD infected 10 samples were amplified through RCA. Of them, three were cloned, and rest are in the process of cloning. The results will be disused during the presentation in the time of Conference.

Conclusions

The present study revealed that CLCuKoV is dominant in 2018 and CLCuMuV in 2019 in NW India. The recombination events are the key factors for changing scenario of CLCuD-begomoviruses over the year in NW India.

Bio & Twitter

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9814-6352

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0980-5035

Background and Aims

The Colombian flower sector is an important line of the economy, generated income and employment for this country. Colombia has the second-largest cut flower exportation industry in the world and carnation is the most important part of the ornamental flower industry. By 2017, Colombia exported 275.000 tons of flowers, which made a profit of USD 1,500 million to 97 countries around the world. Carnation represented 53% of the tons of flowers exported; this amount is equivalent to more than USD 795 million.

Fusariosis disease is a critical problem for carnation farmers all around the world just like in most the countries where carnations are produced, F. oxysporum f.sp. dianthi (Prill. and Delacr.) W.C. Snyder and H.N. Hansen (Snyder and Hansen, 1940) (FOX) has become the most significant pathogen in fusariosis disease. The big losses are due to the easy spread across infected cuttings, the fast dissemination in different ways, the persistence of the pathogen in the soil, and the high cost of control measures, confer special importance to this disease.

Methods

Biological Material: Different carnation hybrids of Po, F1 to F4 generation, resistant and susceptible to FOX. A virulent FOX isolate.

mRNA obtention and analysis: 1- In vitro elicitation of carnation resistant and susceptible cells in dual culture. 2- mRNA isolation using the method NucleoSpin® RNA Plant of MACHEREY-NAGE. 3- NGS in Macrogen (Korea) in platform llumina HiSeq2000/2500 . 4- Bioinformatic analysis like the Novo Assembly Statistics, Gene expression profile and Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) in the platform The Galaxy Project. 5- RT-qPCR using the kit SuperMix I of ThermoFisher in equipment LineGene 9600 de BIOER Co.

Results / Outcomes

A preliminary essay was made by exposing the two varieties of carnation with FOX in a “dual culture” in order to determine the optimal time for the RNA extraction. The same mounting on “dual culture” was made, followed by being paused in the determined time, posteriorly the RNA of these two varieties elicited with FOX was extracted. Its quality was obtained by electrophoresis and spectrometer in a relation 260/280, finally, its quantity was obtained through fluorometry.

The research group of Molecular Phytopathology of “Universidad Militar Nueva Granada” through its Carnation breeding program has susceptible and resistant hybrids that were used to obtain mRNA y miRNA of elicited varieties and with this obtains by NGS techniques, expression libraries. In the studies, we are select a group of orthologous genes (putative) that could participate in the response action to the parasite, and that are differentially expressed in elicited cells.

Conclusions

Colombia is one of the countries with mayor carnation production around the word. The production of resistant varieties against the vascular wilt produced by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. Dianthi (FOX) is very important in the sector economy. The research group of Molecular Phytopathology of “Universidad Militar Nueva Granada” through its Carnation breeding program has susceptible and resistant hybrids that were used to obtain mRNA y miRNA of elicited varieties and with this obtains by NGS techniques, expression libraries. In the studies, we are select a group of orthologous genes (putative) that could participate in the response action to the parasite, and that are differentially expressed in elicited cells.

Bio & Twitter

January 2020 onwards

Fully self-employed with Pro Terra Agro (www.proterra-agro.com) on a consultancy basis, facilitating sustainable cropping systems for the future.

May- August 2019

Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)
8 weeks online short Course on Business Sustainability Management

January 2018-January 2020

Market Development Latin America at Biobest Group NV

Agronomical development banana LATAM Pacific (over EU summer), Co-promotor Master Thesis of KULeuven Master Student in Dominican Republic, participation Musa H2020 at Pro Terra Agro.

Professional Group Head Invertebrate Biocontrol Agents (IBCAs) at IBMA.

February 2018

Foundation of Pro Terra Agro as a platform to enable addressing farmer’s pains in Tropical production systems improving ecological and social sustainability.

September 2014- January 2018

Global Regulatory Lead Entomology and Business Development Latin America at Biobest Group NV.

Professional Group Head Invertebrate Biocontrol Agents (IBCAs) at IBMA. Global Regulatory Lead Entomology

March 2016

Business Development Latin America

Creative pioneering position combining my background in tropical agriculture, soil microbiology and agroecosystem-approach, technical knowledge on macrobials and BC market drivers to identify and develop viable BC markets contributing to the transition towards sustainable tropical cropping systems in the (Neo)tropics;

Professional Group Head Invertebrate Biocontrol Agents (IBCAs) at IBMA

In close collaboration with a concise steering group (SG) we address sustainable agriculture, IPM and IBCAs regulatory issues in interactions with relevant international organizations (EU authorities, OECD, IOBC, FAO, IFOAM, regional IPPC branches like NAPPO, EPPO, COSAVE etc., Ministries of Agriculture and/or Environment). As such obtaining facilitating policies and proportionate regulatory procedures for sustainable crop management and low risk IBCAs;

Co- redaction of CRP (D43003) on ‘Integration of the SIT with Biocontrol for Greenhouse Insect Pest Management’ as expert in greenhouse biocontrol at the International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna International Centre I in Vienna, Department of Nuclear Applications, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Insect Pest Control Section.

September 2010- September 2014

Registration manager for macrobials and microbials (Biopesticide regulation EC 1107/2009) and R&D scientist at the BIOBEST Group Head Quarters in Belgium. Participation to relevant scientific and regulatory meetings.

Relevant training 2005-2010

PhD Bio-Engineering in Biological crop protection at the Laboratory of Tropical Crop Improvement (Faculty of Bio-engineering, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium) in close collaboration with Bioversity International Transit Centre for Musa.entitled ‘Potential of multi-purpose intercrops for the management of pathogenic nematodes and beneficial rhizobacteria, and mycorrhizal fungi in banana-based cropping systems’ (presented at international meetings). In this thesis, options for soil ecosystem management (beneficial soil organisms) and functional agrobiodiversiy (multipurpose intercrops) for pest control in tropical mixed banana systems were explored

June 2008

Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC) evaluation mission of the CIALCA (Consortium for Improving African Livelihoods in Central Africa) development project (joined project of CIAT TSBF Kenya, IITA Uganda and Bioversity International on banana production systems) in Rwanda, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo.

2002– 2004
Postgraduate programme at the Catholic University of Leuven: M.Sc. in Tropical Agriculture, including thesis project. MAGNA CUM LAUDE
Agricultural research for master thesis in Guayaquil, Ecuador in the framework of the VLIR (IUS) project between Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL) Ecuador and Catholic University of Leuven (KULeuven).
Promotor: Prof. R. L. Swennen
Thesis title: ‘Black Sigatoka control in banana: options from organic agriculture’.
Relevant courses: Tropical crop husbandry, Phytopathology in the tropics, Interactive project with farmers as part of Cultures and Development Studies (CADES, KULeuven).

1998-2002
Master in Biology (Specialisation Animal Ecology, Morphology and Biodiversity) at the Catholic University of Leuven. MAGNA CUM LAUDE
Limnological research project for master thesis (July-August 2001) at Nyanga National Park, Zimbabwe in the framework of the VLIR Institutional University Cooperation (IUS) project between the Catholic University of Leuven, KULeuven), Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology and the University of Zimbabwe (U.Z.), Department of Fishery Biology. Inventarisation of aquatic community (zooplankton) with the purpose to characterize and monitor the ecological status of inland water bodies in Zimbabwe.

1995-1997

Higher college education Rudolf Steiner School Leuven (Part of MSV Flanders).

Background and Aims

The current banana cropping system face ecological, social and economical sustainability challenges. The plantation system is highly relient on chemical plant protection products. To control black Sigatoka, the major fungal leaf disease of banana caused by Mycosphaerella fijiensis, over 60 cycles of aerial fungicide sprayings are applied on an annual basis in Costa Rica. In areas with moderate disease pressure (strongly related with rainfall) the fungal leaf disease is controlled by rotating paraffinic oil with microbial or botanical biofungicides. In Central America, the Pacific and East Africa, plant-parasitic nematodes like Meloidogyne icognita and Radopholus similis devastate the root systems, causing lesions and rotting of the root tissue by providing entry for secondary infections. High populations of the banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus, are considered a serious threat to banana roots for the same reasons. The vascular root fungus Fusarium oxysporum pv. cubense tropical race 4, causes wilting of the banana plants by blocking the vascular xyleme vessels. Soils infected with this fungus become stranded assets for banana farming for several dacades. The fact that all plantation bananas belong to the Cavendish Group (cultivars Gran Naine or Williams) and genetic variation of this in vitro cultured plants is almost non existing (plants in a field are genetic clones), makes these plantation cropping systems extremely prone to any pest or disease. To increase banana production system resilience, mixtures of cultivars with similar post harvest characteristics (for logistic reasons) should be mixed in one field. On top of te genetic diversity, species diversity should be increased by intercropping with species that provide relevant ecosystem services to the production system and are hosts for aboveground and belowground beneficial organisms (eg. Chrysoperla carnea for insect control, mycorrhizal fungi for nematode control, extension of the rhizospheric interface for nutrient uptake and solubilization of phosphorus). The high dependency on chemical pesticides results in human and environmental health problems. Socially, banana farm workers are often vulnerable labour immigrants or low educated local people. Exposure to heavy labour, low wages and chemical pesticides often results in health problems, further increasing social vulnerability. Mixed smallholder farms face similar problems of pest and diseases and often lack resources to remediate or improve yield by applying biofertilizers and nutrient solubilizing micro-organisms. Application by appropriate beneficial organisms that can proliferate and establish in the banana production system could provide a long term increase in system resilience and productivity. Use of N, P and K solubilizing bacteria in combination with organic matter, AMF and other beneficial soil organisms in combination with biofertilizers should decrease the dependency of the scarce N, P and K natural sources.

In this paper the increase in banana production system resilience by increasing biodiversity through the application of bio-inputs and agro-ecological principles is evaluated. The effect on ecological, social and economical sustainability for this global (sub)tropical crop is adressed.

Methods

Our methodology throughout this banana pilot case is

Identify and work with Innovative farmers

Bottom-up approach: ID famers bottlenecks and spread of problem (potential market) during initial interview

Understand the value for farmer: YIELD, QC standards, management of pest and disease pressure

Semi - Field trials (scientific set-up) in a production reality (relevance)

TANGABLE results for farms (relevant VALUE proposition to farmers)

Select for CONTEXT COMPATIBLE solutions:

 Economically feasable
 Biologically with environment
 Applicable in current growing system
 Sourced regionally (reduce transport costs/fossil fuels, generate local value and increase biological compatibility)

Results / Outcomes

Resilient agro-ecosystems will result in improvement of ecological, social and economical sustainability. By re-introducing circular processes, which growing food originally was, with the addition of the currently available bio- inputs, applying agro-ecological principles, the general long-term dependency on agro- inputs will decrease. Through increasing biodiversity and system resilience, pest and disease pressure will drop and nutrient efficiency increase. A step-wise increase to more resilient systems will result in more productivity with less external inputs, which will result in lower input costs and higher yields, improving economical sustainability. Improved social sustainability will result from the above described ecological and economical sustainability.

Conclusions

Humanity is facing the challenge of providing social foundations for a growing population within the limits of planetary boundaries.

Crossed planetary boundaries (climate change, biodiversity loss and N an P cycling) and insufficiencies on social foundations (gender, education, food, poverty) urge a transition towards sustainable production systems worldwide (Raworth, 2012). Agricultural production contributes for over 10-12% of the world’s greenhouse gas emission inducing climate change and is of paramount importance for food and income security throughout the tropics.

Banana (Musa spp.) is a huge potential leverage to improve social, ecological and economical sustainability worldwide. Banana is the second largest fruit crop worldwide (114 million tons on 5.6 million Ha, FAO 2017, 2019). Only 13% of production is for export, the remaining 87% represents world’s #4 staple food crop securing food and income for millions of smallholder farmers throughout the (sub)tropics.

Furthermore, desert banana (Musa AAA) is one of the most frequently bought fruits in supermarkets and a principle baby food after the weaning phase. With increasing consumer awareness of environmental and human health disadvantages of current plantation practices, consumption of ecologically and socially responsible grown banana trade is rising.

Empowering of farmers by regenerating functional biodiversity back into their fields through an integrated holistic system approach combining agro-ecological principles, re-installing functional biodiversity by (re) introduction of biocontrol agents (BCA), following IPM principles takes a complex transition.

To catalyze this transition, there is a need for proof of concept through science-based successful pilot cases. The role of an experimental knowledge center in an organic Fairtrade Caribbean production context for agronomical development of bio-inputs, farmers' support and extention work and knowledge platform is adressed.

The ambitioned transition will provide shared value to all stakeholders across a sustainable banana value chain.