Professor
Shailendra Singh Gaurav
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, India
Title of the talk: Development of Innovative approaches for Effective Inhibition of Alternaria Leaf Spot Disease
Abstract
Alternaria species fungus can cause blight, leaf spot, and fruit rot in many host plants. Alternaria brassicae causes mustard plant leaf blight disease. One of the causative agents of mustard plant leaf blight disease is Alternaria brassicae. The pathological condition results in minuscule, dark brown to black lesions on the foliage, stems, and pods. Alternaria brassicae has the ability to survive in crop debris and soil, so serving as a source of inoculum for subsequent infections. The pathogen has the potential to eradicate 70-80 percent of mustard crops on a global scale. Conventional approaches to disease treatment involve the utilization of chemical and biological fungicides, which have been found to have adverse environmental impacts and limited efficacy. Hence, it is imperative to conduct an ongoing inquiry into the pathogenic mechanisms, genetic variability, and sustainable management methods of this fungus in order to protect crop productivity and guarantee food security amidst escalating disease burdens and environmental obstacles. The purpose of this report is to provide a concise overview of the existing knowledge on Alternaria brassicae. The text examines the life cycle and epidemiology of the fungus, with a particular focus on the factors that impact its proliferation and dissemination. This study investigates the several pathogenicity methods utilized by Alternaria brassicae, encompassing toxin synthesis, enzyme release, and host invasion tactics. Furthermore, this study examines the genetic variety present in populations of Alternaria brassicae and its potential consequences for the management of diseases. An optimal technique for managing Alternaria leaf spot entails employing a blend of cultural, chemical, and biological methods. Fungicides are frequently employed for the purpose of chemical control; however, their effectiveness may be constrained by the emergence of resistance and environmental considerations. Biocontrol agents, such as antagonistic microbes and plant extracts, are viable environmentally sustainable solutions for the management of diseases. The primary objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of newly developed nano formulations including iron and zinc in the management of Alternaria leaf blight disease in mustard crops. Iron and zinc are widely recognized as essential elements for both plants and humans. Consequently, the utilization of these metals could potentially result in the development of a mustard crop enhanced with nanoparticles, thereby offering supplementary health advantages to consumers. A comparative study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of new nano formulations in comparison to commercially available fungicides on different isolated strains of Alternaria brassicae.
Biography
DR. SHAILENDRA SINGH GAURAV, Professor & Ex-Head, Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding, Ch. Charan Singh University, Meerut (UP) India joined this department as Lecturer in December 2001 after completing his doctoral degree from ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi. Currently, he is also heading departments of Biotechnology, Seed Science & Technology, Intellectual Property Cell, All India Survey on Higher Education, University Placement, and ABACUS-UP Cell as coordinator/nodal officer of this university. He has also headed the faculty of agriculture for three years as the Dean, Faculty of Agriculture from 10 July 2020 to 10 July 2023.
Prof. Gaurav is presently engaged in research activities focused on the different areas of Plant Breeding, Seed technology, and plant biotechnology to address the local concern of Western UP that includes morphological, biochemical & molecular characterization and evaluation of genetic diversity, heterosis breeding in various crops like wheat, rice, lemon grass, basil, chickpea, pea etc. Since the last five years Prof. Gaurav & his team have initiated their research work to exploit the possibilities for the development of Nano-biopesticides/ Nano Biofertilizers against early & late blight of potato and white grub of Sugar cane crop. Dr. Gaurav is also engaged in teaching Masters (M.Sc. & M.Phil) and Doctoral program. Besides this, he has supervised 15 PhD students and 25 MPhil students and more than a dozen M.Sc. students and 04 PhD students are still working under his guidance in the area of Nanobiotechnology.
He has an excellent academic career having won Gold Medal for his M.Sc. (Ag.) degree at MPKV, Rahuri, Maharastra, and has been recipient more than 15 awards from different scientific bodies including best teacher award by Hon’ble HE late Sh. Ram Naresh Yadav Ji, Governor, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh, India and also several other awards i.e. Science Leader Award by ICAR-IIRR, Hyderabad in 2015 & Science Initiator Award 2016 by Raj Mata Sciendia Agril. University, Gwalior, MP. He has also organized more than 10 national and 15 international conferences out which four were outside the country with collaboration of foreign universities. i.e Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and MAHSA University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He has visited many countries for academic purposes like ISTA lab, Angers, France, National University of Kyiv, Ukraine, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, etc. Out of his research contributions, he has been able to publish more than 100 original research papers in peer-reviewed journals of national and international repute (Total Number of Citations: 1071; H-Index: 13; i10 index: 19) and 04 patents credited to him. Apart from this, he has also authored 06 textbooks, 10 popular articles, 06 book chapters, and more than 100 abstracts and the editor of six NAAS rating journals and handled 03 major projects and 02 centres of excellence. He has been the nominated members of apex university authorities i.e. Member, Executive Council, Academic Council, and Senate, of Ch. Charan Singh University, Meerut and, currently Member, Board of Management, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, India
He has also served Allahabad Central University, Prayagraj, as the President of India nominee Member of Executive Council from March 2019 to 18 March 2022.
Participated as an invited speaker in The First International Symposium of Nano Life Science: Nano Biotechnology, Biosensor, Computation (NanoBioCoM2023 at International Center for Science and Interdisciplinary Education (ICISE), Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh province Vietnam during September 17-19, 2023 and International Biology Conference 2023 during September 20-22, 2023.
Publications: Google Scholar Website