Horticulture in India is fast emerging as a major commercial venture, because of higher remuneration per unit area and the realization that consumption of fruits and vegetables is essential for health and nutrition. In the last one decade, export potential of horticultural crops has significantly increased attracting even multinationals into floriculture, processing and value added products.
Productivity of horticultural crops in India is relatively low compared to other countries. Of the several factors responsible for lower productivity of horticultural crops, pests (insect, mite and vertebrate pests) are considered as important limiting factors. The annual losses due to pests to all the crops in India was estimated at Rs. 60,000 million in 1983, which at today's prices could exceed Rs. 200,000 million.
The information on pests (Insect, Mite and Vertebrate Pests) in horticultural crops is very much scattered. There is no such book at present which comprehensively and exclusively deals with the above aspects on horticultural crops. The present book deals with geographical distribution, damage, host range, biology, predisposing factors, and management of insect, mite and vertebrate pests in horticultural crops in detail using regulatory, physical, cultural, chemical, biological, host plant resistance and integrated methods. The book is extensively illustrated with excellent quality photographs enhancing the quality of publication.
This book is a practical guide to practicing farmers of horticultural crops. Further, it is a useful reference to policy makers, research and extension workers and students.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR P Parvatha Reddy
Dr. P. Parvatha Reddy obtained his Ph.D. degree jointly from the University of Florida, USA and the university of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. Dr. Reddy served as the Director of the prestigious Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) at Bangalore from 1999 to 2002 during which period the Institute was honoured with "ICAR Best Institution Award". He also served as the Head, Division of Entomology and Nematology at IIHR. Dr. Reddy has over 237 scientific publications to his credit, which also include six books on "Plant Nematology". "A Treatise on Phytonematology", "Integrated Pest Management in Horticultural Ecosystems", "Advances in IPM for Horticultural crops", "IPM in Horticultural Crops: Emerging Trends in New Millennium" & "Organic Farming for Sustainable Horticulture: Principles & Practices". Dr. Reddy served as a member of the Research Advisory Committee of the National Centre for Integrated Pest Management, New Delhi; the National Research Centre for Citrus, Nagpur and the Project Directorate of Biological Control, Bangalore. He also served as a Member of the ICAR Scientific Panel for Nematology, Member of the QRT to review the progress of AICRP on Nematodes and AINRP on Betelvine. He is the Honorary Fellow of the Society for Plant Protection Sciences, New Delhi. Dr. Reddy has been awarded with the prestigious "Association for Advancement of Pest Management in Horticultural Ecosystems Award" by Association for Advancement of Pest Management in Horticultural Ecosystems, Bangalore; "Prof. H.M. Shah Memorial Award" by Nematological Society of India, New Delhi and "Hexamar Agricultural Research and Development Foundation Award" by Plant Protection Association of India, Hyderabad.
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